Dry Packing Fence Posts

skyhook

1) Add small amounts of water to the 3/4 rock conctete mix, make it crumbly. sticks together. Watch for the change from light to dark gray.
2) Place 2" rock or clean gravel in bottom of hole, drop in treated end of post. 6' post = 2' deep.
3) Add dry pack concrete mix into hole, keeping the post plumb as you pack in, layer up evenly around post. I usually bunge 2 levels to the post.
4) Pack DP concrete mix tight with butt end of 2x2, 2x4 ect.
5) When the hole is full of DP, make a slight mound at the top, to positively shed water away.
6) You can work the fence without waiting for the concrete to set overnight.
7) Over time the DP will absorbe surface water and moisture from the surrounding soil, thus becoming very strong.

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DecksEtc

That just sounds like too much work!

hrscammisa

In the old days they use to set the post by pouring in a dry bag of mix and then dump water on top on then and on to the next one they went they were doing a lot at one time if you are all braced up good on your post and use a nail gun wet or dry mix you can build on them the same day I do it all the time set your end posts pull top and bottom string set it in the hole brace it to the string for plumb and nail a board to your first and to your second post and right on down the line it will help you keep your centers at 8 ft I use 1x4 x 16 ft for the horizantal bracing its cheap and if you screw them on you can reuse them over again

bcf

Sky, while I agreee dry packing posts is better, and not just for the he-man shoulders it gives, but why are you adding any water? And none of my customers want to see the concrete around the hole.

Does everyne go only 2' deeper than fence height? I'm starting to think I'm wasting money and time going 32". I'm thinking about going wet mix this year, with some hydralic cement for fast workability, because these he-man shoulders sure do ache after a day of dry packing.

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Matt Ehrenzeller-General Manager
A Great Divide Fence Company
www.agreatdividefence.com

zoso

The other day I got this quickcrete or sacrete that was specifically for fence posts. I poured the dry mix in, packed plumb and sprayed with a hose for a while. Next day it was solid as rock. Usually when I have done that the concrete never sets right.

Mix dirt/wet dirt with 1/2 a bag concrete and tamp as if dry dirt. Its more shoulder ache but its sturdy enough to build on and is very solid once the concrete cures.

My other methods are for the high end market and are rediculous.

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www.paragonfence.com

bill r

http://www.vectorpowerdrive.com/post...d4/at-work.php

PA woodbutcher

Nice, would sure save a "hole" lot of back aches. Nearest "hill" appeared to be quite some ways off though and probably not a real rock site. Holes here in PA can be a real problem as we run into a lot of bedrock