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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Fence posts in sand

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Mark - IN.

09-07-2004 16:08:54




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This past weekend, began augering in railroad ties as fence posts. Didn't work so well. After a few inches below top soil, hit sand, lots of deep sand. Rialroad ties figure to be about 10" across diaganol corners, so used a 12" auger instead of a 9". Ties are going in 48", and once hit the sand, it caves in. 12" holes become shallow 20". I did use a hand post hole digger, and yeah it can be done the hardway, but got 56 more around the house, and another 350 around a small pasture - I aint lookin to do it the hardway.

A neighbor told me to wet the sand, it'll hold better. That sounded good, but lost hydraulics before got a chance to give it a shot. By the time I fixed the leak and tended to a lot of other needed to "get done's", won't get back to the posts until next weak. Anyone got any sand secrets?

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Mark - IN.

09-08-2004 19:33:17




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 Thanks Everyone in reply to Mark - IN., 09-07-2004 16:08:54  
I appreciate everyone's input, that's why I asked those that I was sure would know. Aint got no camels though.



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Drive In?

09-07-2004 17:30:34




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 Re: Fence posts in sand in reply to Mark - IN., 09-07-2004 16:08:54  
It would be one thing to drive in a regular-sized post with a pointed end. To drive in a blunt-ended railway tie would be another situation altogether I would guess. Good luck with your project. Up here, you can't buy used ties anymore, environmental concerns with the creosote I guess. It probably happened because of guys using them in their yards as landscaping ties, etc.



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Mark - IN.

09-07-2004 18:51:38




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 Re: Fence posts in sand in reply to Drive In?, 09-07-2004 17:30:34  
Can't get ties? Wow. By me: 6" round posts $5.60, treated 4" square posts $10, treated 6" square posts $19.40. Used ties that will be there a hundred years after I'm dead, $8.25 from a lumber mill. Just a lot more work the first and hopefully last time.



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thurlow

09-07-2004 18:31:41




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 Re: Fence posts in sand in reply to Drive In?, 09-07-2004 17:30:34  
A driver made for the purpose will drive anything you can get in it; Shaver is the only brand I'm familiar with, but I'm sure there are others.....



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jls

09-07-2004 20:36:31




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 Re: Fence posts in sand in reply to thurlow, 09-07-2004 18:31:41  
Shaver makes 3 sizes an 8 a 10 & 12 the bigger ones"ll do ties. King hitter and Kiwi are other brands. that said I build fence and hate ties. Heavy, awkward, too tall, can"t make a staple hold in, or you hit a solid bit and bend the staple, most insulators won"t work properly, eat chain saw blades(from the fine gravel ground into them by the train"s weight) & here"s the kicker the used ones won"t last longer than a treated post. New ones aren"t available around here. Call some fence contractors and see if they have a rate to just drive posts.

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Jon C -Florida

09-07-2004 16:34:22




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 Re: Fence posts in sand in reply to Mark - IN., 09-07-2004 16:08:54  
Mark -
Assuming you have fine sand , one way of getting piles set in Florida is to "jet" them. We take a gas engine driven pump, and using about a 3/4" p.v.c. wand, about 6 to 8 feet long, use water under pressure to sink the pile.

The wand is just clamped to the discharge line of the pump, and standing the pile/post up where you want it (remove the top soil), you blast around the base of it, displacing the sand. The pile will drop into the displaced "quick" sand, as the sand slurry washes to the surface.

You control the depth with the pvc wand. Keep moving the wand, lifting and probing around the post. When set, just pack the sand slurry around the post and let the water drain down.

Your only problem will be a source of water. But assuming you have a water tank and a small (1-2 h.p.) pump, you can set a load of posts in a hurry.

We use it for dock building, and even the initial setting of bridge piles, before the driving process starts. I have "jetted" some rather large piles (telephone poles) by hand for docks and moorings that I built, and I have seen huge concrete piles jetted up to 20 feet deep with a crane and a much larger pump.

We generally only wet sand to avoid getting stuck in dry powder "sugar sand" down here, but just wetting usually does not work too well in a post hole without using the jetting process.

I have no idea if it will work up in your country...but if the sand is fine enough, you might want to give a try.

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Indydirtfarmer

09-07-2004 16:14:15




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 Re: Fence posts in sand in reply to Mark - IN., 09-07-2004 16:08:54  
Rent/borrow/buy/steal a post DRIVER. They work great in sandy soil. John



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Mark - IN.

09-07-2004 16:30:59




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 Re: Fence posts in sand in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 09-07-2004 16:14:15  
Thanks Indy, I questioned that. I finished up the day with a guy that grew up on Massey 130's down around Speedway, and his father made him do it the hardway - he was the auger with post hole diggers. He told me that with good pipe and my loader, that I could drive ties in. I'm using a 950 Deere, and I don't know if that's enough tractor and loader for what he suggested. I'll check around for a driver, sure would beat the heck out of tamping sand and my brains out. Thanks.

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Leon R

09-07-2004 18:57:18




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 Re: Fence posts in sand in reply to Mark - IN., 09-07-2004 16:30:59  
I wish I had your problem. Try digging, augering or driving them into rocks!! Maybe you could sharpen the ends with a chain saw and drive them in. Maybe a little time consuming and have to sharpen the blade often but should work.



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