Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-03-18
Wooden Mold for Making Fence-Posts
with TWO Tapering Sides.

construction work about the farm. It
is ever ready and requires the employ
ment of no expert labor. The farmer
and his ordinary farm help can sue
cessfully handle cement Little eX-
perience is needed, as the following
of few simple directions is all that
is necessary. The mixing is the i'm
portant part. Proper proportions of
cement, sand and gravel for the de-
sired construction and thorough mix
ing will give good results.
In the making of fence posts the
material should be about one part Of
cement, 21a parts sand and five parts
gravel. The mixing is best done on
a platform of convenient size. The
sand and gravel should first be placed
on the mixing bed, we'll spread out,
and OH the top of this spread the &C.
ment. Then mix with shovels or hoes
until the whole mass exhibits uni
form color. Next, form a crater of
the dry mixture, and into this pour
nearly the whole amount of water re-
quired for the batch. Thoroughly mix
from the outside toward the center
until all the water is taken up, add
ing more by sprinkling to give the
desired consistency.
Economy points to the use of a
tapering post, which, fortunately, Of
fers no difficulties in the way of mold
ing. All things considered, wooden
molds will be found most suitable.
They can be easily and quickly made
in any desired size and form. Posts
may be nodded either in vertical or
horizontal position, the latter being
the simpler and better method. If
nodded vertically wet mixture is
necessary, requiring longer time to
set, with the consequent delay in re-
moving the molds.
The first of the accompanying illus
trations shows a simple mold, which
can be used with satisfactory results
on the farm. This mold has capacity
of four posts, but larger mOlds could
easily be made if desired 1t consists
of two end pieces (a) carrying Tugs
(b), between which are inserted strips
(c). The several parts are held to-
gether with hooks and eyes as shown.
To prevent any bullying of the side
strips, they are braced as illustrated.
Dressed lumber at least one inch
thick, and preferably ~ inches,
should be used When finished the
post measures 6X6 inches at the bot
Gy0 OF hn
feet in length, having two parallel
sides.
If it is desired to have the posts
square at both ends, the mold must
be arranged as in the second illustra-
ton This latter form of post is not
as strong as the former, but requires
less concrete in it's construction.
Great care in tamping is necessary to
insure the corners of the mold being
well filled, and if this detail is not
carefully watched the metal, being
exposed in places, will be subject to
rust.
Various devices have been suggest
ed for attaching fence wires to the
posts, the object Of each being to Sc
cure a simple and permanent fastener
or one admitting Of easy renewal at
any time Probably nothing will an
swer the purpose better than a long
staple or bent wire well embedded
in the concrete, being twisted or bent
at the end to prevent extraction.
Galvanized metal must be used for
fasteners, since they are not protect
ed by the concrete. A piece of small
flexible wire, about two inches in
length, threading the staple and twist
ed several times with a pair of pliers,
as illustrated, holds the line wire in
position.
Cement posts should be reinforced
in order to give them sufficient
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