Use a couple long 2x4's for braces, nail one end to the beam, and the other end to some wood spiked into the ground so it stays secure.
Just use a 4' level to get them plumb, then nail the braces, check plumb again, then pour. Shouldn't be too hard.
Plumbing a post that you're putting in concrete
Comments
12/22/2008 - 22:58
post levels
Rocks/gravel in the bottom of the hole are for drainage. You dont want the post setting in water.( make sure you go deeper than the frost line for your area too).
for square posts these levels are cheap and simple. I have even used them on round posts. The orange one in the link should work just fine. The rubber band goes around the post and hooks back onto the level. This way, your hands are free to pick your nose and level it out. :)
http://hand-tools.hardwarestore.com/21-400-levels-post.aspx
12/23/2008 - 04:13
Fencing contractor
I used to run a fencing business (not the swords) and I set a lot of posts. Previous posts are correct that some rocks in bottom allow drainage IF the soil underneath is porous. I used to dry set posts by placing the post in the hole and centering it where I need it (have a string line rigged up high on the posts from other objects or batter boards), then fill the hole with water about 1/3, then pour dry cement right from the sack into the hole and mix with a thin strong stick or a short piece of rebar by jamming the tamping rod into the hole all around the post mixing water and cement. Then repeat process with water and dry cement until hole is full being more careful toward the end to get the water/cement ratio closer so that the cement is workable.
I used to use just a torpedo level that I could slip into my back pocket while I filled the hole. If the cement is made stiff, it will hold the post with no support no problem. Cement will be nearly hardened in a few hours. Another thing I used to do was coat the sides of the post with roofing tar but NOT the base (this allows any water picked up from rain and sprinklers to drain out the bottom of the wood).
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Don G.
12/23/2008 - 07:12
Fence Posts
Just a few things I've learned about fencing...
There are a lot of people that want to get rid of decent boards because their posts are rotted, pressure washing makes them look new.
Pour enough concrete to be above grade, water won't settle in a high spot.
Dig deep in clay soils and use a masons line when erecting long fencelines.
In a repair, sometimes you can chisel the rough cut post out of the concrete and use a new pressure treated post. It's an option, but measure first.
A solid fence makes for good neighbors, on the western coast,
Call before you dig, if its a new fence
Thats about all I can add.
Hi All,
I'm working on a fort, and one of the first things we'll need to do is plumb the posts we're planting in the ground. The plan is to dig a hole, put rocks in the bottom of give the post something to sit on (besides dirt), then pour concrete around it and make sure it's plumb while the concrete cures.
But, how do we plumb it and how do we make sure it stays plumb while the concrete is curing? I had a few ideas but wanted to input from others:
Once the concrete has cured we'll pull the nails/plumblines and braces off.
Think that would work, or am I missing something? Is there another way?
-Josh