Post driver build

[Ollie6070]

I know it’s been said lots of times but I’m planning on fabricating a post driver. Planning on it going out to the side of the tractor, hydraulic tilt on top link and side of mast, around 250kg weight. Anyone got any picture of any other homemade or branded post drivers for inspiration?
Undecided whether to go for the vector power drive system of a long ram on a pulley to pull weight down or the pivoting top part with a small ram like seen on protects. Thanks in advance and sorry for all the questions .

 

[hutchy143211]

Personally really like the protech pulley design where the ram extends downwards to bring the weight up. Currently we run a protech p230s and previously a browns. I would say avoid the lever arm ones if possible for the reasons below.

The main benefit of a vertical stroke + pulley combo are:

- Better control of the weight drop compared to an arm which tends to pull the ram in too fast. Its less jumpy if that makes sense? This is useful with big weights and small stakes so you don't overdrive them or break them. Still have the larger weight then to drive end posts or rock spikes with good drop rates. Personally from experience of both the difference is really night and day.

- Lever arm types exert huge stress on the main pivot points. Typically this causes severe wear over time even with grease. This has the potential to fail and be very dangerous.

- No arm swinging around or movement outside of the mast area. No more hitting branch's or tractor windows. Its great because all the cables are out of the way over the pulley so if your under a tree it barely has any points it could clash.

- Personally think the protech idea is better with a short ram that extends to lift the weight as when parked up the ram is fully retracted and protected from the elements so won't corrode if left for 6 months.

 

[Classichay]

ive built a few, hardest part to get hold of is the weight itself, either you buy a piece of billet which isnt cheap. Or you buy some monsterous box section like i usually do and pour lead into that (450mm x 450mm x 16mm wall) usually cap with 25MM plates to stop it busting out, weld re-enforcing bars within the box if you do or it bows out eventually.... dont ask me how i know..... not found a lot this wont drive in or smash into many pieces when it meets a rock....

 

[Ollie6070]

Thanks for the replies, I think the bigger cost will be sorting out the hammer weight and a ram long enough for the pulley system, this way seems far easier to make rather that a swinging arm

 

[Classichay]

Thanks for the replies, I think the bigger cost will be sorting out the hammer weight and a ram long enough for the pulley system, this way seems far easier to make rather that a swinging arm

If your stuck pm!

 

[Classichay]

Here you go buddy, someone on Reddit down south I think trying to be self sustainable....
His weight idea is dangerous. And he’s not got a rubber plate stop, as the crack will burst your ear drums if your near it enough.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SelfSufficiency/comments/jd13j3

 

[Ollie6070]

Here you go buddy, someone on Reddit down south I think trying to be self sustainable....
His weight idea is dangerous. And he’s not got a rubber plate stop, as the crack will burst your ear drums if your near it enough.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SelfSufficiency/comments/jd13j3

SAW that on YouTube and was thinking to myself I wouldn’t trust that to be safe, bit bodged if you ask me

 

[Classichay]

Not a lot to them just use rope not wire as when that snaps it takes your head / arm off

 

[335d]

Hydraulic kit here

Hydraulic Rams :: Buy Hydraulic Cylinders Online - Ramko - Ramko Hydraulic Cylinders

The UK's number 1 hydraulic cylinder supplier.

ramko.co.uk

 

[Ollie6070]

Hydraulic kit here

Hydraulic Rams :: Buy Hydraulic Cylinders Online - Ramko - Ramko Hydraulic Cylinders

The UK's number 1 hydraulic cylinder supplier.

ramko.co.uk

Saw that, same as on the multec type I think

 

[tinman]

why not ring some crowd that makes drivers you like the style of and ask to buy the main driving part on its own, frame, weight, plate, cylinder, rope, pulley, it id save a lot of work and time, you could find you mightn't be out much more in the long run when you'd have all that bought
make the rest of the frame to suit it then, there will be enough work in that.

 

[Ollie6070]

why not ring some crowd that makes drivers you like the style of and ask to buy the main driving part on its own, frame, weight, plate, cylinder, rope, pulley, it id save a lot of work and time, you could find you mightn't be out much more in the long run when you'd have all that bought
make the rest of the frame to suit it then, there will be enough work in that.

Not a bad idea, was thinking of keeping a lookout for a second hand one with a good mast and heavy weight but they don’t seem to come up , mostly seem to be the parimeter ones with light weights

 

[Bloders]

why not ring some crowd that makes drivers you like the style of and ask to buy the main driving part on its own, frame, weight, plate, cylinder, rope, pulley, it id save a lot of work and time, you could find you mightn't be out much more in the long run when you'd have all that bought
make the rest of the frame to suit it then, there will be enough work in that.

this is what i did
I bought the mast from Wrag and made the rest of the machine up.
Ideally, the mast would be higher as knocking long posts in can be a bit awkward, but there we go.

 

[Ollie6070]

this is what i did
I bought the mast from Wrag and made the rest of the machine up.
Ideally, the mast would be higher as knocking long posts in can be a bit awkward, but there we go.

If you don’t mind me asking how much was the mast?

 

[Bloders]

If you don’t mind me asking how much was the mast?

it was in 2005, and i cant remember. I have a figure of £2000 in mind, but as it was so long ago tha may be near the mark, or miles off!
Ive posted pictures on here of the machine i made. When i did it, people said it would not work and not worth it. I since seen a few machines about with the ame functionailty

 

[Ollie6070]

it was in 2005, and i cant remember. I have a figure of £2000 in mind, but as it was so long ago tha may be near the mark, or miles off!
Ive posted pictures on here of the machine i made. When i did it, people said it would not work and not worth it. I since seen a few machines about with the ame functionailty

Thank you and looks to be a very well made machine

 

[KennyO]

Weighed Hammers (Post Drivers) - Multec Ltd

Weighed Hammers (Post Drivers) - - Want to upgrade or change your own Post Driver's Hammer/Weight. Let us provide you with a hammer at the weight you want.

multec.co.uk

Or as suggested buy a simple mast from them.
I have a malone version of the same knocker. Behind tractor. Keep meaning to make a side frame so you can drive along fence line.

 

[Ollie6070]

Yeah been looking at the multec website,
Another thought , not sure if it would work as I don’t know a lot about winches but is there any reason why you couldn’t mount an electric winch on top of the mast to raise the weight then let it fall?

 

[Tubbylew]

Yeah been looking at the multec website,
Another thought , not sure if it would work as I don’t know a lot about winches but is there any reason why you couldn’t mount an electric winch on top of the mast to raise the weight then let it fall?

Won't fall fast enough, also the rope would likely get bound on the drum on the way back up.

 

[Ollie6070]

Won't fall fast enough, also the rope would likely get bound on the drum on the way back up.

Out of interest does a winch not fall go out as fast as something pulling on it wether it’s a person or weight ?