How to Mount Wood Posts on Granite Rock

[@SimplyChrist]

I hit bedrock after digging 17 inches here in central Texas. Didn’t know what to do. Everyone else on KZbin brought out their $50,000 machines. Your video is the answer. Thanks!

[@timbarry5080]

Great job. It looks like you had a hard time drilling those holes with the forstner bit. One thing that can make it easier is to drill a nice hole in a piece of 1x4 (or something similar) and clamp or screw that to to post to use as a guide for the bit.. that works extremely well if you have to enlarge an existing hole or move it one way or the other.. beautiful place you have, btw

[@TheEarthwinders]

I don't remember struggling with the drilling, but a good tip nonetheless.

[@Rick-the-Swift]

Good job! Don't let all the experts on youtube discourage you! You actually have a really good start here. To make it even stronger, use stainless or galvanized "L" brackets, at least 4 or 1 per each side of each post. You'll have to drill more holes into the granite but the effort will be more than worth it. You can just use 2-3 inch long tap-con screws to fasten into granite, and 2-3" treated deck screws to fasten the upper portion of the L bracket into the posts. Also, while you are at it, go ahead and remove those posts 1 final time-after you've marked all your holes for attaching the L brackets, then get you some more of that epoxy, or you could even use exterior pL400 glue, and really sandwich that stuff in between base of post and granite(clean that granite first!). A lot will smooge out the sides when tightening your nut and washer, but that's a good thing! You're posts will be much safer, and they will still look great! Looks great! Beautiful outdoor setting!😊

[@Rick-the-Swift]

PS: Make sure you pre-drill each and every one of those screw holes when you go to attach your L brackets to the base of the post. You don't want all that nice work to go to waste just because your screws caused the base of the post to split along the grains. Use a slightly smaller drill bit diameter than the girth of your screws and it should last for years.👍

[@DABiDo.O]

@@Rick-the-Swift not sure if you'll see this but I appreciate both you and the original poster for your insight. The OP led me here and your comments have improved the method. I want to do the same thing here but for a 2000 sqft dog run. Some of my land is on bedrock so I don't have the benefit of digging 2 ft holes at every post with an auger. I'd say maybe 50% or less of my 4x4 will actually be below grade due to the bedrock. Before I even found this video I thought of just drilling a hole into the rock about 1 ft deep, putting in a 36" galvanised rebar, drilling a hole into the 48" post about 24" deep, and then using advesive to secure the post onto the rebar. Of course this video showed me the idea of using a threaded bar and then securing it with a bolt, which I think is not only easier but cleaner (litteraly). Your idea of the L brackets makes it even better. Do you have any other suggestions or videos for my project ? Much appreciated.

[@joshuagibson2520]

People will talk mad shit, but you have my respect. You're doing something. Most people are too sorry and or have no skills these days. Keep on.

[@spruce_goose5169]

Thanks for sharing. It's worth pointing out that that connection seriously lacks moment resistance, which may be significantly important in certain circumstances. If all your doing is lightly grasping a chain on private land, than fine. If one requires more significant force resistance (think someone slipping and leaning into one of those posts) that connection is inadequate, as it offers practically no moment resistance. I hate to be that commenter that rips into someones handy work (all too ubiquitous on youtube) and it takes guts to put ones work in a public space. Unfortunately, not all watchers are discerning, and the somewhat severe limitations of this method are worth pointing out.

[@TheEarthwinders]

Yes, you're absolutely correct. Not something you'd want to depend on to keep you from ripping it out and falling off a cliff.

[@ripptydevibes2581]

They do make bolts the expand when you tighten, we used them when we install the car lifts in our shop

[@gezmondean293]

Hope you didnt follow this example

[@BettySaenz-p7m]

Thanks for the video! I am putting signs on a boulder.

[@IKMCDANIEL]

Brilliant! Thank you SO much for sharing!

[@jackyeh7512]

Maybe installing a steel pipe post in drilled hole with concrete grout will last longer.

[@d.dejolie2248]

Appreciate it bro now I have a idea in my head.

[@dfa327]

Thank you!!! Just what I was looking for 😀

[@Redhackle]

Very good video. Thank you.

[@michaelmosley9142]

First mistake was not cleaning the dust out of the hole ! That one mistake would void the whole project.

[@thethingsthatstopyoudreami1450]

from the look of the hole before he put it in he had blown the dust out of the hole..

[@jackyeh7512]

Building code requires 200 lbs load capacity in any direction at top of the guardrail post. The 4x4 post will likely fail at bottom connection.

[@TheEarthwinders]

There are no building codes here in unincorporated Bonner County, Idaho. So no worries there. But sure, things could be made stronger, but these are strong enough for my needs and aesthetically pleasing.

[@janetstone236]

Good job! Thanks for recording - learned a lot. I have 1/2 dirt and rock to drill through for my fence posts!

[@townandcountrytallywhacker2968]

You used mild steel allthread ? There are much more safe alternatives when you are running a loaded wheelbarrow and yourself down hill!

[@krisknutson5626]

Is it plumb?

[@TheEarthwinders]

Close enough that the naked eye can't tell and they all look parallel. I don't recall if I used a level on it or not; but probably. You can keep making adjustments to how much material you take off the bottom in different areas until it sits plumb, or use some cedar shims if needed too.

[@philliphartman2381]

yeah, don't do this. you need at least 3 points of support, like a tripod, for each post. Or drill a big hole, deep, and throw a galvanized steel tube in it and then slide a 4x4 over that or run chain link between the posts.

[@lv7603]

Learned a lot thanks for sharing.

[@gezmondean293]

L V • Hopefully you've only learnt how not to build. An assistance chain rail

[@7markhunter]

that's rickety AF.

[@warrenschwartz5653]

Good idea, but it's not secure and too wobbly. Not good for a fence. Maybe would work better on level ground that is rocky underneath.

[@rothscliff6086]

great job great video

[@pete194]

Great Job! ....and thanks, I'm going to do this on my farm.

[@TheEarthwinders]

Hope it helps! Good luck.

[@SuperJamster1]

Could you tell me if that hammer/drill was a Harbor Freight Tool, and how well it worked?

[@TheEarthwinders]

The brand is Hoteche. I bought it online somewhere, probably ebay. It was cheap, but worked very well for the few jobs I've needed it for. I don't have a Harbor Freight local to me; the nearest one is about 1.5 hours away. My theory on many tools has been that if it's something that I'm only expecting to use occasionally, to buy a cheap one. If I use it enough to wear it out, then I can justify getting a nicer one. Note that this does not apply to gas powered machines, as the cheap ones of those are not worth the price for how badly they run. But for electric tools it's worked out pretty well for me so far.

[@SuperJamster1]

@@TheEarthwinders I'm the same way, I have my good tools and I have the rarely used ones that I need, and Chinese tools fill that void. I have a dozen holes to drill in granite, (VT) to place some rebar into for a foundation pier system. Luckily I can fix most gas powered engines. Thank you.

[@MediaFilter]

Easier to just scribe by hand in a case like this, than trying to slide a compass around on rough stone. Then again: One could easily use that SDS to wear out a squarish section for each base by drilling multiple shallow holes in a grid pattern, then flatten it off using some of that fast curing post adhesive. That would be a far better prep job. Actually, I would go so far as to rather use galvanised, square base brackets, each drilled / mounted with 4 shallow holes into the rock. Then mount your post in the "cup" of that bracket. This also prevents woodrot from damp stone, by lifting the wood from the surface.

[@pallmall5495]

and the longer those brackets go up the wooden post,the more stable it becomes.Thats the method I use.Not as attractive,but much better suited if livestock is involved.

[@WowRixter]

What if your anchor bolt wasn't 100% vertical? This was very helpful

[@TheEarthwinders]

The bolts aren't that stiff and you can easily bend it back to vertical if it's a little off.

[@WowRixter]

Matt & Amy Cool thanks. Nice railing

[@Kalvin-l2x]

How many times am I going to see this same method by multiple people

[@TheEarthwinders]

However many times you go looking for it I suppose.

[@jimmytate7587]

sds is simply the method of connecting the bit into the hammer drill. There are other methods that work well but not as widespread as SDS

[@jimmytate7587]

to make that scribe line, just lay a board next to the post and draw along it on each side.

[@TheEarthwinders]

That would work fine for a rock with a relatively even surface but not well at all for a rock with complex curvature in 3 dimensions.

[@hallmobility]

All of this we take for granite.

[@richards3192]

Structural Engineer here. Don't do this. Connection is basically a 'pin' with limited moment resistance. Use raking strut to brace post at 90 degrees to path

[@jeffirwin2491]

Would not trust that for anything other than garden art!

[@RTristan01]

Yikes - I wouldn't trust that post. Don't let a 10 yr old child lean against it, otherwise it'll fall over.

[@TheEarthwinders]

You could always use the same method to fix some diagonal supports to the base of the post if you want. This has been in place and being used for several years now though without issues.

[@Rick-the-Swift]

These types of comments always kill me😆My wife says the same stuff😆I always tell her that kids can run out and go jump in front of a truck if they wanted to, or out of a window etc. The reason they don't is because adults teach them to know what is dangerous and what isn't. This obviously isn't a public daycare center and what few kids end up being around, I'm sure they'll be instructed to be careful on the trail- if not, they won't last long in the world at any rate!

[@deangriffee8898]

nice

[@moolacue]

Not really any good work here. Sorry to say.

[@gezmondean293]

Make sure nobody ever leans on that chain or children dont play near it , guarantee they'll try swinging on it , to be fair its got the hallmarks of an art installation but its precarious position its not suitable in the dark an adult could trip over it if carrying anything .before you sell the property you ought take it down cut off those spikes at ground level ,if wood rots they'd be lethal my sugestion is take the thing down and dont put this kind of dangerous example of DIY up again ,as people with less intellect will copy its example monkey see monkey do ..but for effort a sold 9