T-posts in hard ground - a hack

[beowulf]

I am in the process of cross-fencing a part of our property (T-posts and barb wire). The ground is a bit hard now (and the area is steep) and after pounding in about 15 of the estimated 90-100+ posts I will need, I decided that my 78 year-old arms and shoulders needed to find a better way. I started using my cordless drill with a 1" bit (the extra long ones) and along my string line I drilled down about 10" first for each post. Then pounded in the posts. I also brought out some water to pour into the holes but it was not needed. It still took a bit of effort but was so much easier. A smarter guy would have put the posts in earlier in the year, but that guy was late to the party.

 

[tacticalturnip]

It's odd how that smart guy always shows up after the fact, right?

Glad to see the drill helped as much as it did.

 

[newbury]

Hasn't anyone come out with a battery operated T -post pounder?

 

[rgr33]

Careful with the post pounding Beowulf, I tore a rotator cuff doing exactly the same thing.
recovery took forever.

 

[ovrszd]

Adapt and overcome. You have a challenging task. No way I could manual drive 100 T posts in any amount of time considered efficient.

 

[ponytug]

X2 on the water hack. I even put a quart or half a gallon on the soil the day before pile driving 8"x8" posts. It makes a world of difference to dry clay soil, which is rocklike around here.

I can't wait to try the drill method for T-posts. Thanks!

All the best,

Peter

 

[turnkey4099]

Hasn't anyone come out with a battery operated T -post pounder?

Or at least one with a pull cord on it.

 

[Rockbadchild]

you didn't want to press them down with your bucket? also I have seen some people who bolt a spear on their bucket and they sink it in a foot or so then you put your post in the hole and press it some more with the bucket.

 

[hosspuller]

An improvement over most of the typical t-post drivers is one with a spring in it. Get a rhythm going and gravity works with you.

Spring Post Pounder | Agri Supply 68849

 

[Hughman]

I've used the bucket to put them in, but with dry rocky clay here in the sierra foothills, the t-posts tend to fold up like pretzels