Setting cedar split rail fence posts...

[Golfgar4]

Eddie,

I don't have any pics right now, but as I mentioned earlier, when I do some of the park inspections that I have scheduled for later this month (9/27), I'll try to get a few pictures that I can post.

If I happen to be out and about and get some shots before then, I'll be happy to do that too. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[nigebj]

So, a year later - did you go with the 'breeze' solution - and how did it work out for you ?

I'm about to put a fence up in Arapahoe County, CO and was wondering how you got on. My fence doesn't need the strength or inflexibility of cement all the way around, so I was originally thinking of packing it with drycrete and just cementing gate posts and corners, may be a few in the two long (350 foot plus) runs.

Anything you could add on ownership experience, and if indeed you went with the above solution would be great. BTW, where did you get the 'breeze' from ?

Any thoughts appreciated - thanks

 

[JimMorrissey]

The best luck I've had to to pack the base of the posts with stones (fist size and smaller), then tamp them down to create an extremely firm post. It takes a bit of work to find and manually place the stones, but it gives you the best of both worlds. I'd avoid concrete if I were you. Others think differently, I'm sure.

**The more jagged the rocks are the better so they lock together and bite into the fence post. A few good sized ones at the base will really help hold the post long term. You'll have great drainage too.

 

[forgeblast]

Here in NE PA we have a gravel/"breeze" mix called Modified.
I have used this all around my house, for a base for my driveway and as a base for my paverstone walkway, and i will be using it again for my patio. When i do put in my fence (this summer hopefully) i will use it to set my posts in. I will also use a tamper to pack it. Basically its 2b gravel with dust. It packs great, i have a company near me that delivers 20 ton truck loads and i really make use of them.
Hope that helps
Forgeblast

 

[m1greg]

I used a pea gravel base tamped down with the post and then back filled the hole with dirt. The fence held up well through 2 Michigan winters with no post heaves. I took the fence down to make room for an addition on our house and it came up easily enough using a fel to wobble the posts loose.
Now I just gotta get around to re-installing it again! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[1bush2hog]

I have set split locust fence posts in the ground using only dirt, originally dug out of the hole, to fill and tamp back in. If hole around post is filled and tamped properly, you won't have to worry too much about post moving if you are packing w/clay.

This is a more labor intensive process though and I was younger then too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bandit67]

Sorry, I just noticed your recent post.

Yes, I used the breeze, and it packed down great. We actually had to pull a post out and re-dig it, as the original hole was a bit out of line, and I didn't like the way the fence was looking. Getting through that packed breeze less than an hour after putting it in was a surprisingly tough job - I would have figured it would dig out easily. The key is to put the breeze in when it is slightly damp, and pack it after adding about 6" of material. I went out and tried to wiggle some posts last month, and they're all still tight.

FYI, I also used breeze above the 18" deep concrete necklace on my 6x6 posts on my pole barn. So the breeze went from grade down to 24" deep to the top of the concrete necklace, which goes down to the bottom of the post at 42" deep. I submitted that detail to the building dept. for the permit, and they had no problem with it. I also ran the detail by a structural engineer, and he was fine with it.

I got the breeze at Pioneer.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I've always just used the dirt from the hole. They won't go anywhere. I'm moving a rail fence that is 6-7 yrs old, just took rails down and pulled the posts out of the ground, used the FEL to pull the really tight ones. I did take the suggestion and put one of them in a 4" pvc sleeve, because I might want to be able to remove it to drive thru that section. For a gate post, I did tamp it with stone dust (thats what it's called here). It does pack good, will see how it handles the kids swinging on the far end of the gate.