The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: mab on May 08, 2012, 12:34:44 pm
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Quick question:
I need something to drive fence posts in (lots), and one person has recommended one of those rammers (steel tube with handles) and another's recommended a big rubber maul hammer.
I don't want to buy both, so I was hoping for some opinions to help me decide. :)
Thanks
Marcus
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Rammer every time for me. We have used both...
Pros for maul... erm, you can use it to hit other things (including people unintentionally - the head of our old maul came flying off a couple of weeks ago missing my head by inches :o )? Plus one person might find it easier to use on their own
Pros for rammer - can easily be used by 2 people, easier to start off tall posts, less skill needed (vs required accuracy of maul).
We dont have a rammer (we borrowed one a while back) but I am saving up for one!!!
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yup, rammer. A mell (what I was taught is a rubber maul) is fine for hitting in low stuff (we used em for them posts you get round car parks) but a rammer makes the job almost easy. I'd also get hold of a iron breaking bar if you're in a stony area, great for making an initial hole.
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proper stob mell but you get different weights and once you know how to use it it far easier the rubber ones just bounce no force behind it
the metal post rammer you could make from scrap a bit of round pipe a plate welded on one end and two handles :farmer:
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When the people moved out of here they left a rammer behind.
OH has been making good use of it to put up the fencing for the pigs. Only problem is he has hit rock and no amount of ramming will drive a fence post through that.
He is having to use postcrete in some places.
Sally
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Rammer for putting in corner posts as it won't damage the top of the post plus two people can use it for more whack! Plus it works beter than standing on top of things to gain height with a sledge hammer. Same as above for stakes too but a sledge is handy to knock in struts or to put in the odd stake in a hedge doing patching and so on.
If I was only aloud one, I would go with a sledge hammer (if I already had a spade or graft and bar) if I was intending to do a lot and I owned a tractor I would buy a post knocker for that and sell it after as you won't loose any money really as they are always in demand.
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sledge hammers are not to be used on posts they split them that is why a stob mell should be used it has a wider head surface
corner posts should be dug into the ground with struts going in either direction of pull or rammed with a post knocker i have used a digger to ram them in but they were massive you could not move them without the digger
but always pinch a hole first that way you can move rocks out the way and you don't do a woodpecker impersonation :farmer:
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A lot less damaged posts with a Rammer - and if you are careful you can put the posts in without any help. A post Mell takes 2, one to hod it and one to dod it.
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A lot less damaged posts with a Rammer
Out of your two choices this gets my vote as well.
:farmer:
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We bought a rammer for 6" posts as it's a lot heavier than the 4" rammer but does those as well. The larger rammer also caters for lumps and bumps on a 4" post. Never used a Mell -sounds really awkward on tall posts.
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6'' rammer.
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yes but you are better with company than working on your Tod quicker and you need a goffer anyway there is always something you forgot or left at the other end :farmer:
rammers for the not so skilled it is a bit like log splitters verses axes
the best way is get somebody else to do the fencing ;) :farmer:
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We've got and use both. There are times when access with a rammer is difficult, and that tends to be when we use the maul. And completely agree with Robert, forget rubber, get a decent metal-headed one.
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gosh, lots of opinions! ;D
Well the rammer seems to be favorite, esp. as I'm probably doing most on my own (too tight to pay for help ;) ).
I do use a bar to make a start hole & break the rocks.
Robert - I did think of making one; I've got some rusty 6" steel pipe lying around, but I'd need to get something for handles and the end - thick enough to do the job but thin enough to mig weld; in the end I decided it would take me too long (want to get some fencing done whilst the ground is soft).
cheers
marcus
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Rammer, no contest. If you've got a lot of posts to put in the 30 odd quid it'll cost is nothing.
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Yes - rammer without doubt. We work as a good team on the rammer my OH and I. We decide how many we're going to do (normally five) then make ready and count them out. Then stop, check for height and level and then another five. It's good fun
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We have a large rubber maul.
my job to hold post straight. after a bruised hand and skimmed knuckles, I now use a short piece of plastic drainpipe, loop of rope through and round the post, pulled tight thru and against body, safe distance and no jarred hands ;D
Been wanting to share that for ages :)
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thats a great idea. ta
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When I nod my head you hit it !
Seriously a rammer is best, BUT be careful when you use it on tall posts, if it's over your head height and topples back it doesn't half hurt ......... Yes I speak from experience.
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Defo with the post rammer. Its a great job for building up the old muscles - at least they ache like hell after a day of it. For our workdays at the farm I usual email round what jobs we're going to be doing so folk know what to expect and what tools to bring along. I no longer mention fencing on these emails as it tends to result in a lower turnout :( Now I just surprise 'em with it when they show up. :thumbsup:
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Great idea that for holding the post Penninehillbilly. My wife is always complaing about the jarred hands -and earache, because a 6" rammer doesn't half make a racket!!!
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Always called it a Drivall myself. My cousin lost his thumb to a sledgehammer operated by another.
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Got my rammer today - works great - have to be careful not to knock 'em in too far now. :)
m
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MAB, no chance of knocking them in too far where we are. There is so much rock below the surface :(
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got an tractor? buy an post rammer for the tractor, once use, you won't be using the tube and handles again. ;)