Polycrete expansion foam

[ToneCustomSigns]

Has anyone here used expansion foam to set posts? Not for anything large. Was thinking of parking signs or maybe a 4x8? Is it worth the money?

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

I used it a few times while doing work for another company. I don't like the idea of the chemicals and waste that's generated. Plus there is no weight to it. I watched a YouTube video on the comparison and the concrete held up much better.

 

[visual800]

nope i do concrete Ive never used it but it just doesnt seem practical to me

 

[JBurton]

I thought the expansion foam was more for straightening existing poles that had started to lean, it's main selling point being you don't have to leave the pole hooked to a line truck while the concrete sets.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

I thought the expansion foam was more for straightening existing poles that had started to lean, it's main selling point being you don't have to leave the pole hooked to a line truck while the concrete sets.

Dry pack it and you don't have to wait.

 

[ToneCustomSigns]

I saw this you tube video of utility workers using it to set a utility pole. Don't know if it's worth the money. I'm a 45 year old female and those bags of concrete get heavier every year. I usually have help if I'm doing anything bigger than a 4x8. I'll probably just stick with concrete. Thank for all the input!

 

[Notarealsignguy]

AFAIK, they don't set utility poles in concrete so they have some give and don't crack or break. They also have power lines holding them to a certain degree and tension cables throughout the run and on terminations. Guy wires I think? Whatever they are called.

 

[ToneCustomSigns]

AFAIK, they don't set utility poles in concrete so they have some give and don't crack or break. They also have power lines holding them to a certain degree and tension cables throughout the run and on terminations. Guy wires I think? Whatever they are called.

That makes sense.

 

[JBurton]

Oh, this reminds me, one trick of the trade at a WSA event was to use this stuff to demo monuments. They'd drill some holes, pour this or some other form of expanding foam into the holes, and come back the next day to load up the chunks.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

Oh, this reminds me, one trick of the trade at a WSA event was to use this stuff to demo monuments. They'd drill some holes, pour this or some other form of expanding foam into the holes, and come back the next day to load up the chunks.

or just knock it down with the same excavator that you use to load it up? No drilling holes, no added cost and no waiting

 

[Boudica]

or just knock it down with the same excavator that you use to load it up? No drilling holes, no added cost and no waiting

so impatient.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

so impatient.

 

[JBurton]

or just knock it down with the same excavator that you use to load it up? No drilling holes, no added cost and no waiting

I think this was something they'd been running into frequently, and they didn't like to rent equipment. For us, we'd just bring the jackhammer, as the medium kubota backhoe we have doesn't have enough weight to demo anything. Last big thing we demoed was a 12' tall brick monument, after messing with a rented bobcat with a jackhammer attachment for a while, we just tied it to the f750 bucket and pulled it down while idling. (it was pretty funny watching my old man try it with a tundra first, it just picked up the rear end when he tried to punch it.)

 

[Notarealsignguy]

I think this was something they'd been running into frequently, and they didn't like to rent equipment. For us, we'd just bring the jackhammer, as the medium kubota backhoe we have doesn't have enough weight to demo anything. Last big thing we demoed was a 12' tall brick monument, after messing with a rented bobcat with a jackhammer attachment for a while, we just tied it to the f750 bucket and pulled it down while idling. (it was pretty funny watching my old man try it with a tundra first, it just picked up the rear end when he tried to punch it.)

Get a real machine. This one has a shear and concrete muncher

 

[JBurton]

Is that yours? Or just your paint?

 

[Boudica]

Is that yours? Or just your paint?

He likes to think it's his when its in his yard.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

Is that yours? Or just your paint?

I only have hopes and dreams. That's not my name on the boom.

 

[Mr.Signboy]

Has anyone here used expansion foam to set posts? Not for anything large. Was thinking of parking signs or maybe a 4x8? Is it worth the money?

It works well for parking signs but I wouldn’t use it on anything bigger. It’s really awkward to use though. Once you open the bag you better be ready to pour it, and hope it doesn’t get on you... The downside is one bag will fill to holes for parking signs, but they have to be right next to each other because the chemical reaction happens faster than you can run to the next hole.

 

[Joe House]

I used it when replacing a rotted fence post. It's the Latch side of a gate. It was probably 10 years ago when I first heard of the stuff. The post is still solid, even after years of the gate slamming closed on it.