t-post driver

[skip1]

I would like to buy a portable hydraulic t-post driver that can be operated off tractor remotes. I found some high dollar ones (2500-3000) and found some cheaper air-operated ones (450+). The air operated ones seem slow and weak, at least the ones I can afford. Does anyone know of any other ones, or maybe know how to build one?

 

[chh]

I bought an air driver from Rohrer. I have used it on about 3 miles of barb wire fence in the last 2 years. It works pretty good and I've had zero problems with it so far. A small gas air compressor can run it. I use a generator and small compressor that I already had. Mounted the setup on a 5x10 trailer and tow it around with all the materials on it. A neighbor told me about them and showed me his. He heard about it from a commercial fence builder that uses one on miles of fence ever year.


Rohrer Manufacturing Inc. :: Automatic T-Post Driver and Fence Supplies

 

[skip1]

Thanks for the info. that was one of the ones i had been looking at. i was concerned about how soft the ground was on the video. We have red clay which gets very hard it the summer and alot of rocks on the sides of the hills. Have you used yours it hard ground?

 

[kvmapr]

I use a much more cost effective alternative. I bought a cheap farm jack from Tractor Supply, about $35, and a 4 foot length of chain with a catch hook at one end and a slip hook at the other.

Wrap the chain around the base of the post a couple time and loop it over the jack. A half dozen pumps of the handle and the post is free.

KVMAPR

 

[chh]

Thanks for the info. that was one of the ones i had been looking at. i was concerned about how soft the ground was on the video. We have red clay which gets very hard it the summer and alot of rocks on the sides of the hills. Have you used yours it hard ground?

It will drive in hard ground pretty good. Rocks it just depends. If it hit thin soft sandstone it will break it and go on. Thick or harder rock it won't do.

 

[chh]

I use a much more cost effective alternative. I bought a cheap farm jack from Tractor Supply, about $35, and a 4 foot length of chain with a catch hook at one end and a slip hook at the other.

Wrap the chain around the base of the post a couple time and loop it over the jack. A half dozen pumps of the handle and the post is free.

KVMAPR

A t-post puller is only about $30 to $35 anyway. I hate those hi lift jacks.(I have a couple of them) I used them on too many tractor flats when I was a kid. They can get you hurt in a heartbeat.

 

[EddieWalker]

At $450 for the cheapest model, it makes me wonder if there's a way to make one? Figure a large, heavy pipe for the sleeve and some sort of air tool for the hammer effect. If it's heavy enough, I don't think it would take an aweful heavy blow to drive a T-Post into the ground, just a steady repitition.

I'm just thinking outloud, don't really have an idea yet....

Eddie

 

[kvmapr]

I should've paid closer attention to what we're discussing here, drivers not pullers.

Anyway, the other advantage of the post puller I describe above is that it's not a full time post puller. On it's off days it can be used as a farm jack.

KVMAPR

 

[mikim]

Have you used yours it hard ground
I have - I also have that Rohrer - and it works just fine. I have hit round hard rocks with it about the size of a softball or a bit bigger and it either breaks the rock or drives the post around it - depending on how centered you hit the rock. Primarily I have 12 - 18" of soft soil followed by hard clay to who knows how deep - with just a few rocks thrown in to keep it interesting.