Frank Chester’s post-extraction method works, but my technique offers an improvement. Instead of notching the old post for a lever, I tie the lever to the post with a chain (see drawing). The chain can be tied to itself with a hook that fits between the links or with a bolt and a wing nut.
The far end of the lever rests on a block, and the lever is lifted instead of depressed to get the post out of the ground. The advantage of this method is that the post can be worked from different positions instead of just one side. A word of caution: Protect your back when extracting posts this way. Use your legs, and let the lever do the work
Thomas Ricci, Lexington, KY
