Thread: Star Picket/Iron Post Puller

Hi Acton

Here is my star post lifter. This is a post in another thread regarding cant hooks.

You could perhaps copy this one as it is dual purpose. I used this to remove a star post that was 3'6" in the ground at an angle that had been in there for about 4 years into partial clay.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showpo...3&postcount=11

Acton,

See attached link.

http://www.govet.nsw.edu.au/main.cfm...r=790&levels=3

I would rather make a "c" clamp like the one on Barry's rather than the 2 square bars though!

Ripper! Thanks guys. I think I'll do the project version first, however that cant hook looks like a good idea. It looks a bit fancier than the locally available one. Someone has been clever enough to make a similar one that has the post basher included in the handle. It was developed for the defence for so is made out of all sorts of u-beaut materials, and has a price tag beyond the average yobbo!

With that cant hook, I take it the curved plate rolls underneath so the log is lifted up. Does the log sit there elevated if you pull it right over? Does one size fit all?

Originally Posted by acton

With that cant hook, I take it the curved plate rolls underneath so the log is lifted up. Does the log sit there elevated if you pull it right over? Does one size fit all?

Acton when you lift the log up it rolls back and stops against the lug where the cant hook pivots and just sits there so you can cut it into smaller lengths. I have lifted and rolled a 600 to 750mm log on it to hold it up for cutting.

Hi,
if you only have a few to pull out, I have used a 4 X 4 high lift jack and a short length of chain and 2 D bolts .. one D bolt into star picket and the other onto jack .. it keeps the star picket straight....go for it.

Originally Posted by acton

Has anyone made a star picket lifter? By star picket I mean the iron fence post so common in rural fences (I realise the name seems to depend on where you are from). I tried to buy one in Hobart recently but all I could find was one of a number of functions of a fancy cant hook for $150.

I grew up in an area with sandy soil, and pulling these things out was never much of a problem. Even the really old ones simply required a tap, and then a sharp upwards pull. With that sandy soil, digging holes was never a problem either and we often wondered why the soft city folk seemed to need excavators for trenches and house footings!

I now live on heavy clay. Now I don't even have to bash a star picket all the way in, and a week later, no manner of eye bulging, spine bending, or red faced straining can budge them. Swearing doesn't seem to help, and hooking them up to the ute and yanking them out leaves the ends bent. I need a better way that doesn't involve discs squeezing out between my vertebrae.

I figure a star picket lifter can't be too hard to fabricate, and am wondering if anyone has some experience, suggested dimensions or the like?

Thanks in advance

Hi Bazza, I don't suppose you could post some dimensions / measurements for that thing eh?

Originally Posted by BMN

Hi Bazza, I don't suppose you could post some dimensions / measurements for that thing eh?

When I get a chance I will draw a sketch and detail some dimensions

round here we call em star pickets. and star picket removers.

i paid $115 for one last week. sick of bustin me guts pulling them out by hand and we had about 200 to pull out.

i can do some sketches of it if you like.

to remove the stuburn ones by hand a good whack with a 9 pound hammer at ground level normally gets them out. if not bend them over to almost 90 degrees than walk around in circles. they twist them selves into a screw and then wind out of the ground. it is gut busting work thow.

but if we can we use the loader it makes short work of them.

the one in Stringys link is the best type but ti needs a bigger base hard posts will pull the base into soft ground. a triangle or semi circle is better. and it dosen't need the double pivoting head if the c pivots on the end of the shaft it works fine.