Barn Lot Posts

Fred Werring · Sep 18, 2014

Got a concrete feeding/sorting area behind the barn for cows.
The posts that were set for the dividing board fences were set in concrete and have all rotted off, I need to rebuild. They did, however make it 30 years before rotting off.

Would you either (a)set the posts in concrete again, or (b)set the posts like a pole barn...concrete pad on the bottom, then tamped in crusher run around the posts for drainage?

Wondering if the the posts would be strong enough laterally for sorting gates and the stresses of cows pressing against them if crusher run was used.

Am inclined to set in concrete...I'm 55, they should last as long as I'm fooling with cows.

But not so sure the treated posts you get now will hold up like the old posts.

How would you do it?

Thanks

Fred

JD Seller · Sep 18, 2014

I got away from wood post as it is hard to find good ones anymore. I have been using heavy walled steel pipe. I have been driving them right through the old wooden post. The old post seem to be mostly rotten. It is 5 inch diameter pipe. I leave the bottom open.

IF want to stay with wooden then I would set "new" railroad ties. You can buy new ones. I would back fill them with gravel not concrete.

I have not found any new pressure treated post that will hold up very long.

sms · Sep 18, 2014

These posts are the only way I would build a pole building anymore. Worth looking into.
Permacolumn

Nebraska Cowman · Sep 18, 2014

Yes, I 2nd the metal post recommendation. Heavy wall pipe looks nice but most any salvage iron can be used. What can you find?

donjr · Sep 18, 2014

The past few gates I have set have been heavy 8" I-beams, set in concrete, and hinges welded on them for the gates. So far, they've been great....

dpendzic · Sep 18, 2014

wood posts should not be set in concrete as it traps moisture and hastens decay---post can be set on a concrete pad and hole back filled with course sand or gravel, that will drain away moisture and let the ground frost heave without pushing the post up.
Depending on what your state allows for wood preservative there are different retention values for certain uses.
For timber poles used in sea water we always specified 18 lbs. creosote oil per cubic ft retention.For CCA or ACA we specfied 2.5 lbs. retention per cubic ft.--This is a far cry from .6 pcf found in most lumber yard pressure treated lumber.

C. Amick · Sep 18, 2014

I wrapped the buried portion of the posts on my pole shed with clear plastic shrink wrap to try to keep the water out. I don't know how much it will help.

Fred Werring · Sep 18, 2014

So do you drill holes, then thread for bolts, or weld on brackets after they're set?

Did a quick google search to see what was available around me...50 miles east of Cincinnati, Ohio...not much

Fred

JD Seller · Sep 18, 2014

Fred I weld on brackets after they are set. I also make clamp type hinges that fit the driven steel pipe as well. So you can adjust the hinge up or down as needed.

I just cut a 4-5 inch section of the pipe. I then split it 180 degrees across for each split. I then weld angle iron ears on each piece. The angle iron has a hole in each one for a draw bolt. So you just have a big clamp. I then weld 3-4 inch pieces of pipe on the clamps. I also weld short pieces of pipe on the gates too. So you just have to have drop pins to hold the gates to the posts.

I do have a set dimension that I weld all the pipes on the gates too. So I can take a gate from one place and use it in another place.

Barn Lot Posts

Fred Werring

Well-known Member

JD Seller

Well-known Member

sms

Well-known Member

Nebraska Cowman

Well-known Member

donjr

Well-known Member

dpendzic

Well-known Member

C. Amick

Well-known Member

Fred Werring

Well-known Member

JD Seller

Well-known Member

Similar threads