I used two of these last weekend. I can't find an image online of the
exact model I used, but it has two vertical slits on opposite corners
(looking down on it) with a bolt & nut to tighten each slit.

I bought two of them for 75x75 mm posts, & two posts of the matching
size. Are they supposed to make an "interference fit" with the bolts
loose? I had to shave a bit off all 4 sides of one end of each post
just to get the post started in the top of the spike (then I used a
block of wood & a sledgehammer to get it the rest of the way in).

On 12/05/2017 13:38, Adam Funk wrote:
I used two of these last weekend. I can't find an image online of the
exact model I used, but it has two vertical slits on opposite corners
(looking down on it) with a bolt & nut to tighten each slit.

I bought two of them for 75x75 mm posts, & two posts of the matching
size. Are they supposed to make an "interference fit" with the bolts
loose? I had to shave a bit off all 4 sides of one end of each post
just to get the post started in the top of the spike (then I used a
block of wood & a sledgehammer to get it the rest of the way in).

The posts vary a bit. I think they make the spikes a bit small to suit
all sizes.

Bill

Bill Wright wrote:
On 12/05/2017 13:38, Adam Funk wrote:
I used two of these last weekend. I can't find an image online of the
exact model I used, but it has two vertical slits on opposite corners
(looking down on it) with a bolt & nut to tighten each slit.

I bought two of them for 75x75 mm posts, & two posts of the matching
size. Are they supposed to make an "interference fit" with the bolts
loose? I had to shave a bit off all 4 sides of one end of each post
just to get the post started in the top of the spike (then I used a
block of wood & a sledgehammer to get it the rest of the way in).

The posts vary a bit. I think they make the spikes a bit small to suit
all sizes.

Bill

???

"FMurtz" wrote in message
eb.com...
Bill Wright wrote:
On 12/05/2017 13:38, Adam Funk wrote:
I used two of these last weekend. I can't find an image online of the
exact model I used, but it has two vertical slits on opposite corners
(looking down on it) with a bolt & nut to tighten each slit.

I bought two of them for 75x75 mm posts, & two posts of the matching
size. Are they supposed to make an "interference fit" with the bolts
loose? I had to shave a bit off all 4 sides of one end of each post
just to get the post started in the top of the spike (then I used a
block of wood & a sledgehammer to get it the rest of the way in).

The posts vary a bit. I think they make the spikes a bit small to suit
all sizes.

???

Its easy to shave of some of the wood with some of the posts that are too
big.

In message om, FMurtz
writes
Bill Wright wrote:

The posts vary a bit. I think they make the spikes a bit small to suit
all sizes.

???

Having used met posts, I think Bill is right. Not all fence posts are
created equal, and a bundle of posts, each nominally, say, 4 x 4, will
not be exactly the same. Close enough, but even a difference of 1/8th
of an inch is the difference between a post slipping easily into the
foot, or not. You would think the foot hole would be large enough to
accept slightly oversized posts, with the smaller ones being held by
adjustment, but apparently not.
--
Graeme

In message , Graeme
writes
In message om,
FMurtz writes
Bill Wright wrote:

The posts vary a bit. I think they make the spikes a bit small to suit
all sizes.

???

Having used met posts, I think Bill is right. Not all fence posts are
created equal, and a bundle of posts, each nominally, say, 4 x 4, will
not be exactly the same. Close enough, but even a difference of 1/8th
of an inch is the difference between a post slipping easily into the
foot, or not. You would think the foot hole would be large enough to
accept slightly oversized posts, with the smaller ones being held by
adjustment, but apparently not.

How is it the timber industry has managed to get away with marketing the
size the wood came from rather than what is actually on the shelf?

Shiplap is a case in point!

--
Tim Lamb

Bill Wright wrote:
On 12/05/2017 13:38, Adam Funk wrote:
I used two of these last weekend. I can't find an image online of the
exact model I used, but it has two vertical slits on opposite corners
(looking down on it) with a bolt & nut to tighten each slit.

I bought two of them for 75x75 mm posts, & two posts of the matching
size. Are they supposed to make an "interference fit" with the bolts
loose? I had to shave a bit off all 4 sides of one end of each post
just to get the post started in the top of the spike (then I used a
block of wood & a sledgehammer to get it the rest of the way in).

The posts vary a bit. I think they make the spikes a bit small to suit
all sizes.

Bill
The reason for the question marks was that I did not have the foggiest
of what you were referring to till someone mentioned Met posts, still
had no idea till I looked it up.

On 2017-05-13, Tim Lamb wrote:

In message , Graeme
writes
In message om,
FMurtz writes
Bill Wright wrote:

The posts vary a bit. I think they make the spikes a bit small to suit
all sizes.

???

Having used met posts, I think Bill is right. Not all fence posts are
created equal, and a bundle of posts, each nominally, say, 4 x 4, will
not be exactly the same. Close enough, but even a difference of 1/8th
of an inch is the difference between a post slipping easily into the
foot, or not. You would think the foot hole would be large enough to
accept slightly oversized posts, with the smaller ones being held by
adjustment, but apparently not.

How is it the timber industry has managed to get away with marketing the
size the wood came from rather than what is actually on the shelf?

I thought that was more of an issue in the USA, where "2 by 4" really
includes a fairly wide kerf. Most of the timber I buy in the UK seems
to be "actual size".

Shiplap is a case in point!

I've only bought that once & I can't remember.

On 2017-05-13, Graeme wrote:

In message om, FMurtz
writes
Bill Wright wrote:

The posts vary a bit. I think they make the spikes a bit small to suit
all sizes.

???

Having used met posts, I think Bill is right. Not all fence posts are
created equal, and a bundle of posts, each nominally, say, 4 x 4, will
not be exactly the same. Close enough, but even a difference of 1/8th
of an inch is the difference between a post slipping easily into the
foot, or not. You would think the foot hole would be large enough to
accept slightly oversized posts, with the smaller ones being held by
adjustment, but apparently not.

OK, I have to admit my observation is a study where n=2 posts from the
same place.

In message , Adam Funk
writes
On 2017-05-13, Tim Lamb wrote:

How is it the timber industry has managed to get away with marketing the
size the wood came from rather than what is actually on the shelf?

I thought that was more of an issue in the USA, where "2 by 4" really
includes a fairly wide kerf. Most of the timber I buy in the UK seems
to be "actual size".

I suppose a lot depends on where timber is purchased. Last time I
bought fence posts, they came from a local supplier who offered various
sizes. As far as I could see, they used one machine, which was adjusted
as needed to produce batches of, say, 4x4, 3x2, 4x2 or whatever. I
bought a number of posts, all supposedly the same size, but they were
not exactly the same. I could only conclude that they came from
different batches, and the initial setting up was not always to the same
exact dimensions. The posts were fine, but some dropped straight into
the met post, and some needed a little help with a large hammer.
Thinking about it, I didn't check the met posts, which may have differed
very slightly too.

I am building something at the moment, using lengths of PAR 2x1 rescued
from a pile in the shed. They are not all absolutely identical. Very
close, but a joint created using two lengths not cut from the same
length can create a very slight lip. Hardly enough to see really, but
enough to feel. Thinking again, I suppose some could be older, and have
swollen very slightly.
--
Graeme

On 2017-05-15, Graeme wrote:

In message , Adam Funk
writes
On 2017-05-13, Tim Lamb wrote:

How is it the timber industry has managed to get away with marketing the
size the wood came from rather than what is actually on the shelf?

I thought that was more of an issue in the USA, where "2 by 4" really
includes a fairly wide kerf. Most of the timber I buy in the UK seems
to be "actual size".

I suppose a lot depends on where timber is purchased. Last time I
bought fence posts, they came from a local supplier who offered various
sizes. As far as I could see, they used one machine, which was adjusted
as needed to produce batches of, say, 4x4, 3x2, 4x2 or whatever. I
bought a number of posts, all supposedly the same size, but they were
not exactly the same. I could only conclude that they came from
different batches, and the initial setting up was not always to the same
exact dimensions. The posts were fine, but some dropped straight into
the met post, and some needed a little help with a large hammer.
Thinking about it, I didn't check the met posts, which may have differed
very slightly too.

I am building something at the moment, using lengths of PAR 2x1 rescued
from a pile in the shed. They are not all absolutely identical. Very
close, but a joint created using two lengths not cut from the same
length can create a very slight lip. Hardly enough to see really, but
enough to feel. Thinking again, I suppose some could be older, and have
swollen very slightly.

I guess so. As it happens, I bought the posts & metal bits in two
separate trips to the same place on the same day.

"Weren't you here this morning?"

"Yes, I fixed that post and discovered the next one needed replacing."