Fence install

[offroadaudio]

I rented a 12" auger for the 3 point on my 7800 for this. The 2 posts that frame where the 14' bar gate will go are black locust. They were cut from my neighbors property. I still need to skin the left one with a hatchet. The rest are 6 x 6 .40 PT. All are at least 24" in with a 60lb bag of concrete. I wanted 36 inches, but with the rock around here - it's more like mining than digging! I'm adding a small field stone wall to each side for fun. The rails will be 6" wide oak from an old cattle barn on the property. Once the rails are in place, I'll cut the posts @ 5' for the 6x6 and 6' for the locust. Any ideas on what to use to get that stained black look? I've heard that used oil and diesel fuel work, but maybe something more..... in a can???

Also, I caught the friend in the grass while mowing - wanted to move him away from the area that I was working so I would not run him over. He struck at me once and was shaking his tail like a rattle snake. I was alone, and so started talking to him like I was the Croc Hunter - "aren't you grumpy"?

 

[PA hayseed]

but with the rock around here - it's more like mining than digging! I'm adding a small field stone wall to each side for fun.

I feel your pain. I used to live in newberry township, down by the river. They have what they call ironstone in your area, along with the ever lovely limestone. Good luck with the digging. In my current neck of the woods, we have shale, sandstone, limestone, and mountain stone - oh yeah, and coal. The easiest to go through is the coal, then the shale - unless it is the harder shale, what some people call bluenose shale.

Did you have hydraulic downpressure on that rig? If not you may spin your bits to the nub. The skidsteer guys up here all have hydraulic downpressure, but it won't go through the hard stuff. You need much bigger equipment, and sometimes you need diamondbits and water.

Just my .02 in case you don't already know, if your drysetting that stone, make sure you stagger the joints and get some big base rocks. If you backset the stone and put in a little filler behind it it should last 100 years or so. Most of the other ones I have seen down there have been around at least that long.

 

[offroadaudio]

Well - not Hydrolic down pressure. I didn't want to mention because the safety police might come arrest me but...a neighbor who is very, very experienced and owns about 20 pieces of equipment, took a 10' digging bar and placed it on top of the gearbox, under the pin - and then hung from the end.
It made me nervous, it seemed like he does it everyday.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Well - not Hydrolic down pressure. I didn't want to mention because the safety police might come arrest me but...a neighbor who is very, very experienced and owns about 20 pieces of equipment, took a 10' digging bar and placed it on top of the gearbox, under the pin - and then hung from the end.
It made me nervous, it seemed like he does it everyday.

I have seen it done too. It does not mean it is correct or safe, just a common practice.

 

[manganos]

Yep, I had a co-worker loose an arm and an ear doing that. Slipped and got his overalls caught in the auger shaft and it wrapped him until is stalled the tractor. Then he proceeded to rip his arm out of the auger and walk 1/2 a mile to the neighbors house where he fell through the back door and lost a tremendous amount of blood. They medflighted him out to MCV where they cut off the rest of his arm and tried to re-attatch his ear. Guess this is one of the don't get out of your seat with the PTO on stories. Sorry I couldn't resist ....