Post driver

msmith · May 9, 2015

Just finished driving a few posts for my sorting lot. Should have done this about a month ago...man the ground got hard.

Driver is a Shaver HD 10. Didn't have a lot of trouble even though the ground was hard.

Gem99ultra · May 10, 2015

Sorry for the dumb newbie question, but...

When driving the post, did you have to 'sharpen' the bottom, or just ram the post in blunt.

msmith · May 10, 2015

I do not sharpen and don't recommend sharpening. If a sharpened post hits a root or rock it is likely to deflect and drive in crooked. It can happen with a non sharpened post, but it will more likely shear the root ir rock and go in straight.

gwstang · May 10, 2015

Do you have to dig or start any holes to be able to drive the posts in?

msmith · May 10, 2015

gwstang said:
Do you have to dig or start any holes to be able to drive the posts in?

normally, no. If you drive down and hit rock or a hard pan, Log Cabin Fence Co. makes a 3" auger for their drivers that you can drill a pilot hole with. I see on Shaver's website that they now have an optional pilot auger for such events. I might have to see if it will work on mine or if I can retrofit mine to accept it because I have a hard pan on one part of my farm that I cannot get a post to go past 3' deep. Line posts are OK, but corner, end, and brace posts I would like to go 4'.

JimRB · May 10, 2015

The Shaver is a truly frightening and awesome tool. I forget how fast I was driving 4x4 sharpened posts but it was farily fast. Yes, on occasion they did defect around rocks. My land is not all that rocky.

msmith · May 10, 2015

JimRB said:
The Shaver is a truly frightening and awesome tool. I forget how fast I was driving 4x4 sharpened posts but it was farily fast. Yes, on occasion they did defect around rocks. My land is not all that rocky.

Yes it is. If you were driving sharpened 4 inchers, I know they had to go in fast because they go in fast when I don't sharpen them. 8 inchers a little slower.

DT86 · May 10, 2015

We've had a Shaver HD 10 since around 2003. It's driven countless miles of fence. In that time it has only needed springs, a cylinder end cap, and a few welds. I tacked the nuts to the bolts where the driver mounts to the three point frame, no amount of Loctite would keep them from vibrating free.

I like this one so much that I bought another gently used one recently. It has the hydro tilt, which should make life a little easier. Looking forward to getting around to using it.

RedNeckRacin · May 11, 2015

I have some fence posts that have been in the ground for about 4 years now, they are as solid as the day we drove them in! We always piloted the holes to keep the posts true, never did have one come out without being snapped off!

ishiboo · May 12, 2015

Exciting! I have a HD10 as well (with hydraulic tilt), can't wait to put my fence in this year. I fenced an acre a few years ago with a PHD, bought this and haven't had any fence to put up. I did pound some 8' landscape timbers for tree stakes and a few other minor posts for things... so I know how well it works.