What to use for posts?

[Richard]

We have a stretch of grapes. Helping to hold them up are some posts that are somewhere around 4" diamater. These are round posts and quite possibly came off the farm decades ago.

I have personally been involved with this family since 1989 and know these are the same posts since then.

Well.... a handful of them have finally bit the sawdust and snapped in half at ground level. At least five of the fifteen need replaced.

When my wifes cousin gets back, I'll ask about replacing them ALL so they are all of the same vintage.

My question would be, what to use?

Could I use some 4" treated posts? Since a food is growing about 5' away, I'm a little nervous about using treated.

I don't want to scour the farm to try to find acceptable locust or cedar trees...especially since they once timbered the farm and the lumber guys took tons of cedar out.

What should I use or would I be ok using some store bought treated posts?

Metal stakes better?

 

[MMagis]

Personally, I would use 7’ metal T-posts. Faster, easier, and cheaper.

 

[markrahn]

I would get some 2 3/4 used drill pipe, get them to cut it to the lengths that you need. Never have to worry about them again. Around here, it is about 40 dollars for a 31 foot stick.

 

[Richard]

I would get some 2 3/4 used drill pipe

Pardon my ignorance... would this be some type of pipe used for drilling wells? Are they hollow? solid? (not that it matters, I'm just curious)

I would not have thought those to be high wear out items??

 

[MMagis]

Yes. I’m thinking it’s around 3” diameter? I have some around the farm, but haven’t used it enough to remember offhand. It would work well, but may be serious overkill.

 

[Haoleguy]

For the trellis posts I would probably suggest 5-6" black locust for the ends and the metal rolled edge vertical line posts in between the ends as they have the notches for the hanging the trellis wire. All the stress and weight carrying is on the ends and thus you need strong posts. These can either be driven at an angle and anchored to the ground or form an H with 2 posts and a horizontal beam and an angled twitch wire. Bekaert has some nice youtube videos on forming fence ends which are the same to vineyard trellising.

 

[markrahn]

yes, the drill pipe is hollow because drilling fluid flows down through it to the bit to flush out the cuttings from the bit. They are sometimes pitted, but they are about 1/4 inch wall and strong. We make fencing from them. Never rot in the ground. may be overkill, but they will never bend from the vines and you may be able to run longer trellis between them