What is the best way to remove an old fence post?
Question:The bottom has rotted and left concrete to remove. The posts are 4x4's, and I am wanting to replace them.
Answers:
Use a saws all to cut the post about 4 or 5 inches below ground level(ya gotta do a lil diggin)Then add topsoil,grass seed and a lil hey or straw over the seed
if the slabs of concrete are far too large to be moved, then the best option is to heat the concrete almost to the point that it explodes, and then rapidly cooling it in order to form deep fractures. This method does not require any tools more extensive than a decant sized sledge hammer, a pair of thick gloves, a shovel, gasoline, and a lighter (or in lieu of the last two, a skillfully manned propane torch). The basic idea is to get rid of the wood, thus leaving a weak point to break up the cement. By burning a small stump after cutting the wood down to an inch or so, the wood is easily removed, and the weakening of the cement will have begun. After the wood is gone, the recess will either be filled with gasoline and then ignited, or heated with a torch. It is important to keep easily ignitable items away from the slab, such as dry brush and weeds. Once the gasoline has been spent, or the cement has been torched for a good ten minutes have at it with a sledge hammer after letting it cool, or quenching it with water, but be EXTREMELY CAREFUL if quenching the cement as the steam generated may cause it to explode. From here, once the rubble has been left to cool overnight a thick pair of gloves, such as welder's glove should be worn to remove the chunks as they will be very sharp and not quite manageable with a shovel, although it will help to dig further down to get at all oft he pieces.
If you have a post hole digger, dig a hole right next to the old concrete base. Then tip the concrete base into the new hole. That should loosen it enough to pull it up.
Ok here is the easiest and safest way to do this. Dig a hole in front of the post on one side. Down the the bottom of the cement. Usually 2 feet. Rent a small rotohammer. It's like a little jack hammer. Use it to break off one side of the cement so you can remove the rotted piece. Then put your new post in the old hole. Mix up some post hole cement to a stiff mix and put it the hole to replace the part you chiseled out.
Bloodsweat & tears.
I did basically what those other folks recommended. Anyway mine was larger and way deeper than expected, so I had rented a small backhoe. I should have done it in the first place, but I was stupid and tight AZZ. The backhoe was some work too, but done within 1/2 hour. Luckily, I had some tree stumps and big rocks I wanted to remove for YEARS. Should had done this years ago too.
a)
dig a hole next to the concrete and pry the concrete into it then lift it out of the second hole.
b)
rent a toro dingo(think worlds smallest peice of heavy equip) at your home conter... (I own mine)
using a cordless drill and big long lag bolts secure a steel loop (chainlink fence fitting tension or brace band works great) into the wood- hook a chain onto the new handle you just installed on the post hook the other end onto the bucket raise bucket. sometimes the bucket can be used without all this if you can get it under some of the concrete.
c.)
using a pickup and chain and 36" peice of 4x4. hook chain onto cement/wood @ or below ground level.
chain is positiononed on top of the nearly vertical 4x4. very close to cement being removed. of course the end is hooked to the hitch of the truck. when truck moves forward very slowly the 4x4 leans towards truck, and is repositioned. the 4x4 allows you to pull upwards which is the key.
d) use metal posts on the new fence 2 3/8" schedule 40 or one of the new products from master halco. (postmaster) put them in the old holes and fill up the gap left by the rotten wood with more cement.
Take out the post and clear the surface of the concrete.
Hire a Kango or similar cutter and the concrete will chip out easily
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