Last year the item I used to turn these in bent pretty good, any ideas what I can use to turn these into a post or tree. http://www.coxhardware.com/p-10108-galv-lag-bolt-male-hinge-pin-58-x-4-12.aspx
Predrill your holes with a drill will help. We always did that when we did tree steps for deer stands.
Thanks, I have the pipe wrench, vice grips and the box wrench I'm not sure. I do use a drill but like cranking it in after drilling part of the depth.
What was the item that you used to turn the lag bolts last year? Inquiring minds would like to know...
Pound in a nail, Hang a string line (plumb bob) to keep them lined up straight vertical. Measure /mark & pre-drill about a 1/4" hole. (Mark the string if all the gate are the same distance between hinge points.) A 12 inch long piece of pipe with a diameter hat just fits over the hinge pin end to use a leverage to screw them in (with a piece of flo-pink duck tape on it so you can find it when you drop it in the woods) OR Can just drill a hole in a piece of metal flat stock or angle just a hair bigger than the hinge pin end. or the above ideas work well too.
We used either use the female side of the hinge (if it was long enough) or a large crescent wrench. The hole in the handle was usually perfect for hooking the lag and spinning it in. Do not be afraid to drill your holes full depth. Just drill them slightly smaller (1/8") than the shank of the lag and you will not lose strength. Much easier to spin them in too. Worth noting that whenever possible, Dad preferred the bolt-through type hinge to the lags.
