Post Driver...anyone regret it?

ejb · Jun 3, 2004

Question for those of you who have bought a post driver instead of(or in addition to) a post digger...anyone wish they hadn't? In particular I am wondering if anyone has regretted it because it didn't serve them well in their type of soil conditions....

I have a mix of rocks and clay, so I figured that a post hole driver wouldn't be appropriate for me...but then as thought about it, if I am going to hit a rock so big I can't pound a post in, it probably means I would be able to dig it with a PHD either...right? Or, are there conditions which a post hole digger is actually better suited than a post driver?

The abolute LAST thing I want to do is plunk down that much money and not be able to use it....comments?

JerryG · Jun 3, 2004

I have both a PHD and a driver. I hardly ever use the PHD, sense getting the driver. I have a lot of flint rock and clay and the driver is a lot easier to use in them than anything else.

MikePA · Jun 3, 2004

Like Jerry, I have both a post hole digger and a post driver (Worksaver) and if you have a lot of posts to put in, a driver can not be beat since it changes a multistep process into a 1 step process. Having said that, a post driver is not a panacea. If there's a rock in the way, it can either stop the post from going in or cause the post to go in at an angle. Depending how far the post is in the ground when this happens, you might be able to still use the post, if you can live with how it looks /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif and if the post is deep enough. In other cases you have to pull the post out and try another spot.

 are there conditions which a post hole digger is actually better suited than a post driver? 
There are probably situations where the phd would bring the rock up out of the hole, thus allowing a post to be put in whereas a post driven at the same location would go in at an angle. Problem is, there's no way to know this ahead of time. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The ground in my area is made up of clay with a nice assortment of rocks. Over the last 4 days, I've driven over 100 posts (4" x 4" x 8'). My goal was to get them 3 feet into the ground, and I'd settle for 2.5 feet into the ground. I estimate that 80% of the posts are between 30 and 36 inches in the ground. There are less than 10 that went in at an angle, most of them are still usable as fence posts. I haven't decided what I'm going to do about the 4 or 5 that are unusable. I'll probably just pull them and try another location.

I've put in T-posts with the driver as well. Piece of cake.

I've also dug 180 holes with a phd. No comparison when it comes to putting in fence posts, the driver is better, albeit at a price premium.

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

Woodbeef · Jun 4, 2004

It all depends on how rocky your ground is. Sometimes the driver is better,sometimes the auger is. With the auger you can dig out rocks at times. If you have rocks like I do sometimes only a fullsize-tlb will work. The better drivers also have an auger for drilling pilot holes. There are some augers out there that will drill through most types of rock also. Bel-tech I think is one of them.

SnowRidge · Jun 4, 2004

Mike, how much does a post driver run? I did some Googling for the small Worksaver unit and couldn't find anybody with a price.

SnowRidge

cowboydoc · Jun 4, 2004

I agree with Mike. Also, if a post hole pounder won't work a post hole digger, for the most part, isn't going to work either. It will just tear up your post hole digger and shear pins off constantly which is a real pain trying to get a stuck auger out of the hole. The only way to really go through rocks is to get a skidsteer with a rock auger or dig them out by hand. These do work well but are twice the price of a post pounder and you really need a skidsteer to make one work very good.

MikePA · Jun 4, 2004

Mike, how much does a post driver run? 
The Worksaver HPD-16 is $2,544.

SnowRidge · Jun 4, 2004

( The Worksaver HPD-16 is $2,544. )

Thanks, I'm afraid my $200 PHD will just have to do. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

SnowRidge

ejb · Jun 4, 2004

>>The Worksaver HPD-16 is $2,544.

Would a rig that size be able to drive in a 6-8 inch round post 48 inches into the ground?

cowboydoc · Jun 4, 2004

Would a rig that size be able to drive in a 6-8 inch round post 48 inches into the ground?

Easily.

ejb · Jun 4, 2004

As I debate this post hole digger versus post driver decision endlessly...if I go the post hole digger route (to save some $$$), what size auger is best to use with a 6-8 inch post? I have a need for a 12 inch auger for another purpose (a deck project). If I also use the 12 inch auger for setting 6-8 inch posts, is that to big? I was planning on backfilling and tamping with some pea stone/soil mix?

MDSteve · Jun 4, 2004

I use a 12" auger for 6X6 and sometimes wish I had a larger hole to line everything up. The larger the hole the more likly you can make a straight fence line.

Steve

Nasty135 · Jun 4, 2004

MDSteve, Where did you get your post hole digger? I see you are in Clements ,I'm surprised your not driving one of Perry's Masseys?? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I have a use for one for a couple jobs and may just try to borrow one from a retired co-worker of mine that lives near by so when I'm not using it ,it won't be in my way /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gatorboy · Jun 4, 2004

I just got (yesterday, in fact) myself an auger for my Bobcat. I'm going to be putting in 4" to 6" round posts in for a high tensile fence. I got the 6" auger bit do this. I would think the less wiggle room the better. I'll let you know how it works out.

I would have gotten a post driver, but I have other uses that require an auger instead.

cowboydoc · Jun 4, 2004

I would go 12". It's very hard to get the post tamped down very well with a 9" auger.

slowrev · Jun 4, 2004

I agree with Mike and Cowboydoc. A post drive can't be beat. We have shollow soil and slate rock here. A driver is the only way to go, roots, rocks, if a driver can't do it then it is time for the manual PHD and irondigger bar /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I have used both front and 3 point mounted drivers, both are better than any other alternative I have seen for a tractor. If the way is clear my friend and myself drive about 100 posts in a day. Would be lucky to get 1/4 of that done with an auger and be a LOT more tired at the end of the day.

MDSteve · Jun 4, 2004

I got mine from either Guy Bro's or Hugh Garner's. I usually price them out at both places and pick up who is cheaper. On the auger they were the same so I got it from Guy Bro's. I have a 8" or so and the 12". It is nice having a dealer within a mile or so of the house. I had Guy Bro's make me some extra hydro lines to run a logsplitter from the Kubota.

When I pick up my tractor 2 years ago I looked at JD, MF and Kubota but for the package and size the Kubota was the cheapest.

Steve

MikePA · Jun 4, 2004

Would a rig that size be able to drive in a 6-8 inch round post 48 inches into the ground? 
Your question has 2 parts, the size of the post and how deep can it be driven into the ground.

Worksaver has a number of models. All of them can drive a post as far into the ground as you want to, given the limitation I mention at the end of this message.

The HPD-16 can handle up to 7" x 9 foot posts.
The HPD-20 can handle up to 8 3/4" x 10 foot posts.
The HPD-24 can handle up to 11" x 10 foot posts.

One more question...How long is the post? I ask, because there's a lower limit, i.e., the part the drives the post in can only come down so far before it hits the ground before hitting the top of the post. (See attachment). There are ways to get around this limitation such as placing a short piece of post on top of the post being driven, but that could get dangerous.

cowboydoc · Jun 4, 2004

Mike,

Do you use the stands like that pic shows? I have never even used mine except to store it.

MarkV · Jun 4, 2004

Interesting discussion. I was wondering what kind of power does it take to run a post driver? Also, even if you have the power does it require a sizable tractor to stabilize a unit doing that kind of work?

MarkV