Finally sinking a post for backyard hanging!

**Gideon** · 07-24-2014, 22:11

Well this weekend is it! I'm going to sink a 6x6, x 12ft pressure treated post about 16' from a pine tree in my back yard so I can hang in my own yard. I have trees (a few) but none close enough together to hang. I don't get out as much as I'd like which is another story all together, so I decided to set myself up in my back yard.

A 12' will let me bury 4' in the hole with quickcrete and dirt, leaving 8 feet to hang my hammock and tarp. Instead of the doghouse, I'll sleep in my hammock!

I put in the "one dig" call in Missouri to get the utilities marked and bought a post hole digger. The post will cost me about $32. Seems silly to be excited about it but I am; time to enjoy my backyard more and my love of hammocking. I'm going to sand off or round off the edges on the post and I may even try to plant some ivy or something to grow up it.

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!!

Gideon

**TallPaul** · 07-24-2014, 22:19

Looking forward to seeing pics.
I've got the same problem n my backyard and have often thought of doing this project.

**Silvertip47203** · 07-24-2014, 22:55

Thats so cool. I want to do something like that. Good luck with your project. Please post pics when you get it done.

**ntxkayakr** · 07-24-2014, 23:28

That sounds good. I put in a round wooden post smaller than that about 20 years ago. It is still standing just fine. All the wooden fence posts from about 30 years ago were replaced with steel, they are not as easy to hang from or to car jack out of the ground.
Happy backyard hanging, if your home is like mine may be the most peaceful place to sleep.

**5th** · 07-24-2014, 23:49

I put in two posts 16' apart a few months ago and it is fantastic to be able to hang out there. When my $2K Therm-a-rest king-size starts to make my back hurt, a night out in the hammock makes everything right again.

I didn't use concrete however. I just used two treated 12' 4x4 posts sunk 3.5' into the clay that passes for dirt here. There's a 20' long 2x6 firmly connecting the posts, screwed to their sides just below the top. I wiggles a little, but it's not coming down, and I can easily pull the posts and relocate later. I put a couple of burly eyes through near the top as well, so I can just clip in with a carabiner.

You are going to love it no matter how you do it though. Congrats!

**MAD777** · 07-25-2014, 04:38

Congrats, a hammock post is something to get excited about!

**ntxkayakr** · 07-25-2014, 06:39

Originally Posted by ntxkayakr

That sounds good. I put in a round wooden post smaller than that about 20 years ago. It is still standing just fine. All the wooden fence posts from about 30 years ago were replaced with steel, they are not as easy to hang from or to car jack out of the ground.
Happy backyard hanging, if your home is like mine may be the most peaceful place to sleep.

Edit: one little trick that everyone may not know; after the post is in and braced vertical you can pour in the concrete aggregate dry then add water and let it set for a few days or whatever the instructions on the bag says. Talk to the helpful employees at the hardware store for details. Also don't make the mistake I did many years ago and keep an extra bag in the shed/garage. The humidity will set it into a useless lump. Best to return it to the H.W. store. OH and wear a face mask like the instructions say, a friend's son on a mission trip to Mexico mixed concrete for a week and spent months in intense medical treatment. Read the label even if it IS in Spanish.

**Adahy** · 07-25-2014, 06:43

Can't wait to see the pics! Enjoy!

**Gideon** · 07-25-2014, 09:17

Thanks for the tips folks and at my home it will undoubtedly be the most peaceful place to sleep! I'll post some pics and the next step will be to add a small outdoor fire pit, the kind you can buy for 70/80 bucks to build a small fire in. They come with a screen top to comply with the rules that some towns have about open fires.

I think it could also be a good place to practice hanging with the family dog. She could spend the night out there sometimes to get used to the idea; I'd just have to tie her off so she didn't wander the neighborhood at night!

Enjoy your Friday!!
Gideon

**ntxkayakr** · 07-25-2014, 09:23

Originally Posted by Gideon

I'd just have to tie her off so she didn't wander the neighborhood at night!

Gideon

Now you are going to need to set another post to string a dog run line to hitch her leash to for her to run back and forth on. LOL OH I could not resist that one. Post hole digging is such fun.

http://www.unchainyourdog.org/Trolley.htm