used utility poles ?

[Beavis]

Has anyone ever used old utility poles for fence building? I haven't even began to look for them yet, or if you can get your hands on them. But my thought is to cut them into 8' sections and use them as fence posts. Any thoughts ?

 

[ore540]

A couple of neighbors have done this. Makes a heck of a strong-looking gate post.

 

[Stimw]

I have one on either side of my driveway gate. They are 12', I have them 4' in the ground and have two 12' cattle gates hung on them (24' opening) with an electric opener. The poles were here when I bought my property, I just found a use for them.
I also have a 48' X 50' bulding with 6" X6" posts. When I put up the building I found a local guy that had a contract to get the old power poles from the local utility Co. He had a sawmill and cut the poles square for me.
I don't know about your area but here the poles have a lot of takers, they might be hard to get. But to answer your question, they would make great fence posts.

 

[Tororider]

If anyone in Michigan knows where they can be bought, I would be interested as well. Not only good for using to anchor gates, but a ready to use tree to put a tree stand where ever you want one.

 

[BarryinMN]

Poles & RR tie treatments have particularly toxic coatings. Cutting them is nasty on the tool & may expose you to airborne inhalation so take precautions.

Around here utilities replacing poles along roadsides can give them away or sometimes scrap metal recyclers also get a pile of them.

 

[Georgia Boy]

I would check the price of new ones first, you will find they cost about the same as used ones.
I am putting up fence now and I am getting ten footers about 12'' across for $11.00 each and they are supposed to last 55 years.

 

[Tororider]

GeorgiaBoy,
Where are you getting them from? That sounds like a pretty good price.

 

[Georgia Boy]

I get them from ACE POLE YARD in Blackshear GA. about 25 miles from me. They are great folks to do business with, you can pick out the ones you want and they load them for you. They have different sizes and lengths but I just get ten footers put them in the ground and after I get the fence up I saw them off even.

 

[rural2]

Can't think of a more effective pest, weather or rot resistant wood treatment than creosote. Around here the local power co. will deliver used poles when they are doing replacement work nearby, if you talk directly to the people in the field actually doing the work anyway. Not sure what the response would be from the office types?

 

[podagrower]

Call the power company that serves your area and ask. Our local utility sells used poles at a set price per usable foot (I don't remember the price). Like others have said, if you can find them being changed in the field, the savings can be significant.

 

[farmerjim]

used poles work great for fencing. i have a ripping chain for an old saw and i first cut them in 8ft sections then rip the 8ft section into quarters, so i get 4 posts for every 8ft section. i run 3 strands of barb wire on them and set them in the gound about 24in. i'll run more strands in areas where the cows like to put their heads through to reach for feed. we've also built a few sheds that we used poles for the main supports about 6ft inthe ground then framed w/ 2x6 or 2x8. it helps that 3 of us in the family work/ worked for the utilities, so we have a pretty good stock pile going. check w/ your local utility sometimes you can get them for free, esp if they're doing removals in your area. best bet is to ask the crew doing the take outs. most of the time these days, we cut them up into 6ft sections and they get tossed on the truck and put in a dumpster at the shop, which is a pain. some of the old ones are a bit sticky from creasote, so wear some gloves and long sleeves. in the pic i loaded you can see the poles in the garage in the left and right center area of the pic.

 

[farmerjim]

heres the pic i forgot to load

 

[Farwell]

One on the main dangers from treated poles is when they burn. When creosote burns it releases dioxin into the air. Dioxin is a major carcinogen.
When living in California a neighbor of mine worked for the phone company and had an in to getting used power poles. He would take the top 15 feet or so, cut it up and burn it in his fireplace. This was about 10 years ago. His whole family now has very serious health problems. I don't know if the pole burning had any thing to do with the problems but it could have.

 

[rural2]

Nothing is idiot proof. Best would be idiot resistant maybe??? I know I have done stupid stuff on occasion, but that would have the Idiot-O-Meter pegged!

a neighbor of mine worked for the phone company and had an in to getting used power poles. He would take the top 15 feet or so, cut it up and burn it in his fireplace.

 

[schmism]

they use them for corner and gate posts around hear.

I Set one as 21' pole for lights etc. Id love to have one or 2 more. (the utility company pulled an old one out at my place and left it for me)

 

[sandman2234]

Talking to the bunch over on the Forestry Forum, cutting telephone poles is also a good way to get dead quickly. The dust will work havoc on your lungs, so if you decide to do anymore cutting, use a good respirator.
David from jax

 

[Tororider]

I would like a couple for placing some tree stands. Ready made thick sturdy tree for hanging or leaning a ladder stand on. Just need to get it in the ground where you want it.

 

[mopacman]

we have power and light company near by that has their own saw mill to cut up poles they sell the lumber.

 

[sandman2234]

Creosote - Online Lawyer Source

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=18634.msg268155#msg268155


David from jax

 

[HappyCPE]

The link below has a small picture of cut telephone poles being used locally to fence buffalo. They just added +/- 2 more miles of fence like this.
NJ Bison Buy Buffalo from Readington River Buffalo Company