HELP. Fence Poles. Are these OK?

[brennan]

They / you should be able to spray Zync It on the pipe. To pretty it up.

 

[rickm]

If i was having a fence built and the contractor showed up with that thin galvenized stuff he would be fired on the spot it wont last seen to many good fences laying on the ground or looking like a snake trail when u look down the fence row using the galvenized stuff, i would almost bet the guys will come back and paint the poles with a galvenized paint to make it match what u already have and will last u many years and probably be there for ur grandkids to have kids

 

[ssgrock3]

If those are what they look like, they'll outlive you. They should have a wall thickness of somewhere between 1/8" and 1/4", and they'll be a hell of a lot stronger than zinc fence posts. If that surface rust bothers you, sand and paint them. I don't think I'd complain about them.

Those will have a hard time bending in a storm, unlike the galvanized posts I saw laid over after the last tornado. Those are much sturdier and costly for that matter. I would sand them and paint them and be happy!

 

[Oklahomabassin]

Wire brush them with a wire wheel on a grinder. Go to Sherwin Williams and get DTM paint. That stands for Direct To Metal and if you allow it to cure 3 days or so, you almost can't get it off. I would be more tickled with those posts than galvenized thin wall. It doesnt look like drill stem but just standard 2 3/8" OD pipe. Drill stem needs to be checked for NORM before being used, but it also makes great structural stell when taken out oil field service.

Before I would start butt chewing, I would find out how they are going to finish the job. A lot of guys set all the posts a little tall then stringline to cut all off at exactly the same hight, rather trying to make sure each hole is exact same depth.

 

[Lurkerinthewoods]

From the pic, it looks like the poles will be on the opposite side of your yard and the other side looks like it will be blocked by the trees/shrub.

 

[criticalbass]

There are several products that will prevent the rust from progressing/showing. Some of them react chemically with the remaining rust to form a black equivalent of gun buleing, I would discuss with the contractor his plans for coating the pipe. Would be surprised if he intends to just leave them rusty. This so-called drillstem looks to me like what used to be called "upset tubing." It's seamless, and tough as hell. If it ever fails, you better be underground.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

You could also paint them with a cold galvanizing compound, to make them match the rest of the galvanized parts.

 

[NightShade]

I understand about aesthetics and having everything galvanized and matching, with that said your going to have a much heavier duty and longer lasting fence this way. Call the contractor up and find about them coating the rusted surfaces with a cold galvanizing coating or giving you the time to do that part yourself before the fence is completed and you should be golden.

They may make a deal with you and do it fairly cheap and still have it all look good as well if you inform them that you wanted something that was galvanized or at least coated. Either a few extra bucks for them to do it or spend the little extra and DIY or NKDI, choice is yours.

 

[ratski]

Thanks for all the info.

Since the poles were going to be on "the other side" I wasn't too worried, but my neighbor who is splitting the cost was a bit concerned as was my wife.

Had a discussion with the contractor. He understood about "leaving the rusty pipes" as is. Agreed to have them coated and painted.

Looking at the fence now, you can't see them if they had all the pickets in. Had them leave two pickets out at each pole so they could be easily painted.

Thanks again for all the info.

Dave

 

[JonDough]

You made the right choice.....that pipe will serve you veryyyy well as fenceposts!!