Removing star pickets

[Kidbee]

Things that#you will#need!
#
Car Jack#&#Handle##(I use a telescopic, hydraulic Jack - standard equipment in the Mitsubishi Triton Ute)
A good solid#footing to go under the Jack#(for this I use an off-cut from a laminated beam - 200mm x 150mm x 50mm) any solid footing will do.
A cordless or electric drill (for which will become obvious later on)
A length of timber (I use#a#piece that measures 700mm x 70mm x 30mm)
6 - 8 Roofing Screws (the ones that#I use have a 10mm Hex Head with a#50mm x 5.5mm threaded shank)
1 x 10mm Hex Head Driver Bit
1 x 4mm drill bit (or whatever suits the particular#screws that#you use)
1 x Pencil (or anything to mark the timber with)
#
And it goes like this!
#
Place the footing at the base of the Star Picket and level it out. Now#chuck the jack on top of the footing (make sure that the jack is in the fully lowered position first).
Now stand the timber on top of the Jack#and using the holes in the star picket as a guide,#mark out the centre of the holes on the skinny edge of the timber.
Remove the timber and#pre-drill#with a 4mm drill bit (or whatever suits the particular screws that you use).
Swap the#drill bit for the 10mm Hex Head Driver bit and you guessed it! Screw the timber to the Star Picket (a hint here is that the more screws you can use the less likely they are to pull and if you just#happen to#have G Clamps you can also use these for added grip#if you like. I don't and I've never had a failure yet. (Touch Wood!)
#
Once you have got this done, just start jacking! You may need to repeat the steps to move the timber down the post or add something to fill the space as the Star Picket lifts.

[Kidbee]

Or this method

DIY Star Picket/Post remover.. - YouTube

[Kidbee]

Had trouble submitting the above articles. What I was on about is that it is easy to go out and buy a purpose built star picket remover from a hardware store.

However, the two previous posts are ways of removing them without the latter.

Is there any other ways?

[bsrlee]

Explosives!

Been there, got the bad back.

[shedbound]

I use a 6ft piece of c 100x50x6mm c channel with a 30mm slot cut in one end, 300mm piece of t/pine log and a bolt.
place the log at the base of the picket, slip the bolt through one of the existing star picket holes close to ground level. put the c channel slot under the bolt and use it as a fulcrom, takes very little effort, the hardest part is carrying the c channel.

[Mobyturns]

4WD high lift jack, chain & shackle works well!

[Cliff Rogers]

I just reverse the tractor up to it & use the 3 point linkage to lift it out.

There are a couple of threads about this subject elsewhere on here.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f43/ho...ickets-146863/
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/st...sy-diy-146720/

[adeben]

Here's a device I made about twenty years ago, that has easily removed countless star pickets. The u-shaped piece on the picket slides until pressure is put on the handle. It than jams, allowing the picket to be lifted. Obviously I made the unit from whatever scrap metal or pipe I had lying around at the time. I trust the photos are self-explanatory.

001.jpg002.jpg

[Cliff Rogers]

Great photos, I love looking at the things hanging on the wall in sheds....
Why is there a taillight stuck on a bit of wood on your tool board?

[jamarpa]

The most fun I've had removing a row of stars is with a Massey 35. Drove up to the picket, wrapped a chain around the bottom and then dropped the clutch. Out of 20 or so, didn't bend one or flip the tractor. Miss the old 35.

[adeben]

Hi Cliff,
You may have noted that the bench is hardly a woodwork bench: I'm a latterday convert to woodworking. Many of my tools are related to the restoration of vehicles. The 'taillight' is a 12v continuity tester.

[BobL]

Great photos, I love looking at the things hanging on the wall in sheds....

The dustpan and broom still in the pic is also a give away that he cleaned up for the shot

[Robson Valley]

You could use a box of tissues to clear away the nose-pickets.
Oh, do wipe that off your sleeve! Please.

[Cliff Rogers]

Hi Cliff,
You may have noted that the bench is hardly a woodwork bench: I'm a latterday convert to woodworking. Many of my tools are related to the restoration of vehicles. The 'taillight' is a 12v continuity tester.

I suspected it may have been something like that.

[johnrh1]

The easiest way I know of removing star pickets is simply use a good heavy sledge hammer & hit the post a few times from 3 directions at ground level. Generally the post will then lift out quite easily. If it doesn't ...... then hit it a couple more times. I have found that this system will generally get posts out of even the hardest ground.

John