Agri fencing question/ advice

[VSS]

Copper oil stakes / posts would be safer next to a water coarse guaranteed to 40 yrs better than creosote for pollution reasons.

I think they're good until you have to cut one? Is that right? The treatment doesn't penetrate to the core of the post like the creosote does, so any cut that exposes the middle of the post enables it to rot from the inside outwards? Like it does with tanalised posts.
I think that's the case anyway, and this photo would seem to bear that out:

 

[Scuffy]

Even a creosoted telegraph post does not have 100% penetration.

There are two types of tanalising, the standard and HCD treated to BS 8417. The latter is more expensive but has expected life of 30 years.

Any post that is topped or notched in any way should have the cut treated. Ive started capping straining posts with 6mm recycled plastic for longevity. Nowt worse than finding a striking post has the core rotted out from the top down.

 

[VSS]

Even a creosoted telegraph post does not have 100% penetration.

There are two types of tanalising, the standard and HCD treated to BS 8417. The latter is more expensive but has expected life of 30 years.

Any post that is topped or notched in any way should have the cut treated. Ive started capping straining posts with 6mm recycled plastic for longevity. Nowt worse than finding a striking post has the core rotted out from the top down.

I know telegraph poles don't, but the pressure / vacuum creosoted fence posts do appear to. Maybe not with the thicker straining posts though?
I've used quite a few posts from "fence & forget", and I must say they're still like new after many years, and after tanalised posts have long since rotted off.
I just wish I could have afforded to fence my deer park with them.

 

[Mountain Bug]

Three strands of hotwire is all you need. Works for stock and equally well on kids, dogs and ramblers.



Scott

 

[VSS]

Three strands of hotwire is all you need. Works for stock and equally well on kids, dogs and ramblers.



Scott

All fine and dandy until you decide to take a shortcut through your own fields on your unsteady way home from the pub in the dark...

(There is a story behind this: A farmer friend of my parents got fed up with people stopping in a layby and hopping over the gate into one of his fields for a pee. So he hit on the idea of running a strand of electric fence along the top of the gate. His first victims were his own two sons, taking a shortcut home from a YFC bash).

 

[Jamouk]

Good point glad it's a brook not a river

 

[Jason The Turner]

Another vote for clippex here! It's an absolute game changer. Get it in different heights. I'll never go back to wood! A bit more expensive but you can install it on your own, (its not a two man job) and it's so, so quick, that the speed more than makes up for the increased price.

edit - Ooops - that reply was a bit late sorry about that

 

[countrryboy]

Must admit I'm not a fan of clippex fencing.
I think it looks an eyesore.
U can buy a different brand that powder coats them green, slightly dearer but less of an eyesore, i forget the brand now ( a sort of C shapped post rather than a warratah).

If u go for 3 1/2" posts or 3" squares rather than 3" pencil rounds makes a big difference.
Hd4 strainers and chunky stabs fence will last for donkeys years.

The big problem u have with timber posts snapping at base is when ur using 3" posts to save money.
When u have modern heavy cattle leaning on scratching on them, plus fences are higher so more leverage.
Just snaps them at the ground.
I've snapped brand new 3" stabs just pushing/kicking them to try and get them back inline.
That's why I really like an electric wire on top just stops cows rubbing on fences.

So if ur fences are away from stock pressure they will last for a long time.