used utility poles ?

[rexcramer]

I just got five poles the other day. The power company put new poles for a mile down the road, with the foremans permission I just drove my backhoe down the road and tossed them on a car trailer.

Dont know what to do with them but I think a zipline for the pond will use a couple of them

 

[cgraham]

Anyone know a reliable source for creosoeted dimensional lumber? None available locally, as it is no longer made, but there has to be some awaiting recycling somewhere.

I have a 25-year-old bridge (16' span) I am going to have to rebuild some day. It uses 4 20" recycled power poles for the main supports, and 3 1/2" lumber for the cross ties and runners. I just rebuilt the concrete piers after a flash flood.

I know it will support well over 22,000 lb at present, but as it is the only access to my home, I'm going to have to do something (I need to get gravel trucks across - 44,000#, and can shore it temporarily - the contractor is getting nervous!)

I could bulldoze a crossing through the arroyo and put in a concrete bed, but that's $20,000 (LOTS of concrete). There are property boundary constraints, too.

I'm getting a bit OT here, so I invite PMs.

Thanks, Charlie

 

[bigshovel]

I have had clear cedar poles resawn into siding already. Look for a local individual with a portable sawmill. Last time, I had the poles and he charged fifty cents a board foot to cut. I would look for concrete docks plank also as an option. They will span 16 ft. no problem depending on core thickness.

Brad

 

[reasley]

My local power co-op sells them for $1 per foot, regardless of size. About a year ago, I bought quite a few of them, planning on using some for turn out shelters for horses, some for buildings, and some for fence posts. For the first two tasks, no problem. However, today I tested a few of them with a Shaver HD-10 post driver and found that even the ones that look solid are really too weak to drive in with a post driver. I shattered the three that I tried, but this did not happen until I really started encountering resistance. My guess is that, if you use a post driver on utility poles, you have one of two options: 1) use a very small diameter pole to reduce shattering potential or 2) weld up a metal "cap" that would go over about 4 -6" of the top of the post while driving to keep the ends from splitting. I'm probably goingto do this latter option regardless and make up two or three caps of differing sizes.

 

[Eagleview]

Anyone know a reliable source for creosoeted dimensional lumber? None available locally, as it is no longer made, but there has to be some awaiting recycling somewhere.

I have a 25-year-old bridge (16' span) I am going to have to rebuild some day. It uses 4 20" recycled power poles for the main supports, and 3 1/2" lumber for the cross ties and runners. I just rebuilt the concrete piers after a flash flood.

I know it will support well over 22,000 lb at present, but as it is the only access to my home, I'm going to have to do something (I need to get gravel trucks across - 44,000#, and can shore it temporarily - the contractor is getting nervous!)

I could bulldoze a crossing through the arroyo and put in a concrete bed, but that's $20,000 (LOTS of concrete). There are property boundary constraints, too.

I'm getting a bit OT here, so I invite PMs.

Thanks, Charlie

Pickup a decomissioned flat top rail wagon and lift it into place with a crane , support on two treated head logs . Will take all the weight you want and has its own deck . Under $5000 . Ive also used flat top semi's which are good for weights less than 15000lb .

 

[Eagleview]

I have built my pole frame home out of new reject poles . They are CCA treated . To those wanting to use these poles or Creosote poles be warned . 1/ They are deadly after a fire has burnt your fences , the cattle will lick the ashes and die . We in Oz have lost many like this . 2/Your horses will chew them and die if used for yards . 3/ Children will get splinters from them which become infected . 4/ You cannot get Organic stattus for your crops/livestock if there are ANY of these poles on your property . 4/ Your wife will make you remove creosote poles around the home because they are evil smelling things . 5/If you cut them lenghtways or across you will have to re-treat them as the treatment only treats the sap wood and you are exposing the heartwood when you cut them . 6/ As allready stated the dust from cutting them WILL cause lung cancer .Your better off using a long lasting species and paint with Canola oil or simmilar . In OZ we can use a lesser quality timber for fencing if it was grown on the same property . If we use that same timber from a different area it will not last .

 

[btoups]

Does anyone have any advice or experience building a bridge using used telephone poles. I am considering this to cross an 18' wide creek and could use some advice.

 

[clemsonfor]

Seen it done before. I would use at least 4 of them and then use 4x4s across the poles if your going to drive a truck on them, if a 4wheeler or small tractor 2-3 poles and then the same thing.

 

[larry s novotny]

Check to see if there is any one replacing telephone poles in your area.If so, many times they will give them to you. In our area they go for around 75.00 each if you have to buy them. It helps to have a trailer to haul them.

 

[RxRatedZ71]

Ive built several bridges on our property using utility poles. I drive my tractor across my 3 pole bridge. The poles are exactly under my tire track position then i put 2*8s as decking. The third is in the middle for rigidity and support.