Fence Posts in concrete or not?

[HighLoader]

I have started fencing our 5 acre and 20 acre property, the perimiter and interior. I am using 2,7/8s steel oil well tubing for the posts. I have been drilling 2 foot holes and then setting them in concrete. Yesterday I tried setting a couple without concrete. I used a steel rod to pack the dirt in around the post. I was suprised how secure it was. Without the concrete, will the posts loosen and lean over? Without the concrete to protect the post how long will the post last? Can I coat the post with something before I put it in the ground? My hope is that I can get a good 40 years or more out of these posts so when I am in my eighties I will not have to do this all over again! Anybody out there with some advice? Thanks

 

[HighLoader]

Here are some of the posts I have set so far.

 

[Egon]

Sorry to digress but that is a lovely picture.

Concrete will definetly help hold the posts more securely. As for not using concrete this may work just as well but may depend on the type of soil / weather conditions and how far they are buried.

As for the posts longevity it again depends on weater/type of soil/pipe metal composition and schedule.

 

[n8wrl]

I have never set steel pipe posts, but I always go down at least 3-4'. I think that's from my time in MI trying to avoid frost heaving. But I only set corners in concrete anymore because we seem to change fences around now and again. It's easier to pull out and move w/o the concrete, and SC clay hardens quite a bit. I imagine it really depends on your local soil conditions.

-Brian

 

[weldingisfun]

Setting every post in concrete is overkill. As stated by others, soil and weather conditions will determine if your posts stay vertical. I would set every fifth post in concrete. I don't use steel but this approach has worked for me using cedar posts. All the posts do is hold your wire up off of the ground.
Nice looking picture.

 

[dtd24]

I would say yes to the concrete since you are only going 2' deep. You don't have to mix the concrete, dig the hole, stick the pole in, pour in some water, pour in concrete mix, more water, move down the line. Worked great for me!!

That picture is beautifu, looks like you have alot of fencing to do, good luck.

 

[holstein05]

Growing up on the dairy, My father taught me a general rule. Wood in dirt, steel in concrete.

BUT, like the other guys said, it probably depends a lot on the soil conditions of the area.

That pic is so beautiful, I don't believe I'd plant another post on that ground!

 

[dmccarty]

Setting every post in concrete is overkill. As stated by others, soil and weather conditions will determine if your posts stay vertical. I would set every fifth post in concrete. I don't use steel but this approach has worked for me using cedar posts. All the posts do is hold your wire up off of the ground.
Nice looking picture.

WeldingIsFun,

Are these Eastern Red cedar?
How long have they been in the ground and how are they holding up?

I have lots of Eastern Red Cedar. I see some of it used for fences. Some look ok while others are falling down. I don't know how long the posts have been in use though.

I think if I just used the trees taken down by ice storms I could fence in my land with them.

Later,
Dan

 

[GaryBDavis]

I have started fencing our 5 acre and 20 acre property, the perimiter and interior. I am using 2,7/8s steel oil well tubing for the posts. I have been drilling 2 foot holes and then setting them in concrete. Yesterday I tried setting a couple without concrete. I used a steel rod to pack the dirt in around the post. I was suprised how secure it was. Without the concrete, will the posts loosen and lean over? Without the concrete to protect the post how long will the post last? Can I coat the post with something before I put it in the ground? My hope is that I can get a good 40 years or more out of these posts so when I am in my eighties I will not have to do this all over again! Anybody out there with some advice? Thanks

Growing up, we always used wood post and never set them in concrete. We did, however, tamp them in using heavy tamping bars that weighed around 15 to 20lb. This was in rocky soil and we used softball size rocks mixed with dirt for the tamping. This is cheaper but a lot more work than mixing up two bags of ready mix. A lot of folks don't tamp a post properly because it's hard work.

Now days, we use steel pipe post and set them in concrete around 3' deep and we use two 80lb bags of ready mix. We tried driving them and here's what we found: If the soil is rocky and non-expansive, it works pretty well. If the soil is expansive (meaning it shrinks when dry and expands when wet), the post will be tight in the winter and loose in the summer.

In general, if you drive post or tamp them in, the soil needs to be rocky and/or the post need to be set deeper.

We also only use a line post every 50 to 100 feet and t-post in-between on 10' spacings. This for barb wire and barb/netting combination fences. 7 1/2 foot t-post if the soil is tight and longer if we are in sandy soil. For rocky soil, we sometimes have to pre-drill with a 40lb air-rock drill.

 

[weldingisfun]

WeldingIsFun,

Are these Eastern Red cedar?
How long have they been in the ground and how are they holding up?

I have lots of Eastern Red Cedar. I see some of it used for fences. Some look ok while others are falling down. I don't know how long the posts have been in use though.

I think if I just used the trees taken down by ice storms I could fence in my land with them.

Later,
Dan

Dan, they are Ashe Juniper Cedars in this area. There are some cedar fence posts on my property that have been here nearly 75 years and they are like iron. You cannot drive a wire staple into them. I have put in some cedar posts that have rotted out in four years. Then I have others that are still as strong as the day I set them. I fenced my entire place with posts cut from the prpoerty. What I have found is that if there is a dark red heart, it will last. No heart, chip it or burn it. I always learn by the mistakes I make.