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they are 3 sided in cross-section and are used to support wire fences via the little circular holes spaced

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This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

In Reply to: RE: helping Son 1 with removing a garden bed - AKA Bloody Star-Pickets posted by Coner on July 12, 2017 at 05:30:35

down each flat surface. These holes being punched out after / during extrusion from a press. Then they are cut to length, pointed and coated in a bitumen product.
Known also as Y-posts, in the US more commonly made as a T-post?! I think the star picket is unique to Aus. and NZ. Click below my post for the Wikipedia page.
Steel fencing posts were IIRC, developed in the 19C with stamped out little rectangular hooks for the holding of wire / barbed wire. IIRC the hooks alternated up or down facing. Barbed wire was developed in the USA and completely changing the cattle industry there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_fence_post
Many years ago I've built barbed wire entanglements on courses with the h'army and in the field - using the very same kind of pickets.
But I've never had to pull any out that were this deep in the ground. That longer one had 3 feet in the ground and a jaggedly cut end, no point.
See also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbed_wire
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_fencing
The history of technology and socio-technical human activity systems is one of my many interests.
Before trying to get these pickets OUT? The builder of this bed had fixed the two thick heavy retaining boards to the posts using 4 driver bolts, which had rusted in the soil for >26 years, so I had to use an angle-grinder and cutting disc to cut 20 bolt-heads off. Heaps of fun digging out enough soil to make room and cutting at a difficult angle, with a death dealing tool to boot! He had also used long posts that he cut up none too cleanly so they have no give at the point.
Thank God for modern garden bed kits designed for later removal, eh?!
End of vent!
;-)

Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger

T posts and Y posts (Open in New Window)

Edits: 07/12/17 07/12/17

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