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Outdoor Problems of the Householder: Molds

If the posts are simple in form, these are light and easy to handle and give a post of neat finish and of any desired shape. But wooden molds made of ordinary white pine are in very common use. Two-inch plank dressed on both sides are to be preferred. But lighter lumber may be used if well braced. Molds for square posts are the simplest and easiest to make. They are merely long boxes and are often built in sets or gangs, side-by-side, with continuous bottom and end pieces. Any person having the tools can construct such molds without difficulty. They are usually laid flat. Thus when the concrete is poured into them, the two ends and three sides of the post are shaped by the mold. The fourth or top side is then smoothed with the trowel. Thus no lid or cover for the fourth side of the mold is required. To avoid sharp ragged corners, strips of canvas may be tacked along the two lower corners of the mold so that the corners of the finished post will be slightly rounded. The two upper corners can be similarly shaped by the use of a trowel or special tool called "edger." Or clay may be plastered in the corners of the mold, or wooden strips may be tacked to the side boards and shaped properly with a gouge to answer the same purpose.

The end pieces may be hinged to admit of the ready removal of the finished posts. Other forms are preferred by many such as posts tapering either on two or all four sides. A suitable size for this purpose are molds 4 inches deep, 6 inches wide at the butt, 4½ inches square at the an OUTDOOR PROBLEMS OF THE HOUSEHOLDER 287 top and 7 feet long. Or molds 5 inches by 6 inches wide at the butt, 3 inches deep by 4 inches wide at the top and 7 feet long. Triangular posts are also a favorite style. These are easily constructed in sets or with steel in the form of rods or wire properly buried in the concrete.