Chain link posts

[Bus Driver]

Some instructions advise setting the posts and then cutting to length. Others say to set the posts to the proper depth initially. I will be working alone, no helper available. What was your experience with the post setting?

 

[Sid]

Setting them to the height I want usually works best for me.

 

[Paul Sebek]

Set the posts to height. Saves an extra step and cuts down on possible mistakes.

 

[Dennis V]

It works very good to dig the hole 6 inches short and pound the post in to height. Then add concrete for stability/strength for the life of the fence.

 

[jose bagge]

I use a T-post driver, and drive them to proper height.

 

[J.C.in AZ.]

Setting to the depth you want is vertually impossible in most places in my area of Arizona. Rocks ,Caliche and Sandy Soil all spell a "Loose" Post here. Premixed Mortar Mix and a Dewalt Cordless Reciprocating Saw are my answer to a solid Post setting. We use a 72" Post set about 18"deep if possible, pour Pre Mixed Concrete around Post ,cut Tops off Posts with Reciprocating Saw for 48" Chain Link and Top Rail. Cordless Tools have made work so much easier don"t you think?

 

[Fawteen]

I did chainlink semi-pro (worked for a company) for a couple of years in SC. We drove 'em to height, but the part of SC I was in was mostly sand anyway.

Up here in Maine where bedrock can be anywhere from surface to 6 feet down, 2" of topsoil over 2' of gravel is common and conditions just basically suck, I use a combination: Drive 'em to depth or as deep as I can, cut 'em to height with a pipe cutter.

First job I did up here, feller wanted to know how much concrete I was gonna need. "None.", sez I. Took me a while to convince him that all the concrete was gonna do is give the frost something to grab onto and heave the post out of the ground. Told him if that fence moved more than an inch on any post, I'd reset the whole thing in concrete for free.

Been 15 years, ain't been back...

 

[CNKS]

Set to proper depth -- be sure to allow for the top rail if you are using one.

 

[bva]

that makes life easy. I agree with this approach