What to use for gate posts

[RichZ]

No question that steel is the strongest, but cedar won't rot for many years. I had steel fence posts in my old farm that were put in over 30 years ago, and still show no sign of rotting. Locust fence posts will probably last even longer, and I sometimes use them, but they're so hard that it's difficult to drill them or staple fencing to them.

 

[freewookie]

Okay I bought some 4-1/2" steel posts. How much concrete will it take to fill the centers? I'm figuring a bag or two in the hole around the base.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay I bought some 4-1/2" steel posts. How much concrete will it take to fill the centers? I'm figuring a bag or two in the hole around the base.

Yep, a couple bags at least and go deep especially if you are going to have a long heavy cantilever. Don't want it to 'rock' loose.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Why would you want to fill the center of a 4-1/2" steel post?

 

[dragoneggs]

Why would you want to fill the center of a 4-1/2" steel post?

Pretty much agree with trout here as long as you are starting with thick walled tube.

 

[boggen]

semi's and there long trailers, various larger agriculture tractor and there field equipment. if they are coming/going ever through the gate. make sure the gate can open up wide enough to let them drive through. and/or turn into the drive way without clipping something.

12 foot wide is maybe half way, wide enough for some equipment out there.

 

[freewookie]

Yep, a couple bags at least and go deep especially if you are going to have a long heavy cantilever. Don't want it to 'rock' loose.

I was thinking at least 3.5 ft. That leaves me 4.5 ft to mount the gate.

 

[freewookie]

Pretty much agree with trout here as long as you are starting with thick walled tube.

Because I don't have a welder, which I hope to remedy in the next six months, for the end caps. Leave them open on the top and you'll have them full of dead birds.

 

[dragoneggs]

Because I don't have a welder, which I hope to remedy in the next six months, for the end caps. Leave them open on the top and you'll have them full of dead birds.

Make a nice clean/flat top on the post and use an adhesive to bond a cap on. Don't have to weld that!

 

[freewookie]

Got them in the ground. Got to about 32" before I started hitting rock. Hope it works for a 14' 115lb gate.

 

[MacLawn]

Great thread for me too! I've already put 6x6 ground contact treated posts in concrete, waiting on me to make a proper gate now. Thanks for some good ideas! I'd go with steel if I was starting now though.

 

[JRobyn]

I used a "tap on" galvanized steel cap on my steel posts and did NOT fill them. Actually took a sledgehammer and wood block to "tap" them on! The caps have a lip that seats on the top rim of the post and excludes water entry. Got the caps at a fencing supply house.

- Jay

 

[woffleon]

I Made concrete posts after 30 years of replacing wood posts - 6" X 6" posts with 4 5/16" rio bar- you can adapt your wood mould to suit gate mounts and latches. Wont rot in the hole and become loose and will handle a scrub fire. Bit of setting up but if you have more than one to do this could be an option.

Good strong mix is essential - 32mpa concrete

 

[oosik]

I can think of one good reason to fill or cap a thick wall 4 1/2 inch steel pipe. I have used 2" series 80(thick wall) steel pipe for some of the posts on my fence lines. They are driven solid into the bedrock and as such, when it would rain the water will not drain out of the pipes. This water will freeze and split the pipes in the cold wx. I have had to replace three of these pipes due to splitting. My solution - a thick ring of a good weather proof sealant around the top of the pipe and then an aluminum soda can down over the top. The sealant keeps the soda can from blowing off during the first wind storm. No more split pipes.

 

[Tororider]

Good stuff. I need to get a couple gates up.

 

[4shorts]

I built a couple of simple gates this summer for our property. The main one is simply made out of 2 1/4 exhaust pipe. It's light but looks heavy. The 1/4" x 4" pole is set in cement 3' into the ground. I'll be installing an automatic opener on it this spring.

 

[TomSeller]

I Made concrete posts after 30 years of replacing wood posts - 6" X 6" posts with 4 5/16" rio bar- you can adapt your wood mould to suit gate mounts and latches. Wont rot in the hole and become loose and will handle a scrub fire. Bit of setting up but if you have more than one to do this could be an option.

Good strong mix is essential - 32mpa concrete

So did I. Can you post a picture of your setup?

 

[Tororider]

So did I. Can you post a picture of your setup?

Did you just use plywood to build your mold?

 

[dragoneggs]

I built a couple of simple gates this summer for our property. The main one is simply made out of 2 1/4 exhaust pipe. It's light but looks heavy. The 1/4" x 4" pole is set in cement 3' into the ground. I'll be installing an automatic opener on it this spring.

I do like the look and elegance of heavy but light and simple design. I think you need a plasma cut 'Speciality Repairs' logo midpoint.

 

[varmint]

A common fence post around here is black locust, rough cut 5" x 7" or so. I have learned that some will last a lifetime, and some will rot in 10 years. Not sure what the difference is. A person who works with them all the time can probably tell, but I can't. For a gate post, steel/conc is a do it once proposition.