Fence post removal?.

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Hello all, has anybody got any tricks to removing broken fence posts set in concrete?.

I've got 40 to dig out by the look of it!.

Cheers for any replies, Keith.

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Are you putting new posts in where the rotten ones are and if so is the concrete still firm ? If yes then slowly burning out the rotten posts may be an option that will leave you with sockets to put the new posts into.
 
Could be a good idea!, just spent 1/2 hour with a spade and a pickaxe on 1 post base..
 
Cut the post as close as possible to the ground. Put some burning charcoal on the tip of the post and with a hot air gun (or carefully with a hair drier ) gently heed the charcoal with air to keep it just glowing red hot. Not too hot as that could crack the concrete. Use 4 bricks to keep the charcoal in place until the post is burnt down below ground level.

Some trial and error is needed.

This worked to remove a 6 incn square post that was 4 foot into the ground. That took two days as the bottom of the post was saturated but left a perfect hole for tha new post to drop into.
 
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Put in new posts half a fence panel pitch along from the existing post holes and leave the existing in place.
 
Put in new posts half a fence panel pitch along from the existing post holes and leave the existing in place.
That's fine but if you were the one who used to live in my house I would love to speak to you face to face as I would have some choice words for you !
I only jest but in my houses history that has been done twice with the result being that every 2 foot there is an old concrete post support meaning that the planted border is mostly concrete. Over the years as I found them when they are in my way I have dug them out. Just last week we had a move around with some plants and found 3 more.
I would dig them out AND dig a new hole in a different position because when you have dug it out you will end up with a much bigger hole that what is needed if you were in new earth
 
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I bought a aTitan 1500w SDS drill earlier but even with that it's been a nightmare!.

Had no choice but to dig existing out in the end due to how the fence was made (was a continuous fence but managed to cut it into 6ft panels).
 
the Americans jack them out.

Never done it myself but an interesting approach.


 
easiest way as said is to move the posts half a panel along.

They aren't really panels as such and it's been made from the posts up so a bit of a ballace really!.

They have failed at ground level so need to work out how I can pull the stumps out.
 
Yank them out with a toe jack like on the video;) Post expanded to clarify
 
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Post have failed flush with the ground or I would have had a go with that one!.
 
I meant the second video where the guy wrapped a chain round the lump of concrete, and set up the ratchet toe jack on 2 concrete blocks and a sleeper. We used one once to lift a bin store that had settled one side - concrete base, 9 inch wall 4 feet tall and concrete shelf @ top. A lever toe jack lifted it ( one side about 6 foot long) we had dug a hole for the jack and set it on a couple of paving slabs - Unbelievably powerful tool;) that we hired for the day. I think good rope would work as well as chain like the guy uses.
 

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