Need to set 300 wood fence posts EASY

[bobbart]

I am 50 yo and have had my shoulders replaced so tamping posts in by hand is not practical.
I have been drilling the holes and tossing the posts in but now I am to the point that I have to get them set. Concrete is not something I want to do due to the cost and that I live in a rural area, I do not have the ability to mix my own in that quantity. Has anyone had any luck with another cheap no hassle way?
Someone suggested to mix water in the hole with the soil and it will set. I am not to sure on this method.

 

[stuckmotor]

If you were to make something similar to a short stilt, could you use it to pack the dirt with the weight of your body, saving your shoulders?

 

[747driver]

Put a small amount of stone in the bottom of the hole if possible...it allows drainage of water. Yes...many people just put the concrete in dry and then add some water from the top. It will setup over time. Either keep the concrete about 2 inches from the top of the hole or put the concrete about 1 inch above the hole then form a crown so the water will drain away from the post. You don't want water pooling around the post promoting rot.

 

[bdog]

Quickrete is like $3 a bag. You don稚 have to mix it. Pour it in around the posts dry.

Personally I mix it up but they say you don稚 have to.

I am not sure what you mean by mixing in that quantity. You only need to mix a bag or two at a time for each hole. We set hundreds of posts at our place mixing concrete for each hole one at a time.

 

[Oldgreybear]

I have used the Sika Set foam from Lowes. Not very cheap but fast and it works. Secure set is the foam used by the utilities here to set poles. Sets in minutes and is good to go. Works well.

 

[RickB]

There’s nothing easy about setting 300 posts unless you use a checkbook.

 

[bdog]

There’s nothing easy about setting 300 posts unless you use a checkbook.

Amen to that.

Driving them in was likely a good option but since you have already dug the holes that ship has sailed.

 

[Jaylegger]

If posts are round just pile drive them or perhaps look at hiring someone to drive helical screw piles. As mentioned, nothing easy about boring 300 oversized holes, placing posts, then filling gaps with concrete.

 

[bdog]

If posts are round just pile drive them or perhaps look at hiring someone to drive helical screw piles. As mentioned, nothing easy about boring 300 oversized holes, placing posts, then filling gaps with concrete.

Too late for that. Read the original post he has already dug the holes

 

[Jaylegger]

Too late for that. Read the original post he has already dug the holes[/QUOTE

Good point, I obviously had a brain fart. Even with the effort invested so far there's a good chance scrapping the original plan for another would cost less, take less time, and provide an equally or more stable end product.