[Shop-talk] Cutting a chain link fence post? (Jim Franklin)

[Mark Miller]

A few thoughts:

You could cut them with a sawzall with a long reasonably flexible blade 
bent to remain flat to and below the ground level.

You could cut them with a sawzall at an angle and then come back with an 
angle grinder and then make the cut parallel to the ground once the rest 
of the post isn't in the way.

It would be slower but an oscillating tool with a good carbide blade can 
get in from both sides with a cut quite close to the concrete below it.

You could get/make a good heat shield to protect the fence and then use 
a torch. This looks to be the most potentially problematic but also the 
most fun.

Regards,

Mark Miller   707-490-5834
markmiller at threeboysfarm.com

On 10/29/2026 11:00 AM, shop-talk-request at autox.team.net wrote:
> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:25:08 -0400
> From: Jim Franklin <jamesf at groupwbench.org>
> To: Shop-Talk <shop-talk at autox.team.net>
> Subject: [Shop-talk] Cutting a chain link fence post?
> Message-ID: <F50E091C-7E33-4418-A865-1D3574444181 at groupwbench.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=us-ascii
>
> I need to cut down about 20 of these a few inches below grade. The catch is they are right next to my neighbor's PVC fence, so I can't get to that side.
>
> I can use my sawzall but I want the cut parallel to the grade which means getting the entire sawzall below grade and sucking schmutz into the motor. Do-able and at the top of the list so far.
>
> I was going to rent an excavator (still might) to also remove the concrete blob but then I'd need a bunch of fill delivered (none on site but there may be some when they dig up the driveway to repave it, shelving this idea for a few weeks), hassle factor exceeds the joy of having an excavator.
>
> Portable bandsaw seems like a useful lifetime tool, especially if it can be mounted vertically to use as a regular bandsaw and also mounted in a chop saw table. Internet isn't forthcoming on the viability of these options.
>
> Angle grinder won't reach around the back.
>
> Plasma cutter is contraindicated with neighbor's fence.
>
> Any other ideas?
>
> thanks,
> jim
>
>