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Fence post question tom g 06-17-2006
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Posted by Ether Jones on June 18, 2006, 12:32 am

tom g wrote:
> I have a couple of fence posts (CCA 4x4) that have split open at the
> top. Split is about 3/4" wide and 5" long. The fence itself is in good
> shape. How can I keep these posts "together" or at least prevent the
> gap from getting worse? Some kind of special bracing or fastener? Wood
> putty?

3/4" wide by 5" long? That's a large split.

Get a very large C-clamp (or a bench vice that will open 6 inches) and
some polyurethane glue ("Gorilla" glue). Dampen the inside of the
split with a spray bottle. Use a small brush or a popsicle stick or a
bamboo skewer to "paint" both sides of the inside of the split with the
glue as best as possible. Put a scrap piece of flat hardwood or steel
on either side of the post to distribute the load and draw the split
closed using the C clamp. The poly glue expands as it cures, and will
fill in all the gaps. Leave the clamp on until it cures. When it's
done curing, if your installation allows it, wrap the top with a dozen
turns of fencing wire for belt-and-suspenders. Then install a post
cap to keep the rainwater out.

A different approach would be to get a 5" carriage bolt and some large
thick washers. Drill a hole perpendicular to the split, apply the poly
glue, and use the carriage bolt to draw the split closed; the washers
distribute the load and keep the bolt from digging too deeply into the
wood. Leave the carriage bolt installed for extra strength if you don't
mind the appearance. Put a cap on the post to keep out rainwater, or
soak heavily with deck waterproofer.

Hint: for the first half hour after clamping the split closed,
continually wipe off excess glue as it expands and oozes out. If you
wait till it has fully cured, you'll have quite a chore chipping it
off.


Posted by Ether Jones on June 18, 2006, 12:45 am

Ether Jones wrote:
> tom g wrote:
> > I have a couple of fence posts (CCA 4x4) that have split open at the
> > top. Split is about 3/4" wide and 5" long. The fence itself is in good
> > shape. How can I keep these posts "together" or at least prevent the
> > gap from getting worse? Some kind of special bracing or fastener? Wood
> > putty?
>
> 3/4" wide by 5" long? That's a large split.

In my earlier post, I was visualizing the 3/4" "width" to be how far
the wood had split apart.

But perhaps you meant the 3/4" was how deep the split penetrates from
the surface into the wood. If such is the case, and if the wood isn't
split apart too far (say less than an eighth of an inch), then I
wouldn't bother trying to draw it back together. I'd just soak the
top of the post heavily with deck waterproofer (letting it soak down
into the split), and then put a rainwater cap on it. It there's room,
and you aren't put off by the appearance, wrap the top of the post
several times with fencing wire to prevent the split from widening, or
use a large automotive radiator clamp and draw it tight (put the screw
part of the clamp on the side with the split). Paint the clamp (or
wire) to help it blend in.


Posted by tom g on June 18, 2006, 1:05 am
wrote:

>
>Ether Jones wrote:
>> tom g wrote:
>> > I have a couple of fence posts (CCA 4x4) that have split open at the
>> > top. Split is about 3/4" wide and 5" long. The fence itself is in good
>> > shape. How can I keep these posts "together" or at least prevent the
>> > gap from getting worse? Some kind of special bracing or fastener? Wood
>> > putty?
>>
>> 3/4" wide by 5" long? That's a large split.
>
>In my earlier post, I was visualizing the 3/4" "width" to be how far
>the wood had split apart.
>
>But perhaps you meant the 3/4" was how deep the split penetrates from
>the surface into the wood. If such is the case, and if the wood isn't
>split apart too far (say less than an eighth of an inch), then I
>wouldn't bother trying to draw it back together. I'd just soak the
>top of the post heavily with deck waterproofer (letting it soak down
>into the split), and then put a rainwater cap on it. It there's room,
>and you aren't put off by the appearance, wrap the top of the post
>several times with fencing wire to prevent the split from widening, or
>use a large automotive radiator clamp and draw it tight (put the screw
>part of the clamp on the side with the split). Paint the clamp (or
>wire) to help it blend in.

Yes, 3/4" is the actual width of the gap - the wood has split clear
across. I think I'll try your previous advice with the gorilla glue.
Thanks a bunch for writing it up!

Posted by dpb on June 20, 2006, 2:42 pm

tom g wrote:
> I have a couple of fence posts (CCA 4x4) that have split open at the
> top. Split is about 3/4" wide and 5" long. The fence itself is in good
> shape. How can I keep these posts "together" or at least prevent the
> gap from getting worse? Some kind of special bracing or fastener? Wood
> putty?

Basically, you can't. Wood posts are cut longitudinally and most CCA
4x4's are cut from branches barely large enough to make the post out of
these days and so are likely to have circumferential grain in almost a
full circle. When it dries, it inevitably will split.

As some others have noted, you _may_ be able to keep the movement to a
minimum by mechanical restraint, but a fence staple won't be strong
enough (if that is what another poster is really talking about).

There are S-shaped wedges made to drive into the end of posts (mostly
in larger sizes for things such as railroad ties where they are used
routinely).


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