Post and Rail - how to set in a post?

[kit279]

I have to replace a few posts on an existing post and rail fence so will probably do it myself rather than get someone to do it. The soil is pretty sandy - what would be the best/easiest way to put them in?

Should I concrete them in or not? Do I need to get a hole borer or would a digger or tractor be able to drive them in?

Any advice?

 

[king_of_diamonds]

At our old place, the landlord installed some new posts and used a tractor with a big thing on it to hammer them into the ground. (Sorry, i don't know the farm machinary terminology!)

However, i felt that after a while they can get a wee bit flimsy, i once helped someone install post and rail fencing in their garden (OK, it's a garden) but we concreted the posts in and they were sturdy.

It depends though, it's going to be quicker and easier with the tractor, probably cheaper too.

 

[Cedars]

You need a badonga! And a strong man =]

Its a metal thing that you put over the end of the poll and slam down in to it. It then hammers them in to the ground.

This is ok with grass though (and now is perfect to do it as the ground is soft) but if you were going in to anything harder I think you'd have to get someone in.

 

[Burnttoast]

You need a badonga! And a strong man =]

otherwise known as a post rammer! I second the strong man, unless you like your arms all numb

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...h-post-rammer/path/sledge-hammers-and-mallets

Not sure about all the talk here of driving and thrusting and erecting, though...

 

[CarolineDAEP]

Concrete works well to start with but becomes a big problem when the posts rot - it's a big lump to dig out! It's also surprisingly expensive

 

[appylass]

I've done mine with a post rammer (tractor mounted) if you ram them in far enough they won't move (until they rot!) By far the best way IMO, I wouldn't like to put concrete in the fields. I helped a friend (big strong bloke) do some with a human held post rammer and it was incredibly hard work and we couldn't get the posts in nearly far enough for them to last.

 

[Jane_Lou]

We just pushed them in with a digger bucket on the front of the tractor. They were very secure and we have sandy soil. Now is the perfect time to do it as the ground is soft enough but not so soft that the tractor will damage the ground.

 

[martlin]

As you are on sandy soil, it's much better to bang them in than to concrete them in as sand will hold them well, but a concrete lump will be wobbling in no time at all, together with the post.
You need either a post knocker/banger (hand held will do just fine) or a sledge hammer if you are good at aiming; a big crowbar or a thinner post than you intend putting in (to start the hole off).
Ram the crowbar into the soil as far as you physically can and then twiddle it around a bit; take out and replace with your post, and get hammering.
You want to mark your post at least 18'' from the tip, because that's how deep it needs to go in in order to be secure.
After you banged it in, pile a bit more of your sandy soil around it and pat it down with another upside down post.
It really isn't that difficult and I can do a post in 20 minutes, manage about 15 in one day and I'm 5'5'' and 10st (female, by the way) - it's all about technique

ETS - it's handy to get cross at something before you start makes a world of difference when it comes to heaving the post banger up and down