Had to make my own SonoTubes

[Dumber than lumber]

So I have been putting in some vinyl fence. And have had difficulty getting 10 inch concrete form tubes. 8 inch and 12 inch seem to be available.
I hit on an idea for making my own forms using hardware cloth and RAM board.
I laced The hardware cloth Into a tube using wire. Then cut a piece of RAM board long enough to overlap on itself inside the hardware cloth form.
Of course the real test was pouring concrete in the form once I had dug my post hole and placed the fence post.
Process is a little time-consuming, but could save you some time from having to go offsite if you have the materials.
Handy concept for other uses as well I think.

 

[malibu101]

A form is a form.
Great thinking on a way to get it done!

 

[larry4406]

Nice idea.

Instead of wasting the hardware cloth, wrap the outside of the ram board with electric tape or large zip tie?

 

[Monza Harry]

I had to put up my fence before the grade work was finished and I needed to raise the concrete above grade to finish the grading after the fence was done, and I was to cheap to buy the Sono-tube [which I couldn't install on the finished fence anyway]! So I built a two piece form from 2X lumber and secured the halves with some cheap C-clamps. Poured the 'crete and removed. wash, rinse, repeat. I cut the 10" diameters into the mitered 2x's (6")IIRC by placing a fence across the table saw and gradually raising the blade until it met the edges of the miter's. Splined the joints and glued it up with four "ears" for clamping the halves together. Harry
[I'll edit in a few pic's from my phone later, it is charging AGAIN!.]

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I had to put up my fence before the grade work was finished and I needed to raise the concrete above grade to finish the grading after the fence was done, and I was to cheap to buy the Sono-tube [which I couldn't install on the finished fence anyway]! So I built a two piece form from 2X lumber and secured the halves with some cheap C-clamps. Poured the 'crete and removed. wash, rinse, repeat. I cut the 10" diameters into the mitered 2x's (6")IIRC by placing a fence across the table saw and gradually raising the blade until it met the edges of the miter's. Splined the joints and glued it up with four "ears" for clamping the halves together. Harry
[I'll edit in a few pic's from my phone later, it is charging AGAIN!.]

That is a great idea … if I understand it correctly. How long is your form? Did it come loose from the concrete easily?
How much time did you wait for the concrete to dry before removing form?

 

[Monza Harry]

I needed about 12" down to ~4" in height so I built it about 12" long and I did have to remove a couple of face boards others I did by excavation [buried the form] I also used some vegetable oil as form oil so release was easy. I did a pole a night [so over night as this worked for my situation, but I would think if mixed dry about 4 or 5 hours would be safe at 10=12" YMMV] as the the weather was changing and I used bagged concrete so rushing the drying time wasn't in my purview. I had about 15-20 that needed adjusting.

 

[Spencer Was Here]

Judging by your picture with the post in the form, it looks like you would have been better off using the 12" readily available tube if you have to be off-center that much.

 

[brownbagg]

i just use that thick wall green pvc water pipe, slice in half and then clamp together, wd40 the inside pour concrete then unclamp, move to next post