There are many good reasons to remove a fence post. It may be sagging due to wear and tear or damage from a recent storm. Regardless of the reason, you may be wondering how you can remove a fence post without using a jack. To answer your question, we have done the necessary research, and here's what we found.
Fence posts can be easily removed without a jack. Instead of using a jack, you can employ the rope and board method. Follow these step-by-step procedures to take a fence post out of the ground:
- Make a trench around the post.
- Water the soil close to the post.
- Rock and nail the post.
- Make a knot on the post.
- Make a lever.
- Tie the board to the post.
- Pull out the post from the ground.
Getting a fence post out of the ground is a challenging task, especially if the fence surrounds a large property and has several posts separating the panels. Keep reading to get more detailed information on removing a fence post.
Removing Fence Post Without A Jack
Fence posts are either buried in the ground or concrete. A fence post buried in the ground is easy to remove, but the one buried in concrete requires special skill and tools.
Most fence posts are cemented into the ground. This is because they offer long-lasting strength and durability. However, removing these posts can be difficult.
If you don't want to use a jack to remove a fence post, you can try the rope and board method. Follow these steps if you want to get a fence post out of the ground using a rope and board approach:
Step 1: Make A Trench Around The Post
Make a trench around the post with a shovel. Only a one-foot-deep (0.3 m) trench is needed for this task. Get rid of any dirt that is clinging to the post or the concrete plug keeping it in place. When digging near concrete, always wear goggles to protect your eyes from shards of the material.
Step 2: Water The Soil Close To The Post
Soak the remaining soil around the post with water. When the soil close to the post is watered, it loosens. This makes it easier to get the post out of the ground.
Step 3: Rock And Nail The Post
Hold the post in place with your rocking motion. To loosen the post and plug, you should push it backward and forward continuously. This is to make the hole more obvious. Try damaging the post while doing this.
Each face of the post should be nailed. Make sure the nails enter inside the post at approximately 1 foot (0.3 m) above ground level. The nails must enter into the wood very well to achieve a secure hold.
Step 4: Make A Knot On The Post
Attach a strong rope to all the nails on the post and tighten the knot. To achieve this, you should loop the rope around the obvious nail heads. Then tie it tightly all over the fence post.
Step 5: Make A Lever
Make a lever to aid in the removal of the post. To accomplish this, place one to two more blocks on the edge of the trench. Then, lay a heavy plank over the blocks.
Step 6: Tie The Board To The Post
A rope should be attached to the edge of the board that is very close to the post. To keep the rope in place, hammer a few nails into the board with a hammer.
When your end is shifted closer to the ground, there is usually a build-up of tension on the rope. This pulls the rope upward, and the post under the ground becomes loose.
Step 7: Pull Out The Post From The Ground
Gradually pull the post from the hole. Once the post has been raised above the open hole, the next thing to do is to cut the rope before dragging the extracted post from the hole.
Alternatives To The Rope And Board Approach
Apart from using a jack or the rope and board method, there are other ways to remove a fence post. Constructing a lever is another simple way to remove a post without a jack and can be accomplished with a few extra 2x4s and a couple of cinder blocks.
Lever Method
If you don't want to use a jack or the rope and board approach, you can use a lever method to remove a fence post. You can follow these steps to do so:
- Take a pair of 2x4s about a foot long. Stagger them such that one is about 5-6 inches taller than the rest.
- 2x4s should be fastened to the post so that the higher piece is against the post.
- Place the cinder block and make sure that the cinder block is between 12 and 18 inches from the post.
- Measure and cut a 2x4 that is 6–8 feet long, then slide one end of it into the notch you made when you secure the shorter boards to the post. Check to see that the 2x4 is resting on the cinder block before moving forward.
- Apply downward pressure to the 2x4 that is on the other side of the cinder block, which will force the post up and out of the ground.
Dig And Push Method
This method will require a significant amount of manual labor. But, it is a good way to remove a fence post if you don't want to use a jack or other method. Follow these steps to remove a fence post using the dig and push method:
- Dig and make a ring around the post until you can see the whole perimeter of the concrete footing.
- Choose a side and dig down six inches on that side.
- To loosen the post, apply pressure to it from all sides.
- Attempt to pull the post up or entirely push it over.
- Dig another six inches into the ground on the same side as you did previously. Then, push it and try to remove it from the ground. Continue until the post has been completely removed from the ground.
How Much Force Is Needed To Pull A Fence Post?
Removing and replacing a fence post is a time-consuming and labor-intensive task that requires considerable effort and significant amounts of physical labor.
A vertical force of approximately 3,500 pounds is required to remove a four-inch metal post with a twelve-inch diameter and 48-inch deep concrete footing from the ground.
What Is A Post Puller?
A post puller is an instrument used to remove fence posts of all shapes and sizes. It can be used to remove street signs, gateposts, and motorway barrier posts. It is used by both fencers and landscapers.
A fence post puller is constructed with high-strength welded steel. The surface of the post puller is coated with a powder coating, which makes it resistant to rust and corrosion.
How Does A T Post Puller Work?
Post puller makes use of elementary principles of physics. The post is pulled out of the ground with minimal power and movement using leverage, a ratchet, and a fulcrum mechanism.
A 50-pound push on the handle of the T-puller results in 1050 pounds of gripping force, and 450 pounds of upward force, on the stake. Its low grip height makes it possible to pull stakes down from the top of the form.
Can A Fence Post Be Removed From The Ground Without Digging?
Taking out metal fence posts can be difficult because they tend to become deeply rooted in the soil. But, it is still possible to remove and replace a metal fence post without digging with a shovel.
You can remove a metal fence post with a tractor or wooden lever constructed from scrap wood and other materials. If it is set in concrete, you may need to use more powerful machinery, such as a jackhammer, to remove it without digging.
Also, with a length of two-by-four, you can remove any type of post, whether metal or wood, without digging. Even if the post is concrete, this method will still work.
To Wrap Up
There are a variety of approaches that can be used to remove a fence post without using a jack. Some of the approaches are more difficult than others, but you have various options. You can remove a fence post without a jack by using the rope and board method, a lever method, or a dig and pus method.
Whatever resources and tools you have on hand, as well as the amount of effort you are willing to put into removing the post, will determine the type of method to adopt.
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