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My elderly mother has bought some round fence posts that are 60mm in diameter to support a ‘hurdle’ (basically a lightweight decorative divider a bit like a small fencing panel). I’ve been asked to fit them.
The soil is clay and flint and I got nowhere trying to bang them in with a mallet.
Any suggestions on how I should install them? I can dig a bigger hole and postcrete them in but am wondering if there’s an easier approach. Any ideas appreciated.
Postcrete couldn’t be easier to use. Just dig a hole a third of the height they’ll be out of the ground, and around 3x width of the post, do the postcrete thing and bosh, it’s rock solid. Can be a bit of a pain with a spade, but you’re only doing a few.
If you can't bang in a 60mm (assume pointed!?) post you're in trouble with the digging a hole!
Post hammer?
Sledge hammer?
I like the bigger/different hammer idea
Post rammer.
with a mallet.
Mallet doesn’t have enough mass. You need a lump/sledge hammer or post hammer. Cheapest option that will work is prob a 3 or 4lb lump hammer.
Thanks, looks like I can get my hands on a post rammer, so I’ll give that a go.
Bar a pilot hole first.
The more effort you put into the pilot hole, the less you'll need to put into banging the post.
Fencing mallets normally have large alloy heads to spread the impact.
Drivall are the two handed post bangers.
Lump and sledge hammers will just break up the top of the post.
You want a fence post spike. Way easier. Quick fit or similar….
This sort of thing. I used one to fix a broken fence. The spike hammers in much bette then a wooden post. I used a small cut off to put in the spike so as to save the metal.
Not sure they do round ones though!
Make a hole in the ground first with a bar this will make the post knock in a lot easier. You could also poor some water in to soften the ground but be warned it may be forced out the top and cover you.
as has been said above you need to make a pilot hole. Ideally you want a pinch bar which is basically a very heavy long metal bar with a pointy end - stab it in the ground a few times to make and open up the hole to desired depth and width. It is very heavy so does the work for you. If you can't get hold of one then improvise with something that will make a pilot.
when you hit the posts in, hold a bit of scrap timber on the post end to prevent damaging it as you thump it in.
Update: I got my hands on a big heavy metal pole with a point on the end and made pilot holes with it. Then I banged the poles in with a lump hammer without too much difficulty!
Thanks for all the advice 🙂
was just about to buy a post banger thing but might see if it is easy enough with a pilot hole and something to protect the top of the post. Got a big demolition spike for another job and I suspect it is perfect for this 🙂
Bar a pilot hole first.
Ideally you want a pinch bar which is basically a very heavy long metal bar with a pointy end
Came here to say this.