Prepping the Hopyard Poles: Stripping Bark and Treating

Before we can put the poles in the holes we need to strip the bark and treat them with a copper sulfate product. First we get a wagon load out to the field.

We used a hatchet and draw knife to strip the bark. This was hard work but it needed to be done. You'll be happy, happy, happy if you keep them razor sharp.

We used a cheap hand pump sprayer to coat the logs. This stuff is very smelly and you'll not want to use this sprayer for anything else once finished. Keep the nozzle clean or it will clog up quick.

Here they are treated and ready to stand up!

Welding Pipes to the Bucket to Help Raise Poles

Here we're using the old Lincoln buzzbox welder to add some steel pipes to the front end loader bucket. These old welders are great. I picked this one up for around $50, cleaned it up and installed new leads. Good as new and will do nearly all machinery welds we'll need.

Once the pole raising task is complete we'll knock the pipes off with a heavy hammer and grind off any remaining weld or pipe.

The pipes will help keep the poles from sliding left and right while I guide them up.

All done, ready to get started.

Best Product of the Month

I've been doing some electrical work and my old auger bits are so far gone it would take a lot of work to get them back in shape.

I picked up these Irwin bits from the local lumber yard. The whole set was around $10.

They work awesome. So fast.... it's amazing. Of course I haven't hit a nail with them yet so they could be non-repairable. Until then, thumbs up!