Removing Fence Post Tool

When removing a wooden post, effort must be applied mainly in an upward direction using sufficient leverage to overcome the post/soil resistance. Any effort that causes the post to move in any other direction will displace the earth to the side and therefore require even more effort.

For this reason, the most successful fence post pullers use either direct upward pressure as in an hydraulic cylinder or a lever with a large mechanical advantage on the post arm. In some instances the act of leveraging the post out of the ground will damage the post itself.

The effort required to pull the post is dependant upon the following conditions:

* The size of the broken fence post.
* The dryness of the ground in which the post is fixed.
The drier/harder the ground, the greater the leverage required to remove the post.
* How well the post was installed in the first instance, using either a manual fence post driver or mechanical/hydraulic means.

Caution: When removing posts, wear safety goggles and gloves, at all times.
Use caution as powerful forces are involved. Posts may suddenly break or pull free and move very quickly towards you without warning.

Manual Fence Post Removal Tool

The manual fence post removal tool, unlike the manual fence post driver, grasps the post at the head of a lever. Attached to the underside of this lever (a small distance from the post) is the foot that rests on the ground to form the fulcrum. The lever extends further outward to give a good mechanical advantage. When downward pressure is applied at the extreme outer end of the lever, a direct upward movement is experienced at the head. This is the force that will be used in an attempt to extract a broken fence post for example.

A typical lever type post remover is shown, below.