Comments on How to Remove Fence Posts

I had 37 fence posts sunk two to three feet in my hard-pan soil. We tried pulling them out with an excavator and two guys with breaker bars. I estimate 4 tons of upward force used with that setup, and the posts didn't move. Next time, I will try a very long, 1" diameter auger bit on a 1/2" drill, and drilling down in the soil (an old auger bit I don't care about) at the outside edge of the concrete, several places around the post. That should loosen it enough that I can pull the post out using the leverage methods described in this eHow article, and I won't end up with a crater where the post was.

Removing broken wooden fence posts that were set with concrete can easily be done by one person using a method I discovered. First, using a post hole digger, dig down one side almost to the bottom of the post. Then dig about half way around the post to about half the depth of the buried stub. Place a flat metal (preferably) plate in the hole against the outside wall of the hole and using a scissor jack (a car jack), jack against the concrete plug and the metal plate. It will twist the post loose for removal. Works every time and is 1/10 the work of digging them all the way out - send money when it works to any charity.

First, take a sledgehammer and knock everything off your fence posts. Pulling fence posts takes two guys, each with a breaker bar. Dig away the dirt just enough so that you can spot the cement. When you've dug down far enough that you can clearly see the sides of your cement foundation, get out your breaker bars. Stab them into the sides of your cement so they have a good grip. When you and your buddy each have a good grip, put a brick or two near the end (underneath the bar) for leverage and press down together. Remember to push down as a team. The idea is to force the post and the concrete base UP. Try and do it on your own and you'll just wiggle the post back and forth. If you're going to use a pick to break concrete, make sure you wear safety glasses and boots. A pick can send a chunk of concrete right into your face, or it can bounce off the rock and into your shin so take a good stance. A small hand-held breaker is not expensive to rent for a day if you're alone and only have the weekend to pull 25 posts. Dig out all your posts down to the cement and see what you're dealing with before you rent the machine. Then apply the flat bit of the breaker right between the post and the cement. Try to carve the cement off the sides of the post. You basically want the post to come out first and then just reach in and lift out the broken slabs of cement that you broke off its sides.

First, take a sledgehammer and knock everything off your fence posts. Pulling fence posts takes two guys, each with a breaker bar. Dig away the dirt just enough so that you can spot the cement. When you've dug down far enough that you can clearly see the sides of your cement foundation, get out your breaker bars. Stab them into the sides of your cement so they have a good grip. When you and your buddy each have a good grip, put a brick or two near the end (underneath the bar) for leverage and press down together. Remember to push down as a team. The idea is to force the post and the concrete base UP. Try and do it on your own and you'll just wiggle the post back and forth. If you're going to use a pick to break concrete, make sure you wear safety glasses and boots. A pick can send a chunk of concrete right into your face, or it can bounce off the rock and into your shin so take a good stance. A small hand-held breaker is not expensive to rent for a day if you're alone and only have the weekend to pull 25 posts. Dig out all your posts down to the cement and see what you're dealing with before you rent the machine. Then apply the flat bit of the breaker right between the post and the cement. Try to carve the cement off the sides of the post. You basically want the post to come out first and then just reach in and lift out the broken slabs of cement that you broke off its sides.