Antique Tractor Shed
Wooden fence posts in the Raleigh NC area are usually set 24" in the ground and have a 60-80 pound concrete footer holding them in place. When the posts were set, there was surely the intention that the fence they supported would be around for many years. Now you have decided that the old fencing needs to be removed. Getting the pickets off and the runners down was an easy task, but now you have wooden fence posts that are securely set in the ground and seem to be content on staying there. You ask yourself if there is an easier way to get the fence posts out that doesn't require you to dig out every footing.
The answer is yes, there is an easier way! All you need is a drill, a 2 1/2" paddle bit, a 4' piece of deck board, and a bumper jack. A bumper jack, also known as a farm jack, is a jack that was used many years ago to jack up cars to change tires. The jack was designed to go under the bumper and lift the vehicle. Back in the day, bumpers were made of steel and could take the weight of the vehicle. Of course with present day cars, this would most likely tear the bumper off your car. But bumper jacks are still available in most tractor supply and agricultural stores. Bumper jacks can lift up to 5000 lbs. Farm jacks, which look the exact same as a bumper jack, can lift 7000 lbs or more. Both jacks cost around $75.00.
The technique described is for removing wooden fence posts that will be discarded. In other words, the posts will not be able to be reused. Put the 2 1/2" paddle bit in your drill. Drill a hole half way through the fence posts about 1 foot from the ground. Try not to go all the way through the post. The idea is to make a hole big enough to get the lifting mechanism of the jack into. If you go all the way through the post, the post may break before coming out of the ground. Place the deck board on the ground in front of the post. The deck board helps transfer the stress and weight while pulling the post out so the jack doesn't start going into the ground instead of lifting out the post. Place the bumper jack on the deck board and place the lifting mechanism in the hole you made. Start pumping the jack and you will see the post to start lifting out of the ground. If the top of the jack wants to start going forward, place the included guard on the face of the post. Keep working the jack until the post is out of the ground. You may have to manually pull the post the last couple of inches.
This is a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to remove wooden fence posts. Just be careful not to get pinched between the top of the jack and the post!
Scott Schulz
Owner
Carolina Custom Fences LLC
919-796-0464
[http://www.carolinacustomfence.com]
Tim Shanks' 1941 John Deere B on Max's Tractor Shed
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