Putting fence in with ground frozen?

[Benson]

I found out yesterday that we now own 2 ponies. Is it possible with a 3pt hitch post hole digger to put a fence in while the ground is frozen, or does this need to wait for spring? Seems like a much better project for June (ground thawed and dried out), but the women here don't wait for ideal conditions when they get an idea. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

John

 

[JimR]

Put a 90 degree elbow on your exhaust and melt the ground. You might get it melted before spring. Have them go put the posts in.
What do you think will happen when you hit a frozen rock in the ground?

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> Is it possible with a 3pt hitch post hole digger to put a fence in while the ground is frozen, or does this need to wait for spring? </font>
I am not sure what a 'frozen rock' is. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

No way you're going to be able to drill a hole in frozen ground. Wait until spring.

 

[JimR]

Whatsamatter with you? You never saw a frozen rock before? Just stick your tonque to one in zero weather and see if it isn't frozen. I should have said a rock frozen in the ground.

 

[stevenf]

John if you'll pay for my fuel I'll drive my tractor up to your house and auger them holes for yah with my hydraulic down pressure auger it takes about 10 minutes per hole drilling 24" through solid limestone I'm sure frozen dirt won't present a problem. You know come to think of it you might need to buy me a heated cab to as I'm in South Texas and if it gets much below 40 I'm cold. My tractor will run on the road at about 21 mph so if I start now I might be there by spring. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Steve

 

[cowboydoc]

I agree with Mike, Jim, and others. It's near impossible to put a fence in with the ground frozen. There are rock drills that you can get like was mentioned but they are very expensive. It may be possible to rent one if you can find it.

 

[JimR]

You can always rent a jackhammer and put the ladies to work drilling holes.

 

[stevenf]

Now cowboydoc made me feel bad I'm sorry I really would auger your holes if you were close as I just finished putting in 50 or 60 T post into limestone with the auger and it was very nice as our previous attempt was with one of them fancy spring loaded tpost pounders from TSC and with my grown son and I both pounding for an hour we got one post about 4" in before I decided electric fence around the well was fine for now and we just used the surrounding trees. Which brings me to a suggestion it'd be a temporary fix until you get defrosted but can you hammer in Tpost or get some metal rods designed for the electric fence tape and use that. Electric fence holds horses well just use the tape so its easy to see and get a good charger otherwise they'll choose to ignore it and walk right thru. As a matter of fact I don't know how your tree situtation is but you could temporarily attach to trees like I did and then you'd have no pounding at all until summer comes.
Steve

 

[Benson]

Thanks everyone for your replies. You confirmed what I thought (ponies will be boarding next door until spring). Boarding with my next door neighbor is probably cheaper than replacing everything I will break trying to put the fence in now. Next problem is the barn. Thanks again.

John

 

[GaryBDavis]

Hey stevenf,

I just recently got a Belltec and have had only one chance to use it in rocky conditions. I hadn’t yet adjusted the hydraulic relief pressure, but it sure did work nice. That was in Williamson County – a couple of hours north of you and almost as rocky. I need to dig some holes about 30 miles outside of Boerne at my sister’s ranch, so I know it will get a good workout there.

For t-post in rocky areas, I’ve been using a pneumatic rock drill with a 100CFM Ingersol Rand portable compressor. The rock drill is a 35 pounder and I use a 1 3/8” x 2’ drill steel on it. It makes a nice pilot hole and I still have to use a hand held t-post driver which I like because the post ends up firmly planted in the ground.

The reason I mention this is you must have the 2” puff drill that they sell for the Belltec. I’ve wondered if it didn’t leave too big of a hole for the t-post to be firmly planted? I would like to hear your opinion on this as due to the cost, there aren’t too many Belltec owners around. I only have the 9” RAD auger.