Fence post concrete repair spur

Andymac1987

Hi all, I would be most grateful for your advice.

I have a wooden fence post which is rotten at ground level, and so a wobbly fence.

I bought a concrete repair spur and natively imagined I could chip away at the old postcrete with a hammer and flat chisele now realised it's a bigger job than I thought.

Would I be correct in thinking the concrete will be around 2 feet deep?!

Is there any way I can do this with hand tools? I've stumbled across a concrete pointed chisel online for example? Or would I have to go the whole way and hire a breaker? (If I even can given the pandemic)

Many thanks!
Andy

FreeBear

I have a two foot long chisel that is perfect for this type of job - I think it was originally part of a heavy duty compressor driven breaker kit... If you can find a "Kango Breaker" chisel, it would do the job - A word of warning - The ends are hardened steel, so there is a risk of chips splintering off when hit with a hammer. Wear leather gloves and eye protection.

The concrete may be two foot deep, or it might only be eight inches. You won't know until you go digging. Personally, I'd consider putting in a full height concrete post rather than just a repair section. A proper post will last your lifetime and more.

knightstyle

I have put in several repair spurs and in most cases the biggest job is getting rid of the existing concrete. Not complicated but hard work. Consider hiring an electric chisel or buying a long cold chisel with hand guard and a decent hammer. 

greatcrested

I've replaced rotten posts severaltimes over the years two this spring. The posts are sink into concrete.

I just dig out the wood below ground level leaving a post-shaped hole in the existing concrete. Soak the bottom of the new post in creosote (or modern equivelallant), then instert in tothe hole. Hammer it in (don't hammer directly onto top of post!).

Excavating the old post can be easy or hard. One this year was so rotten it pretty much could be removed by hand. The other needed tools. A crowbar. Hammer and chisel, and/or I've also used a drill with a long drill bit (concrete bit 16 x 4000mm).