Fencing options

[northcaroliney]

Planning to kick off a fencing project of around 3000' - any recommendations on whether to pursue pounding posts vs. pre-drill a small diameter auger hole (4") and use bucket to push the posts down. This latter method seems less technical and I've heard of success around here in our predominantly clay soil. Thoughts or recommendations?

 

[homesteader13]

Bucket all day long, no question. Enough said.

That is how we do it here in Nebraska in the sand dirt and clay, we will see how it works at our place in Montana with all the rock though.

 

[geblackwell]

Stoney Ridge Farmer on You Tube has fencing videos. Most of his are pounded by different methods I believe.

 

[Fuddy1952]

My neighbor just put in 7000ft fence, contractor used a hydraulic post driver which went very well and seemed easy.

 

[ustmd]

I am in heavy black clay and drill and then set the post in concrete.

IF you are going to drill, then push them in with a bucket, the biggest issue is keeping the hole straight. I can't drill a straight hole with my 3pt PHD to save my life. I upgraded to a 12" auger bit for 6" posts so I would at least have a chance of getting the post straight and in line.

Good luck.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I was wondering if the OP could rent a hydraulic post driver locally for 3000ft of fence. For horses I drilled for an 8"-9" post every 50 ft, then 4 x 7ft T posts between. Woven wire. Danuser auger worked well, tamped in straight. Wire up 8" so easy to mow, insulator with white ribbon electric on top. Horses.

 

[northcaroliney]

Thanks for the thoughts. 3pt auger and straightness was one concern... for project of that size, I could also explore just renting a skidsteer to auger/push in vs. renting a pounder pounder for the tractor. I've looked for rental post pounders in my area though and they're hard to come by - I was only able to find one option that was about 1.5 hrs away and usually very in demand/booked out.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Where are you located? Having drilled holes and pushing the posts in, drilled holes and packing them in with dirt, drilled holes and using concrete to set posts and using a hydraulic post driver I will by far go with my post driver for its speed and how solid the post is.
On clay it will work best with natural moisture in the soil softening it up. It will put them in very solid, in the right dirt I have timed myself from the time I stepped off the tractor, drove the post, and got back on the tractor I was right around 2 minutes. This was an 8" post and was in the ground 40".

 

[cqaigy2]

I've found pounder in clay, that hasn't dried hard, to be very fast and solid.

 

[MickeyDBC]

Are you using metal or wood posts?