Sinking 30 foot utility poles (for Paintball Field

Investorguy · Jun 1, 2006

Well, do you all remember this field that I planted last fall? Here's a picture:

Here is the old thread.

Well, a lot has happened since then. We've had our first few paintball games and it's been an absolute blast. Here's how the field looks now:

Yes, the grass did come in very nicely. While it's swampy enough out where I live to get your tractor stuck in the winter time (inside joke.. har har), the other side of that coin is that grass will stay that color all summer long, whether I water it or not. Pretty cool.

Well, the netting I have up currently is temporary and inadequate for the kind of operation I want to run. I have about 30 or so 30 foot utility poles that I need to sink. I'll then run the netting from them.

So, how do I drill the holes? How do I best set the poles?

Here's some background: the poles are about 12 inches around at the base (for the biggest ones) and 27 to 35 feet tall. Around here, the phone companies do not use any cement, even for the 70 footers. They sink them 3 feet plus 2 feet for every 10 feet in the air. That means I gotta go down 5 feet, at least. That's puts these holes just out of the range of a PHD, at least for a 3 pt mounted one. My soil is clay w/ very few rocks, so it should be pretty easy to auger in.

Can a skid steer mounted auger go 5 or more feet down?

I have some ideas about how I can raise/set the poles, but I need those holes to get dug first. Also, would you guys recomend putting tar paper or something at the base of the poles? I've heard some people say to do that and I've heard others say it's unnecessary.

Also, I priced out having professionals do this... about $4,000-$5,000. That pretty much puts it out of my reach. If it were under $2000, I might have tried to strech to cover it, but I just can't spend that kind of money right now. Also, one thing I have plenty of is relatively cheap manual labor. It's amazing what these paintball players will do if you give them free paint....

Any ideas?

Investorguy · Jun 1, 2006

Well, do you all remember this field that I planted last fall? Here's a picture:

Here is the old thread.

Well, a lot has happened since then. We've had our first few paintball games and it's been an absolute blast. Here's how the field looks now:

Yes, the grass did come in very nicely. While it's swampy enough out where I live to get your tractor stuck in the winter time (inside joke.. har har), the other side of that coin is that grass will stay that color all summer long, whether I water it or not. Pretty cool.

Well, the netting I have up currently is temporary and inadequate for the kind of operation I want to run. I have about 30 or so 30 foot utility poles that I need to sink. I'll then run the netting from them.

So, how do I drill the holes? How do I best set the poles?

Here's some background: the poles are about 12 inches around at the base (for the biggest ones) and 27 to 35 feet tall. Around here, the phone companies do not use any cement, even for the 70 footers. They sink them 3 feet plus 2 feet for every 10 feet in the air. That means I gotta go down 5 feet, at least. That's puts these holes just out of the range of a PHD, at least for a 3 pt mounted one. My soil is clay w/ very few rocks, so it should be pretty easy to auger in.

Can a skid steer mounted auger go 5 or more feet down?

I have some ideas about how I can raise/set the poles, but I need those holes to get dug first. Also, would you guys recomend putting tar paper or something at the base of the poles? I've heard some people say to do that and I've heard others say it's unnecessary.

Also, I priced out having professionals do this... about $4,000-$5,000. That pretty much puts it out of my reach. If it were under $2000, I might have tried to strech to cover it, but I just can't spend that kind of money right now. Also, one thing I have plenty of is relatively cheap manual labor. It's amazing what these paintball players will do if you give them free paint....

Any ideas?

Huckridge · Jun 1, 2006

My son who is a Ranger on a Boy Scout Camp, just finished setting some 12" diam poles 30-35 ft. He rented a skid steer with a 18" auger that was 5' long and the rental company had a 2' extension. He said that he would bury the knuckle in the hole and end up with about an 8' depth. I think he set the poles on 12" of gravel and then poured concrete.

Huckridge · Jun 1, 2006

My son who is a Ranger on a Boy Scout Camp, just finished setting some 12" diam poles 30-35 ft. He rented a skid steer with a 18" auger that was 5' long and the rental company had a 2' extension. He said that he would bury the knuckle in the hole and end up with about an 8' depth. I think he set the poles on 12" of gravel and then poured concrete.

dooleysm · Jun 1, 2006

I was thinking there's got to be some kind of extension you could buy or rent somewhere. Especially if you've got the easy digging soil you describe. Auger down 3 feet, disconnect your bit, raise the PHD, attach your extension, and auger down another 2 feet. Reverse the process to pull the auger out.

If you can't find an extension to buy or rent, I bet a local machine shop could build you one for a fairly reasonable price. Put it for sale on ebay when you're done with it.

A neat project, good luck!

dooleysm · Jun 1, 2006

I was thinking there's got to be some kind of extension you could buy or rent somewhere. Especially if you've got the easy digging soil you describe. Auger down 3 feet, disconnect your bit, raise the PHD, attach your extension, and auger down another 2 feet. Reverse the process to pull the auger out.

If you can't find an extension to buy or rent, I bet a local machine shop could build you one for a fairly reasonable price. Put it for sale on ebay when you're done with it.

A neat project, good luck!

GabeTX · Jun 1, 2006

( Also, I priced out having professionals do this... about $4,000-$5,000. That pretty much puts it out of my reach. If it were under $2000, I might have tried to strech to cover it, but I just can't spend that kind of money right now. )

That price range seems WAY too high. I hired a guy with a truck-mounted pier drilling rig to do the post holes for my fence. He did about 100 holes, 21 of which were 5' deep and most of which had 1-3' of solid rock, for about $1300. IIRC, I payed $110 per hour. And he had to do some time-consuming manuevering and bit changing on some areas of the property (power lines, outbuildings, landscaped areas, etc.).

What kind of contractor were you calling to get the quotes from?

GabeTX · Jun 1, 2006

( Also, I priced out having professionals do this... about $4,000-$5,000. That pretty much puts it out of my reach. If it were under $2000, I might have tried to strech to cover it, but I just can't spend that kind of money right now. )

That price range seems WAY too high. I hired a guy with a truck-mounted pier drilling rig to do the post holes for my fence. He did about 100 holes, 21 of which were 5' deep and most of which had 1-3' of solid rock, for about $1300. IIRC, I payed $110 per hour. And he had to do some time-consuming manuevering and bit changing on some areas of the property (power lines, outbuildings, landscaped areas, etc.).

What kind of contractor were you calling to get the quotes from?

Investorguy · Jun 1, 2006

( That price range seems WAY too high. I hired a guy with a truck-mounted pier drilling rig to do the post holes for my fence. He did about 100 holes, 21 of which were 5' deep and most of which had 1-3' of solid rock, for about $1300. IIRC, I payed $110 per hour. And he had to do some time-consuming manuevering and bit changing on some areas of the property (power lines, outbuildings, landscaped areas, etc.).

What kind of contractor were you calling to get the quotes from? )

This was a local electrical contractor.

I found a guy w/ a skidsteer auger who says he can drill down 5 feet w/ no problem. I think I may go that route.

Of course raising/setting is another thing.

The same electrical contractor told me that they charged $100 just to dig a hole.... What up w/ that highway robberty?

Investorguy · Jun 1, 2006

( That price range seems WAY too high. I hired a guy with a truck-mounted pier drilling rig to do the post holes for my fence. He did about 100 holes, 21 of which were 5' deep and most of which had 1-3' of solid rock, for about $1300. IIRC, I payed $110 per hour. And he had to do some time-consuming manuevering and bit changing on some areas of the property (power lines, outbuildings, landscaped areas, etc.).

What kind of contractor were you calling to get the quotes from? )

This was a local electrical contractor.

I found a guy w/ a skidsteer auger who says he can drill down 5 feet w/ no problem. I think I may go that route.

Of course raising/setting is another thing.

The same electrical contractor told me that they charged $100 just to dig a hole.... What up w/ that highway robberty?