On Mon, 31 May 2004 21:12:23 -0500, RoyDMercer wrote:

I assume you are building some type of wooden privacy fence. One thing
you might consider is using metal posts instead of wooden ones. The last
fence I had built used schedule 40 3" round metal posts. Galvanized
schedule 40 posts are very heavy duty and will far outlast wooden posts
and they are about as cheap. You can set them directly into the concrete
without having to worry about the brackets you mentioned. You attach the
metal posts to the rails via clamp type brackets.

I'm committed to the wood because I need to match the materials to a
fence on another border of our property.

If you still want to use the wooden posts, what I would do is take a piece
of 4x4 and drill a hole(s) through it that you know is completely plumb.
Then clamp the guide 4x4 to your post flush on all 3 sides. Set the drill
bit into your guide and then start drilling. This will keep your drill
plumb as it goes through the post. Of course you'll have to use a drill
bit that's longer than 8".

This sounds like a good idea, but I've decided to just use lag screws rather
than try to match up the holes on both sides.

Thanks,

Kevin