The next few days are not going to be fun

[Jstpssng]

I thought this was going to be about the latest hurricane.
I hope that your back is strong, mine aches just looking at that picture. Bring plenty of water, for drinking as well as for mixing the concrete.

 

[cdaigle430]

Sometimes its easier to design the project in a different way. I would have used sonotubes with mounting brackets and re bar already to go for each one - then hired a concrete truck. Cheaper and easier, but no knowing your full situation it still may not be practical for you.

 

[fried1765]

To set fence posts, we put the mix in dry. Pack it down to keep the post straight and come back after a week. If in the dry part of summer, we will pour water in the hole. I have had post last 15 + years set in concrete.

Yup!
Few people understand that for posts, you do not need to do any mixing!

 

[shooterdon]

No way I would never contemplate mixing that much concrete. Especially for something like putting in posts. But I am old and lazy. I am in the same boat with mred2. Pour the dry mix in the hole and add water if needed.

If I had a lot of posts to set, and the right machine, renting something like this might be another option...or buy and resell it after the project.

Shaver Hydraulic Post Driver for 3 point hitch on tractors

 

[not2old]

My last thirty years working I operated a handyman service repairing condos. Replacing fence posts was one of the most common jobs and I'd had plenty of experience to refine the procedure. I welded up a paddle, much like a drywall mixer, and used a plastic five gallon pail. Put in one half of the bag, with all the water, mix, and then add the rest of the bag, mixing a bit more. It was easy to pour out the mix and easy to clean afterwards. Saving a few minutes a post, and reducing the effort made a big difference when repairing a mile of fence. If the situation allowed, using a trailer with gravel and portland cement saved a lot of money, making a noticeable difference in the profit.

 

[two_bit_score]

Yikes.

View attachment 665205

I hope you take and post some pictures of the process in action. This will be interesting. Looking forward to learning.



.

 

[Jstpssng]

Yup!
Few people understand that for posts, you do not need to do any mixing!

You wouldn't do that here, unless you like having frost lift them out of the ground. My father did that once with a greenhouse; the next year he had to dig out around them and chip away the concrete. The greenhouse was 96' long, and the posts were 4' OC!

 

[two_bit_score]

You wouldn't do that here, unless you like having frost lift them out of the ground. My father did that once with a greenhouse; the next year he had to dig out around them and chip away the concrete. The greenhouse was 96' long, and the posts were 4' OC!

So are you saying that you still set them in concrete but just do it differently or that you do something else?

The OP, bdog, is somewhere in Texas and frost heave will not be the problem I'm pretty sure. But what do you do in Maine?

 

[MossRoad]

Yikes.

View attachment 665205

I did about 150 of those over the last month, 2-3 at at time (60# bags), in our old Harbor Freight mixer. Wasn't too bad. But that stack of skids looks menacing! :laughing: Good luck with your fence project. :thumbsup:

 

[Streetcar]

What about dry mix concrete makes it heave with frost

You wouldn't do that here, unless you like having frost lift them out of the ground. My father did that once with a greenhouse; the next year he had to dig out around them and chip away the concrete. The greenhouse was 96' long, and the posts were 4' OC!