Removing Chain-Link Fence and posts

[EggRaid]

Hello,

I bought a house that has a chain link fence only on one side of the back yard.. I discovered that this is actually my neighbors "former" fence but they built a wooden fence on their side of it.

Now, there are tons of large weeds that grow between their wooden fence and the old chain link that can't be accessed. I would like to remove the chain link fence and just use the back of their wooden fence as the common separation.

With his permission, of course, what is the best way to remove those posts? I can cut the chain link off, but the posts seem to be pretty solid. Should they just be dug up, or cut at the base?

Thoughts? Experiences?

ER

[Rescate]

"EggRaid" wrote in news:GHoEd.20297$ [e-mail]:

If you go messing around with the posts of the chain link it's going to damage the wood fence. Ask him and if OK remove the chain link and then you can get to the weeds.

[effi]

find someone who wants a section of chain link fence that long and tell them they can have it if they can get it out without damaging the wood fence

[George E. Cawthon]

Don't dig, don't cut, use a post puller. This is just a long rod with a fixture that hooks on the post and a support that gives high leverage. You can of course just use pipe and chain and a couple of short 10x10" timbers, but it is more cumbersome. An alternative is one of those hi lift jacks that many people buy for their pickup or farm machinery. You just jack the post and cement out of the ground. When you get the out, a few whacks will reduce the cement to manageable size and then you do whatever you want with the post (sell to the recycler?).

[Buck Turgidson]

Why don't you just use a Sawzall? If the concrete is above the surface, you might try a sledge hammer to break them up.

[Kevin Ricks]

Last summer I helped my neighbor remove chain link between our properties. He cut the posts off a few inches below grade using an angle grinder with cutting disk. Very easy and quick. A couple of old posts were in the way of the new vinyl fence posts and had to be dug up. He dug around as much as possible and soaked with water then pulled them up with chain attached to an ATV.

Kevin

[wayne]

Don't forget to soak the ground before you pull the posts wiggle them as much as possible metal posts are usually not in that deep. You may even want to try one of those deep root waterers they have to get the ground soaked deep at the bottom 2' is the usual depth form the ones that I have seen.

Wayne

[JimmySchmittsLovesChocolateMil]

If the posts are concreted in the ground, (I did that in my dog run to prevent him from digging the posts down, you can cut the posts off as low as possible, then put a little topsoil over the area and turn it into a planter bed or seed it with grass.

[Joe Bobst]

Go to any farm store and buy a post puller and chain (if one doesn't come with it. Something sturdy to put under the puller base would be helpful. Online sources are Northern Tool and Harbor Freight for price references and you might find one on eBay. Rental tool places are also a possibility, but sometimes the time needed for the project makes the tool rental a high proportion of the purchase price and besides you could always sell it oneBay when you'e done with it. Most pullers will even yank a concrete embedded post out of the ground. Be sure to consider your disposal system if your garbage haulers have special regulations. Good luck.

Joe

[Mark Cato]

How are the posts installed? If their set in concrete and in very close proximity to the new fence, removal would be difficult. Another factor is the clearance between the cement base and the bottom of the fence. Your neighbor may be able to provide details on the depth of the pour, etc if he did the job himself (or watched the process).

The easiest solution would be to cut the posts as low as possible and bury them. As others have suggested, an angle grinder or Sawz-All should make short work of the posts without damaging the neighbor's new fence.

mark __________________________ Mark Cato [e-mail]

[Jeff Cochran]

Sheepherder's jack, sometimes called a fancepost jack.

Jeff

[EggRaid]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions!

ER

[Phisherman]

Dig out the posts. A come-along or wench may make be good tools to use.

[TaskProperties]

Phisherman wrote in news: [e-mail]:

That's not good since the fences are close together.

[SteveB]

Please follow up and let us know what you used, and how it worked.

Steve

[Sexytom976]

Best and quickest idea right there!

Sawzall is the next best!

[George E. Cawthon]

Huh? What did you say a wench would be good for?