Quote:
Originally Posted by tnkrer
Claud, I don't have a large vise to close the end of the thin wall metal conduit. (I have a rockwell jaw horse). How much force is needed to close that metal conduit? Any other ways to close the conduit?
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The vice makes closing the end easier and more uniform, but a 4 lb. shop hammer and any thick piece of steel will do for the few you have to do. Place the end of the conduit on the steel and hit it a couple of times with the hammer, flip the conduit over and hit it a couple of times on the other side. Repeat until the end is closed.
Closing the end keeps dirt out as you drive it into the ground, but more importantly it wedges the end of the plastic pipe when you drop it into the metal point making it nearly impossible to pull out.
Use PVC (grey) Conduit for your posts. It only cost a few cents more and because it is UV resistant will last for about 7 years of continuous use or about 12 years if you store it in the dark after each season.
The posts are fairly easy to remove if you jiggle them back and forth while lifting straight up. When the wind blows it pushes sideways locking the posts in the points.
Drive your points into the ground where you want them. Join the sections of conduit for the top together using the couplings (the metal conduit will have either a black line down the length or a flat spot, line these up when you join the sections together. This will let you attach your pegs so they all point in the same direction.). Any of the big box stores can bend the conduit for you if you don't have a bender (that way you don't have to worry about the corners).
Lay the assembled conduit on top of the points and mark the conduit where the pegs need to be. Use a spring loaded center punch to keep your drill bit from drifting. Install the pegs on the conduit. Drop the posts into the points then slip the pegs into the ends of the posts. It doesn't have to be perfect, close will do just fine. It is a very forgiving system. Claud
One other thing. When you drive the points into the ground, place a wood board on top of the point to protect the point from being damaged or deformed by the hammer (the point below was closed using the hammer method described above).
