Fence post driver HELP please

[pappy60]

As part of a fundraiser we have to put up about 15-20 standard fence t-posts then remove them and put them back up in a different location.
This is a yearly event... possibly to become twice yearly..

We cannot use a tractor due to location... Have been using manual driver (homemade version of this...
...cannot get any link to work... go to either tractor supply or northern tool and check their "fence post driver"

But we are not getting younger so looking to make something that can either run off electric or small lawnmower sized engine to drive the posts into the ground..

Have not come up with a working solution...

Need ideas on how to build something... something like a small jackhammer, etc...

Need cost to be low, but have plenty of steel available and all tools to make just about anything in this size.. i.e. welders, torches, saws, etc.

Any advice or ideas ??
All help greatly appreciated.

 

[Tonyinohio]

Just curious...what are the fence post's purpose? Could they be driven in shallow so they come out easier? I use a Farm Jack to pull out Tee-posts if my FEL can't reach them but if they are shallow I pull them out by hand.

 

[Dadnatron]

There are many makes and models of these gasoline powered T-post drivers. They don't hammer, they vibrate it in. I don't know your budget, but given you don't have a massive use for one, you could probably find a used one for a decent price.

I wish I had one back when I was pounding them in with our homemade manual driver.

Gas Post Drivers

 

[coldsteelva]

When I was in high school, I worked for a large event tent rental company. We had to drive, remove, redrive 3-4 foot long iron tent poles routinely. We used what amounted to a jackhammer with a collar that fit over the post heads.

Look at these gas-powered post drivers - Ranch-Pro™ - Rhino ToolsRhino Tools

 

[rustyshakelford]

Another option is a pneumatic one. They need quite a bit of air though. If it's only 15-20 fence posts I'd be hard pressed to spend so much money on something that will be hardly used. I bet you could hire a HS kid from the feed store for $50 and be done with it!

Brett

 

[BukitCase]

Not all the pneumatic drivers use a lot of air - I have this one -

http://www.rohrermfg.com/post-drivers/99e-m-post-driver/

Runs fine off an airless "rooftop" compressor (see link for details)
For your use, if it will ONLY be used for T posts

http://www.rohrermfg.com/post-drivers/98e-basic-t-post-driver/

Takes even LESS air than mine, and costs $450 instead of $2000 like the gas powered ones. See videos here

http://www.rohrermfg.com/

No affiliation, just a satisfied user - my larger one (with an adapter I built) will drive 4x4's (I cut a point on 'em first) into clay soil (timing is EVERYTHING, same as for tilling ) ...Steve

 

[TractorGuy]

As part of a fundraiser we have to put up about 15-20 standard fence t-posts then remove them and put them back up in a different location.
This is a yearly event... possibly to become twice yearly..

We cannot use a tractor due to location... Have been using manual driver (homemade version of this...
...cannot get any link to work... go to either tractor supply or northern tool and check their "fence post driver"

But we are not getting younger so looking to make something that can either run off electric or small lawnmower sized engine to drive the posts into the ground..

Have not come up with a working solution...

Need ideas on how to build something... something like a small jackhammer, etc...

Need cost to be low, but have plenty of steel available and all tools to make just about anything in this size.. i.e. welders, torches, saws, etc.

Any advice or ideas ??
All help greatly appreciated.

How much does your driver weigh? I bought one from TS and drove one post and took it back. I built one that is half again heavier and it works like a dream. Kind of hard to lift up over the post but then it drives them through roots or anything else.

 

[pappy60]

The fundraiser is a golf tournament for money to help rebuild homes caused by natural disasters, such as Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, etc...

The posts are to hold sponsor banners, lengths of 4', 6' and 8'... Put them up at golf course in morning, take them down and put them back up at the location of the included meal ...

Thought about jack hammers but not sure how well they worked to pound posts in...

The rohrermfg unit is what I am looking for... but hopefully can find one at a lower cost..

Northern tool has one that lifts the weight and you pull it down like a manual driver but it does not work very well..
Air comes out too slow..

Anyone know how the rohrermfg unit works ??? On what principal ??

Thanks for any assistance..

 

[Otto Syracuse]

For the amount to of post driving you will be doing the $30 or $40 dollar version of the manual post driver from Northern Tool will work just fine. I don't think you will really need to drive the posts in as far as if you were holding up fencing for a long period of time. If you can swing a golf club, you can swing this too.
To remove, I just wiggle it back and forth and the usually pop out. For the really stubborn ones, I use a the sharp end of a pick or log jack in one of the holes near the bottom of the post as a lever. That works too.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Tsc has a nice tpost pounder.