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Randall:

Schedule 40 galv pipe would indeed be expensive, mostly because it's new.  
If you were lucky enough, you might find scrap post (of varying lengths) at 
a scrap yard.  The "Cadillac" fence that one of my neighbors installed was 
all welded from salvaged steam pipe and at least 8' above the ground.  
Apparently tough to work with, but he need a good fence since he has 
variously raised elk, zebras, camels, and some type of donkey.

When I constructed my 8' fence, I used pressure treated 4x4 posts that were 
also dipped/brushed with a thick coating of foundation sealer.  They were 
spaced fairly far apart because originally it was an electric fence (used 
fiberglass spacers between.)

Two inexpensive options come to mind for 10' posts.  One is the horizonal 
post used for chain link fence.  They are about 10' 6" in length.  These can 
be found at home improvement stores and run under $10 (~6-7 bucks if I 
remember correctly.)

The other option (that I went with) was 6' HEAVY GAUGE T-posts, to which I 
wire tied 10' reinforcing bar.  If you are really cheap, the 20' are often 
less expensive and cutting them (abrasive blade in chop saw) is pretty easy. 
 I pounded the rebar 2' into the ground and used wire ties (the kind used 
to secure reinforcing bar in concrete walls and floors.)  Woven fence has 
some stability of its own, so no sag with that system.

I have to admit that 10' t-posts would definitely do the job, but pounding 
them in sounds like a challenge.  Maybe dig a post hole and set with 
concrete?


On 13 Sep 2004 at 22:04, RW Spalinger wrote:

> I have to special order 10' T-posts as well as the field fence.
> T-posts are the most economical supports I can find. I wanted to use
> 10' schedule 40 galvanized pipe for the orchard fence, but the local
> hardware store priced them at $97 per post. So, my orchard fence is
> all T-posts and 85" field fence. I placed posts 6' apart at the
> corners and put them in concrete, and contracted a local welder to
> weld 6' T-posts between them for bracing.

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