Treating Wood Posts

[Redneck in training]

I am a former city slicker living on a hobby farm now. I know very little about fencing but am learning. In Iowa fence posts are made of "hedge apple" tree wood without any treatment. Some of the fences around are over 100 years old and still standing. The posts looks black and cracked on the surface but are still strong. I have several old fences built around 1935 I wanted to remove and the posts were still hard to break.

 

[mdunaway]

hedge apple ,same as osage orange?
michael

 

[Soundguy]

I've seen 50yr old cypress posts still stong and good.

soundguy

 

[Aquaman]

hedge apple ,same as osage orange?
michael

Yep. Around these parts it's just known as "hedge". Good for lotsa other stuff too. Can't put too much of it in the wood stove all at once or it'll get too hot and burn the house down. Has one of the highest btu ratings of all the wood species. Also darn good for making longbows.
Tough on saw chain too!

 

[DieselPower]

Around here the tree of choice for fence post is Locust. They grow like weeds around here. Try as I might I have a heck of a time keeping them out of the hay fields and the cow's don't appreciate the thorns to much.

 

[DieselPower]

Interesting. Never knew or worried about this solution mentioned.


We have (and do) treat untold dozens of old wooden corner posts (formerly creosoted telephone poles) with used motor oil. It's just another method to further their life a little bit before replacement with metal and we are careful with the coating to leave no pools on the ground. And, it does seem to work very well in our drier conditions on these old dry posts.



Won't change anytime soon but will keep this in mind down the road.

For you and your family's sake I would suggest you get your water tested. The water analysis doesn't cost much and is a lot cheaper than future cancer bills.

 

[skipro3]

I've just charred the ends. Get a bonfire going, place the ends in and let them get a good coating of carbon built on them, then douse with water. The termites and other wood loving critters won't eat through the charcoal. I've got 40+ year old cedar posts for fencing that is still just fine other than the wood peckers who plug their holes with acorns. Ha!

 

[Soundguy]

For you and your family's sake I would suggest you get your water tested. The water analysis doesn't cost much and is a lot cheaper than future cancer bills.

Out of college, I did research on potable and wastewater systems... I was amazed at the goodies that show up in monitoring wells...

Makes you thankfull for clean water.. and hopeful that your neighbors aren't eco-terrorists...

soundguy