Question about Digging Post Holes

[meadowlarkponds]

If you do end up using the auger, be careful in clay soils that you don't bury the auger. It can happen fairly easily if you don't raise the auger often and clean the hole out as you go...if you do bury it... well in some situations a new auger bit is the only solution other than hand digging it out. Sorry to say been there and done that. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[flakrat]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've never seen "vinyl stretch fence" like that. What brand is it, and where do you get it? thanks)</font>

The brand that we are pricing is Centaur HTP

Got to their website, they have a Dealer Locator at the bottom of the left column. My father-in-law uses it up in Tennessee and they really like it.

It's strong, but will flex if a horse smacks into it (hopefully preventing major damage to the horse AND fence ). They also have one that has a hot wire embedded into the vinyl so you don't have to run a separate hotwire.

 

[flakrat]

Thanks for the advice on burrying the PHD, we will be digging in red clay, so that advice may just save me from wasting $120

I'm getting price quotes for the augers:

Bush Hog 2101 PHD with 9" bit: $850
Tractor Supply Brand with 9" bit: around $550

Does anyone know anything about either of these? The bit on the bush hog looks like it means business (has a bearclaw doodad on the tip to break rocks out of the way), where as the tractor supply one just looks like a normal corkscrew.

Anywho, we are looking at upwards of 200 posts, and after that, the auger would be used for the occasional hole that needs digging.

I can't help but think that the Bush Hog will make my life easier, but then again I don't want to get one rated for 1000's of holes when it'll only ever dig a few hundred.

 

[Benson]

I have the TSC PHD with a 12 inch auger. I drilled 28 holes for my pole barn last summer, and about 150 holes for 4 inch treated fence posts. The PHD held up fine, but tamping was a chore since I had a lot of extra room. On the plus side, I always had room to get the posts strait, no matter how bad I drilled the holes. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Having said all that, my neighbor had his fence replaced by professionals at the same time. They used a skid steer with a hydro pounder, (it also had a drill for when they hit rock). When I put more fence in next summer, I will rent this type of unit. It is way faster, and works even when you hit rock. I don't think his fence posts were pointed, but I never really looked. There are a few extra over there-I can walk over and look if you like.
John

 

[Gooseneck]

My wife and I installed the Centaur HTP fence for our pastures. Our soil is mainly clay, with an underlay of sand/gravel. We used a post pounder to do the line posts which, imo, is the way to go. It was harder in the dry summer months when the ground was hard, but in the spring it was like cutting butter with a hot knife. On our last pasture, we averaged about a pole every 6 minutes. The posts were 4 - 5 inch diameter and not pointed. Good luck with your fence.

 

[flusher]

You could rent a Bobcat with an auger. I think the auger on this type of equipment might be easier to align.

Your tractor probably has enough hydraulic flow to power one of those hydraulic augers that can be attached to the side of the FEL. Rhino makes one for low volume flow tractors 5-12 GPM.

Rhino hydraulic auger

They're pricey at $2500, but I don't know your cost pain threshold for this job. I assume a contractor's price for this job would be significantly higher, but that's just a guess.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> They're pricey at $2500... </font>
For $2,500 you can get a post driver. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MMM]

The neighbor gave over $6 grand for his "big as they make" Worksaver. He still has to drill holes for crossties and phone poles. So depending on your ground, you might have to use phd anyhow.

 

[flakrat]

Based on my rocky soil, it looks like I'm going to have to go with a PHD, now I just need to price out a rental to see if buying one makes sense.

On the bright side, I'll sure get a good workout tamping all those posts in their holes

 

[flusher]

You're right. Given the choice and since the cost difference is a wash, I'd select a 3pt-mounted post driver over a FEL-mounted hydraulic PHD for my jobs.

Unfortunately, my B7510HST has only about 5 gpm capabilty at its auxiliary hydraulic taps, so I'm a little small for either option. Have to go with PTO-driven PHD.