Fence Post

[Dunham Farm]

What if any thing do you all use for treatment on your fence post? I have a sawmill and saw out my post but would like them to last longer around our gardens. We have alot of dear.
Thanks Brian

 

[scott_vt]

What if any thing do you all use for treatment on your fence post? I have a sawmill and saw out my post but would like them to last longer around our gardens. We have alot of dear.
Thanks Brian

Good Afternoon Brian,
I used pressure treated posts when I put up some split rail earlier this year, Im hoping for 15 or 20 years !

Some guys use tar on the bottom of the post thats in the ground for longevity !

 

[dsgsr]

Paint them. My wife and I have been putting up fencing and we are painting the post & rails with "WOODSCAPES" 100% Acrylic water based Stain.

The first pic. is our first section. Second pic is of my son setting on the last section we put up. Have 16 section up and hundreds to go

David

 

[Dunham Farm]

I was looking at PT, but where I have the trees I was hoping there was something on the market now that worked.
Thanks Brian

 

[WayneB]

I was looking at PT, but where I have the trees I was hoping there was something on the market now that worked.
Thanks Brian

Do you happen to have an cedar around that you could make the post out of?

 

[riptides]

Do you happen to have an cedar around that you could make the post out of?

I have cedar posts on the farm that are still standing after 50 years. They are holding up barb wire. They burn really clean.

 

[MossRoad]

My father always used creosote and things would last until they would be pulled out of the ground. I don't know if you can get it any more.

I have locust trees. They make good posts as is, but if you wait for them to dry, you can hardly pound a nail into them. Putting them in green with bark on and they sometimes sprout limbs.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Split will generally last longer than sawn because endgrain is where the water is absorbed the most. When you split the log, the only endgrain is at the end, but if you saw it, then you end up with grain comming out the side of the post too. Still, sometimes sawing is the only realistic option.

Cliff

 

[kenmac]

My father always used creosote and things would last until they would be pulled out of the ground. I don't know if you can get it any more.

quote]



Don't think it's allowed anymore. I don't know how the R.R. gets by useing it for cross ties

 

[czechsonofagun]

My father used old car oil to paint fence posts; I dont think it is advisable any more.

 

[Soundguy]

Asphalt fence paint or copper napthenate both work good.

soundguy

 

[Egon]

We used to use copper sulfate. I notice it's still available in stores here.

Mix up a batch and fill a barrel half full of water and set the posts in the barrel so they have a natural wicking action to saturate the wood.

 

[Western]

I don't know if this is what Soundguy is refering to but,
I used Airport grade asphalt sealer from Home Depot. It was $18.00 for 5 gal. I can't tell you about longevity, post only in a year.

 

[Soundguy]

We used to use copper sulfate. I notice it's still available in stores here.

Mix up a batch and fill a barrel half full of water and set the posts in the barrel so they have a natural wicking action to saturate the wood.

yep.. we've done the post-dip in the barrell too.. just wear gloves or you are green for a month!

soundguy

 

[Egon]

Leave the bark on for top 2/3 of the post and you don't need the gloves. The bark falls off after a while.

 

[Lloyd_E]

I use copper napthenate preservative with a coat of acrylic driveway sealer paint before placing in ground. I let the copper dry for at least 3-4 days sometimes weeks before applying the sealer. Posts have been in for 2 years. Too early to post results, but please reference Soundguy for more experience on this.

lloyd

PS: rails and posts are now painted with acrylic driveway sealer.

 

[Soundguy]

Is that acrylic driveway sealer similar tot he new acrylic fence paints?

I've painted asphalt paint over copper napthenate dippd posts.. with great results. Seems nothing likes to eat the copper or asphalt treatment.. not even fungus..

I always seal the top cuts on my posts with a health does of the the asphalt paint.. keeps the from hollowing out from rain rot..

soundguy

 

[dmccarty]

You guys have me rethinking things.

I have tons of Red Cedar but I don't really want to use it for fence posts. I see them used for fence posts but I also see the fences falling down. But if I treated the posts that would certainly provide more protection.

I'll have to see if I can find the copper solutions.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Soundguy]

Cedar is normally pretty ressitant to rot and bugs.. how old are the fences?

soudnguy

 

[dmccarty]

Cedar is normally pretty ressitant to rot and bugs.. how old are the fences?

That is the 64,000 dollar question to which I don't have the answer. A neighbor has a "fence" made from ceder which is all but fallen down. He is at least in his 70's. My guess is that the fence was put up to hold in some horses on a small bit of pasture he has. I think the kids moved out and he got rid of the horses years ago. So 20-30 years maybe? But the fence looks like it has been down for at least a decade. I have seen other fences that look to be newer and while not falling down the sap wood has rotted and the fences don't look that good. Some of the posts look like you could walk up to them and push them over.

I would love to use the wood I have and save money. But I also don't want to be redoing fence posts in a few years either. I would rather do it right and be done. Most of the fences in my area are all PT SYP even though there is plenty of red cedar around.

Never met the neighbor but I do wave at him when I see him. I'll try to stop and talk to him about the fence.

Later,
Dan