I swore by eyeballing posts until a windy job proved me wrong

I always set fence posts by just looking at them, thinking it was fast enough. Then I did a job on a super windy hill, and the whole line looked wavy after. A friend told me to try a transit level, so I borrowed one. Now I use it for every post, and my fences are straight as an arrow. Last week, I put up a picket fence that measured perfect from end to end. It takes a bit longer, but the results are worth it.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_kelly10d ago

Try setting up a string line between your end posts after using the transit. It gives you a constant physical guide to work against for every post in between. You still get the perfect line from the level, but the string makes the actual setting go faster. It's like having a rail to slide each post against before you tamp.

jessicajohnson10d ago

Seriously, you need a transit AND a string line for fence posts? Most DIY jobs turn out just fine by sighting them in as you go. That's a lot of setup for something that usually doesn't require PERFECT alignment. Seems like overkill unless you're working on a professional job site.

lee_ward543d ago

Yeah, my first fence looked like a drunk snake. The string line method is basically training wheels for guys like me.