Eddie, I paid 45$ each for 12 inch tops 14 ft long. I paid 35$ each for 12 inch tops 12 ft long. I just purchased a high pressure gas washer with turbo head.
http://www.pondboss.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=004365;p=1 I tried it on the bark and it cut's it like butter. Unfortunately for me my kids are grown and want do any thing. I plan to leave the post there natural color and put on an exterior Polyurethane. I haven't stripped them yet because I don't want them to weather before I seal them. I have a friend who use to strip post for money. He also made some furniture using cedar. He told me that the place he was contracting out the strip post was charging 100$ to 150$ for each post to custom home builders in the DFW area. He was getting 30$ a post to strip them. I'm not sure what brand of sealer he used but I'm sure you can find it at the local building supply.
