We only have pine rails around here and without running electric on it the horses can break them by just leaning on them, yet we have some old oak rails from 30-40 years ago that are still in one piece. Unfortunately, I am so limited in my skills I can only put up P&R as it does not require a saw, hammer or nails.
Yes.
Have no idea where you are located, but if it helps I buy my oak rails from Frederick Fencing in Frederick, Maryland. They’re a very large fencing firm, and special order oak rails for me based on the number I need. I think I bought about 100 oak replacement rails last year. Surprisingly, the oak rails were less expensive than pine rails.
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Bless you, gothedistance. I love oak rails and locust posts for my split rail and have had trouble getting them from my regular supplier in the Columbia, MD, area.
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Can definitely still get the locust up here in the North East. I haven’t needed to price it out recently, because all my 50+ year old posts are still doing fine. :lol:
But dearest, what do you mean you can’t use a hammer and nails? I hope there’s a physical issue, not a “I can’t figure this out” issue!
You can definitely find oak at most of the Amish mills in PA/MD. It can be a pain, as they don’t have phones, etc., so you have to drive to the mill and check on their supply, but all of our fencing is oak board.
We do use pressure treated pine posts, but locust posts seem to be readily available
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Bless you, gothedistance. I love oak rails and locust posts for my split rail and have had trouble getting them from my regular supplier in the Columbia, MD, area.
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Oh, you’re more than welcome! 
I’ve searched around forever for years (PA, MD, VA, WV, DE) to get GOOD quality oak rails, and Frederick Fencing is the only one that came through for me. I think they get them from a mill in WV which is why they have to order them in. PLUS, any that twisted or warped after the fact (which I’ve learned oak does) - FF took them back without hesitation, and replaced them immediately with good ones.
They’re a great company, super friendly and helpful. They do deliver, too, although I prefer to drive up there (only 1 1/2 hours away) and pick up my fencing myself to save shipping costs.
Thanks so much!!
I am physically capable as I have no problem digging post holes but board fencing seems to require sawing (chain sawing?) oak boards and then nailing said boards to a hard post without bending the nail…I dont trust my hand eye skills not to take off a foot, especially working alone, and I always seems to bend nails–so definitely “skill” related! Believe it or not I find P&R less physically and skill demanding even if I dig the hole (pathetic I know) !
more of an issue as to how the lumber was milled rather than a species problem
Plain Sawn vs Quarter Sawn vs Rift Sawn
I have to go to Vermont for my oak slip rail and the posts. I have had it for 25 years now and occasionally need to replace a post but I have to say it has held up well! I used to get the boards locally but the mill went out of business last year so I stocked up on some from VT.
reported.
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Bumped by spam…
Pshh, hogwash.
Get a good cordless circular saw and a NEW blade (important the blade is new and sharper than hell for oak).
Get a gas-powered compressor that can live in the bed of a truck, with a 5 gal or so tank. Get an air hose and a pneumatic framing nailer, or the right pneumatic tool for however you want to put it up.
Cut the boards. Line the pneumatic nailer up. KACHOW you’re in.
Bending nails in oak is a real thing, but not when you have the right tools. 
Empower yourself! (and you’ll use that compressor and pneumatic tools for like a million more things, don’t worry).
All ^ that said… post and rail is pretty. I like it.
EDIT whoops zombie thread, sorry!!
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Such a zombie thread but I sure wish I could get locust posts here. They last forever. My family farm has some over 50 years old and sounder than my 15 year old ones.
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I was at a farm that had locust posts. The oak boards rotted away from the nails. In order to get new boards put up we had to drill pilot holes in the locust posts. The posts were around 30 years old at that time.
I just had our new farm fenced last month (Damascus,MD) and they used 6” treated pine posts with oak boards. That fencing is sturdy to say the least!
Locust posts are like CONCRETE. Hard as heck. Yes they last forever, but the downside is it’s not easy to drive a nail or a screw into them! We use pressure treated pine posts and oak rails (boards). Get from any local farm & feed store or co-op.
The 40 + year old locust posts at the farm I mentioned were definitely hard. There was no pulling the old nails out…you just had to find an empty space on the post and drill a pilot hole in order to nail in a new board.
Honestly, if I were able to get locust posts and knew I was building a “forever” farm, I would use them. THEY WILL OUTLIVE ME and any board I put on them will probably outlive me too!
