Post Hole Digger choices

tractorhal · Sep 10, 2003

kwahal Check the belltec phd. This is one that you can reverse,square,and down pressure. You do need 2 remotes.

DieselD · Sep 10, 2003

I needed a PHD to do about 100 holes. I didn't want to rent.
I purchased a Leinbach 7400. It drills like a champ. I have well over 400 holes on it, without any problems at all.
It was also cheap. Around 375~400 bucks , plus augers were less than $100 or so a piece.
Danny
To start something else, I weld to my rops. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

ejb · Sep 17, 2003

>>I have the bigger one and it was just over $2k

I followed the link, but the prices on the page you provided, http://www.kencove.com/postdriver.htm, and it seems the cheapest one is just under $3K and the most expensive close to $9K...which "bigger one" did you get for just over $2K?

2K seems reasonable to me, 9K is WAY out of my budget....

cowboydoc · Sep 17, 2003

Here's the prices from the website.

The HD-8 and HD-10 post drivers from Shaver can be front or rear mounted on a tractor. Shaver's HD-12 and Worksaver's HPD-16, HPD-20 and Worksaver HPD-24 are rear mount only. Manual or hydraulic tilt options are available. Kencove's price on the small driver with 3 point hitch attachment and adjustable stabilizer legs is just $2067.20. The HPD-20 is $2987.75

JerryG · Sep 17, 2003

I also have a PH auger and a driver. And like Doc, I hardly ever use the PHA any more. I have a Danuser and it works great. It is amazing how big of a post that you can drive into rocky or hard dirt with it. You do have to take your time driving T-posts, they will bend. Takes about 30-45 seconds. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

mountain_man · Sep 17, 2003

I'd appreciate if you could answer some dumb questions (not having seen a post driver in action).

What happens when you hit a good sized rock? Does the post split or get stuck? Can you pound posts with holes in them (like split rail posts)? I take it, no backfilling/tamping is needed like with a PHD? I live in some hilly terrain, what's the maximum usable angle you can expect? Thanks,

cowboydoc · Sep 17, 2003

When you hit a rock it just stops. If you are using good posts they don't break unless you are repeatedly trying to drive one. As far as smaller posts like split rails just lighten up how hard you hit them. You can hit them a little or bring the full force of the pounder down on them. Like Jerry said with t-posts you just baby them into the ground. No backfilling tamping or anything is needed. The post is actually much much stronger than the best tamping job you could do and usually in less than minute your post is set and ready for anything you want to do with it. I'm not sure what the angle would be but the pounder is completely adjustable forward and backward and side to side. It would have to be almost straight up and down before you couldn't pound the post in.

JerryG · Sep 17, 2003

If your soil is rocky like where I drive most of my posts, you need to sharpen them. That way, if you don't hit a rock with the tip it will go in.

ejb · Sep 17, 2003

>>Here's the prices from the website.

OK, now I see it. I was looking at those expensive ones near the top...different brand I guess. Thanks.

mountain_man · Sep 17, 2003

Very interesting. Thanks for the responses. One more question if its not too much trouble. Well actually two...

With all the pounding and associated moving parts, have you experienced any broken parts and do you find things loosen up (on the pounder and/or tractor)? Is a CUT heavy enough to handle the pounding?