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Leaning Post Light

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post2...@yahoo.com

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Sep 22, 2006, 2:52:27 PM9/22/06
to

The post light in my yard has started getting loose and
leaning. I temporarily stuck some wood stakes in to
hold it up but that's clearly not a permanent fix. The
metal post goes directly into the ground without a concrete
pad. What's my best bet for dealing with this? I poked
around and the only info I saw was on how to put in a
cylindrical concrete pad with embed bolts. That will
involve getting a new post light, which is doable if
thats the way the job is "supposed" to be done. Any
advice for me on this?

Thanks.

professorpaul

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Sep 22, 2006, 3:46:24 PM9/22/06
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After having a series of wood posts rot out over the years, I got an
aluminum one. I simply set it about 18" deep in concrete, having
drilled holes in the right places to feed the wiring through. While I
was at it, I fitted an outdoor double receptacle on the bottom to feed
things like grass string trimmers, and Christmas lights. A morning's
work, at most. All the stuff at the "big box" stores like Lowes or Home
Depot. They seem to be a standard diameter to fit the light on the top.
I held the box on to the post with sheet metal screws and some paste
epoxy to keep it from rocking. The post came in black, but I see no
reason you couldn't repaint it some other color, assuming you could get
some good quality paint that would stick. The "Fusion" paints from
Krylon come to mind..

hal...@aol.com

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Sep 22, 2006, 7:33:32 PM9/22/06
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So your metal post isnt rusted out but is leaning and a bit loose?

Your in luck the orioginal installer did a excellent job:)

Dig gently around post, straighten and backfill and tamp firmly!

Light poles arent meant to be structural. just self supporting.

If it had been concreted in theres little you can do. too big too heavy
too awkard to reset.

just straighten and tamp with foot. problem over.

plus you can move this pole if ever necessary,

concrete forget it.

I was given this advice by the salesman who sold me a light pole over
25 years ago.

that pole is still in use today, has been dug up twice once for sewer
work. A1 shape......

Dan Espen

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Sep 22, 2006, 8:24:49 PM9/22/06
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"hal...@aol.com" <hal...@aol.com> writes:

> So your metal post isnt rusted out but is leaning and a bit loose?
>
> Your in luck the orioginal installer did a excellent job:)
>
> Dig gently around post, straighten and backfill and tamp firmly!

I agree.

Sooner or later you have to replace the lamp post.
I'd much rather NOT deal with the block of concrete.
I did that once, not again please.

After 2 years, I just straighted my lamp post this morning. Pushed it
a little and stepped on the ground next to the post. I figure I might
have to do that again in a year or 2.

empre...@wowway.com

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Sep 23, 2006, 6:59:49 AM9/23/06
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do it right, wood doesn't like dirt thats for sure.

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post2...@yahoo.com

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Oct 13, 2006, 3:34:40 PM10/13/06
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Tried the dirt tamping method. Took a suprising amount of dirt.So far,
it
seems to be working nicely. Thanks.

Bentley

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Jun 17, 2019, 8:44:06 PM6/17/19
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replying to post2google, Bentley wrote:
I backed the car into mine so now it is leaning a bit. I don't think it is
set in concrete. Do you think digging and tamping is the way to go. I've
thought about tying a rope to it and using the car to straighten it up.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/maintenance/leaning-post-light-148572-.htm


trader_4

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Jun 18, 2019, 10:44:52 AM6/18/19
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Without more information, who knows? Steel? What gauge? How firm is
the soil? How lucky do you feel? You would think once it's pulled
over, if it's not set in concrete you could get it back, or most of the
way back, by hand. Me, I'd dig it out on the side it needs to go to,
then push by hand.

bigtubeguy

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Oct 6, 2020, 10:31:40 PM10/6/20
to
I was a skeptic, but tried the "Dirt Tamping" method as described. It did take far more dirt than I expected. But, son of a gun, it worked flawlessly. My exterior lamp post is straight as a drum, solid and stable. Just be certain to tamp down the dirt and soil all around the entire pole and tamp down firmly. It truly works!

--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/maintenance/leaning-post-light-148572-.htm

Lin

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Nov 18, 2020, 7:15:12 PM11/18/20
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To fix our leaning light post I leaned my body weight into it until
straight, then partner inserted two solid wood doorstops in gap and hammered them flush into the ground. Worked easily and looks perfect.

Tekkie©

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Nov 23, 2020, 4:50:01 PM11/23/20
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On Thu, 19 Nov 2020 00:15:05 +0000, Lin posted for all of us to digest...

>
> To fix our leaning light post I leaned my body weight into it until
> straight, then partner inserted two solid wood doorstops in gap and hammered them flush into the ground. Worked easily and looks perfect.

For how long?

--
Tekkie

granddad402

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Mar 22, 2021, 4:45:07 PM3/22/21
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Use a Lug-All hoist to pull it into position, way more precise than using a car.

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For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/maintenance/leaning-post-light-148572-.htm

Rod Speed

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Mar 22, 2021, 5:07:48 PM3/22/21
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granddad402 <4280f099d8428e91...@example.com> wrote

> Use a Lug-All hoist to pull it into position, way more precise than using
> a car.

Tad unlikely that he is still waiting for your advice on that at 14 years.

Peeler

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Mar 22, 2021, 6:06:19 PM3/22/21
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On Tue, 23 Mar 2021 08:07:35 +1100, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the senile pest's latest trollshit unread>

--
Richard addressing senile Rodent Speed:
"Shit you're thick/pathetic excuse for a troll."
MID: <ogoa38$pul$1...@news.mixmin.net>
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