Making chestnut fencing posts

[Woodworks]

We need some short fencing stakes to put a couple lines of wire on our farm hedges. My question is if I split some stakes do they need drying before use or can I knock them in straight away or are they more likely to rot if not dried first?

[Phil The Wood]

No difference. They will just crack/split/bend as they dry.

[Woodworks]

Thanks Phil.

 

This is what we thought but nice to check with those with experience of these things. Only ever bought treated posts before and sick to death of them rotting out in 5 years

[agg221]

Once cleft, they will probably not split further as the stresses tend to run radially, so once cleft the stresses are relieved and they can shrink naturally.

 

They will rot slightly more easily if they are unseasoned. The pores in the wood structure close up permanently when the water content drops below about 20%, making it harder for fungi etc. to penetrate them. Still pretty durable though due to the tannin content.

 

Alec

[Ian Leach]

I personally love sweet chestnut, like Alec said once cleft it releases all stresses. I've heard of sweet chestnut lasting easily 25 years unseasoned as fencing so it wouldn't make much difference i would say.

[Phil The Wood]

Interesting that some woods are naturally rot resistant:

Wood preservation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Pat Ferrett]

Best cut when the saps down of course.