Removing a stuck fence post

FlaatusGoat

Looking for ideas on this one. I've got a thick post that's been used to support a garden fence post. They've screwed through the supporting post into the fence post on the other side. Nothing particularly surprising about them being screwed together of course. Trouble is the screws were ridiculously tight due to wood swell I'd imagine. Attempts to unscrew have stripped the heads off. The screws are deeply recessed into the post so there's no easy way to pry them out.

Other than trying to run a saw between the two posts and cut the screws off (easier said than done) any other suggested ways I could get the post off?

Section62

FlaatusGoat said:

Other than trying to run a saw between the two posts and cut the screws off (easier said than done) any other suggested ways I could get the post off?

If you want to keep the thick post without damaging it then the best way of removing the fence post is to sacrifice it - saw almost all the way through the fence post in various places to remove the bulk of it inbetween the screws, then break off the bits still attached to the screws.  Make the saw cuts sloping up/down to make it easier to remove the bulk of the post.

You'll be left with the thick post with headless screws sticking out of it... which can be dealt with by molegrips, or sawing them off if they still won't budge.

ThisIsWeird

As S62 says - different methods depending on whether you can sacrifice the fence post. 

If you are replacing the fence post anyway, then I'd saw the post off a few mm above the screw - as close as you can get but without touching the screw so's it doesn't damage the saw teeth. Once cut, the screw will now be buried just a few mm below the top surface of the exposed stump. Use a chisel or similar to cut a 'V'-shape either side to expose the screw. Bend the screw until it snaps where it enters the thick post.

If you wish to retain both the stump and post, then your own idea is probably best. If you drill a hole sideways in between both post faces, just above where the screw is, and more into one surface if it can be sacrificed more, then slip in a large hacksaw blade in a padsaw handle and cut down. Should be quite doable.

The posts can be reused - all they'll have is this side-on hole at the back. Treat the exposed hole with preservative.

FlaatusGoat

ThisIsWeird said:

As S62 says - different methods depending on whether you can sacrifice the fence post. 

If you are replacing the fence post anyway, then I'd saw the post off a few mm above the screw - as close as you can get but without touching the screw so's it doesn't damage the saw teeth. Once cut, the screw will now be buried just a few mm below the top surface of the exposed stump. Use a chisel or similar to cut a 'V'-shape either side to expose the screw. Bend the screw until it snaps where it enters the thick post.

If you wish to retain both the stump and post, then your own idea is probably best. If you drill a hole sideways in between both post faces, just above where the screw is, and more into one surface if it can be sacrificed more, then slip in a large hacksaw blade in a padsaw handle and cut down. Should be quite doable.

The posts can be reused - all they'll have is this side-on hole at the back. Treat the exposed hole with preservative.

Thanks drilling a hole from the side above where the screw connectsto the fence post sounds like my best bet. Can you point me in the right direction in terms of what sort of saw I'll need. Presumably a padsaw like you say but do screwfix/toolstation etc sell these or an equivalent with a blade suitable for cutting through screws. Imo those can be seriously hardened and strong

Grenage

Know anyone with a reciprocating saw?  This is pretty much the only sort of job for which I use mine.

FlaatusGoat

Grenage said:

Know anyone with a reciprocating saw?  This is pretty much the only sort of job for which I use mine.

Unfortunately not. They're £100 odd quid and for a one off job to cut 5 screws it seems a bit steep :-/

ThisIsWeird

FlaatusGoat said:

Thanks drilling a hole from the side above where the screw connectsto the fence post sounds like my best bet. Can you point me in the right direction in terms of what sort of saw I'll need. Presumably a padsaw like you say but do screwfix/toolstation etc sell these or an equivalent with a blade suitable for cutting through screws. Imo those can be seriously hardened and strong

I'm now thinking the best type of saw would be a 12" hacksaw that has the ability to have its blade rotated thro' 90o. So you could thread the blade through the drilled hole, and reattach it to the saw, and cut away holding the saw horizontally.

I think that this one does this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Irwin-Tension-Hacksaw-300mm-blades/dp/B000Y8IDVG

Yes, screws tend to be hardened steel, but they should still be cuttable. What size - diameter - are they? When you're down to the last screw, just lever the post to snap it! Possibly.

FlaatusGoat

ThisIsWeird said:

FlaatusGoat said:

Thanks drilling a hole from the side above where the screw connectsto the fence post sounds like my best bet. Can you point me in the right direction in terms of what sort of saw I'll need. Presumably a padsaw like you say but do screwfix/toolstation etc sell these or an equivalent with a blade suitable for cutting through screws. Imo those can be seriously hardened and strong

I'm now thinking the best type of saw would be a 12" hacksaw that has the ability to have its blade rotated thro' 90o. So you could thread the blade through the drilled hole, and reattach it to the saw, and cut away holding the saw horizontally.

I think that this one does this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Irwin-Tension-Hacksaw-300mm-blades/dp/B000Y8IDVG

Yes, screws tend to be hardened steel, but they should still be cuttable. What size - diameter - are they? When you're down to the last screw, just lever the post to snap it! Possibly.

I managed to get a saw down between the fence post and the supporting post to the first screw. I think if I can slip the hacksaw blade and cut the first screw off (this might take 20 minutes so be it!) I can then gradually bend the supporting post back enough for me to re-attach the hacksaw blade and cut the next screw off more effectively. If the first screw is really stubborn I can probably snap it in half using a cold chisel and hammer

ThisIsWeird

That sounds like a plan. Unlike mine - the hacksaw wouldn't have the required post-thickness clearance in its arm.

An alternative method would be a home-made padsaw handle - just two pieces of wood that, when placed together, can still be clenched in your fist. 4 screws to hold them together, and slip in a hacksaw blade before tightening up.

mi-key

Angle grinders with cutting discs are perfect for this sort of job, as long as the disc will go deep enough to get to the screw. Even on tight joints you can use them as the disc will cut away the wood as well