These days, one of the most valuable things one may own is security and privacy. The basic reason we feel secure is because we fence our land. Even if it’s a little wooden fence, the first action we do while constructing our home is installation of it. It is most likely also one of the chores we would want to save money on by doing it ourselves instead of assigning it to a contractor. A very wise action!
All you need are a post driver attachment and a skid steer. Knowing also how to run the machine would be beneficial. We came to assist here. Here is a complete guide on post driver attachments and operating techniques.
What is a Post Driver?
A post driver, post pounder, post knocker, or fence driver is a device enabling ground driving of fence posts. Making your fence last lifetime and securely laying posts in the ground will help you to execute this job. Simple. It just appears that! The posts have to be buried in the earth; so, no outside factor will cause your fence to topple over.
Driving posts deeply and uniformly in the ground and simultaneously without harming the posts guarantees that the post driver does the task exactly. One may utilize a hydraulic or a manual post driver. The latter makes all the difference so today’s essay will investigate specifics on how to use it.
What is a hydraulic Post Driver?
Attaching the hydraulic post driver allows you to utilize your tractor, skid steer, or even an excavator to assist in driving fence post. Although somewhat time-consuming and labor-intensive, doing the work using hand post drivers is also feasible.
You may cycle the driver with the hydraulic pressure from your skid steer. The post driver cycles, beating on the post to drive it straight into the earth. The increased power of hydraulic post driver allows you to drive different kinds of posts, big or little. And you will achieve this just by running the machine and arranging the posts. Literally, all the physical work is off-your-shouldering.
Hydraulic Post Drivers – How to Use Them?
Knowing the post drivers now helps us to get on with operating them. There are a few basic guidelines and best practices for using post-driver attachments. We have them listed below to help you start posting driving quickly.
Preparation
First of all, you need meticulously arrange your fence’s installation. The preparations include the evaluation of the soil conditions, design of the fence, and selection of the kind of posts.
Soil Conditions
Should the ground you want to lay the fence on be sandy or loamy, you will be able to work fast and easily. But the surface created from rocks or clay might need some more labor utilizing special tools or pre-drilling. A stake can let you ascertain the kind of soil. It will provide you details on resistance and moisture level. Furthermore, required is the removal of rocks or any other component influencing the functioning.
Fence Line
You have to be exact in your measurements and fence location marking if you want a strong and long fence. Marking the fence’s border using tape is the easiest way. Mark the sites of the post installation using flags as well.
The Type of Posts
Selecting the kind of fence is not only a question of appearance but also pragmatic. T-posts and U-posts are the most often utilized kind of fence posts, as metal posts provide weather resistance and thus endurance. They also make job simple. Factors guiding fence post choice should be:
Safety Precautions
“Safety comes first” is one of the sharpest and oldest guidelines about running any kind of machinery. Not an exception is using a postdriver. Use the simple measures below to guarantee your surroundings’ and your own safety.
- Clear the area of the unwanted objects, which can cause damage to equipment and cause health hazards.
- Inspect whether the skid steer and the post driver attachment are in good working condition.
- Follow manufacturer guidelines regarding the appropriate use of the attachment.
- Make sure you use appropriate safety gear, such as closed-toe footwear, gloves, safety glasses, ear protection, and a hard hat. Using adequate PPE mitigates the risk of incurring injuries, such as foot injuries, blisters, eye injuries, hearing damage, or head contusions. Wearing loose clothes by an operator is inadvisable.
- Operators should also ensure that any persons in the vicinity of the operation area stay at a safe distance.
Post Driver Set-Up
You have to invest time to properly set up your equipment and the attachment if you want your task to proceed easily, effectively, and precisely. You should look at the power sources. It involves making sure all hydraulic systems run as expected and that the attachment is suitably coupled with the skid steer.
Post Alignment
Position the posts vertically to the ground where they are to be put to guarantee suitable alignment. Use the level then to make sure they remain exactly vertical to the ground while driving.
Post Driving Process
We may start the real post-installation procedure after all the preparatory tasks are finished.
You should set the driver over the first fence post after your hydraulic post driver attachment is coupled to its power supply and the posts are in the areas of installation. While tracking depth and alignment, activate the attachment and begin insetting the post. Stop driving after the intended depth is attained; review your posture and, if necessary, tighten the post.Continue the procedure with next fence posts until every one of them is in the proper locations.
Maintaining Your Post Driver
Unlike many might believe, using the machine and attachment does not end with driving your fence post to completion. A crucial component of the suitable usage of post-driver is adequate maintenance. The lifetime of your equipment and dependability may be extended only by completing the required maintenance chores.
You should make sure your attachment is in suitable condition before every use. Search for any marks of wear, damage, or cracks. Should any come about, fix the machinery and replace the malfunctioning components. You should ensure the equipment is clean after every use and keep it inside to stop rust or corrosion from starting.
There are also the chores you ought to do consistently. These help to reduce friction and corrosion by, for example, maintaining your equipment free of dirt and trash and lubricating all moving components.
Professional checks should be planned on a regular basis; the manufacturer will suggest a frequency.
Quality is of the Essence
Finally, you should keep in mind that inspections and maintenance operations will not guarantee the safety, durability, or correct functioning of inferior machinery. Buy your accessories from a reputable and trustworthy source always. Reliability goes beyond a decent post-buy driver acquisition. It implies the direction and help only unique providers can offer. Look over the skid steer post-driver part of our store and get in contact to go about your project requirements and how we could be of help.
