Steel fence post

Two T-posts and red post pounder (or driver) used to drive them into the ground. The flat plate helps stabilize the post, which is driven into the ground until the plate is buried.

A steel fence post, also called (depending on design or country) a T-post, a Y-post, Star Post or waratah, is a type of fence post or picket. They are made of steel and are sometimes manufactured using durable rail steel. They can be used to support various types of wire or wire mesh. The end view of the post creates an obvious T, Y or other shape. The posts are driven into the ground with a manual or pneumatic post pounder. All along the post, along the spine, there are studs or nubs that prevent the barbed wire or mesh from sliding up or down the post. They are generally designated as 1.01, 1.25 or 1.33, referring to the weight in pounds per lineal foot. While T-Posts are more common in the United States, Y-posts are more common in Australia and New Zealand where they are sometimes called "Waratahs", after the company which registered a patent for them in 1926.^[1]

In areas (such as the British Isles) where treated timber is relatively inexpensive, wooden fence-posts are used and steel ones are unusual for agricultural purposes. In the British Isles steel posts are however often used for fencing into solid rock. In this case a hole is drilled into the rock, and the post is fixed using cement or epoxy.

End-on view of a T-post, showing the T-shape that gives the post its name.	A waratah on a standard seven wire fence in New Zealand.

References

1. ^ Outback magazine, "Outback Story", Issue 62, Jan/Dec 2009

See also

• Agricultural fencing