post knocker rock spike

[Ffermer Bach]

I have asked our local mechanic to put a rock spike on my post knocker, he asked the advice of a large fencing contractor who said rock spikes are a waste of time, better to use an auger, what is everyone's opinion? We have a lot of stone near the surface and knocking in posts can be a problem, and once a strainer starts to "lean" there is nothing to do about it!

 

[ARW]

We use rocks spikes, also used an auger which was the best for strainer posts in very stoney ground but we manage with just a rock spike. Also near on impossible to get them perfectly level in stone, if anybody moans they can f—ing do it themselves

 

[james ds]

Rock spikes work well , an auger can't take out rocks . There's a lot of work to fit one and I'd say he didn't want the hassle

 

[trev7530]

I use a rock spike all the time, would like an auger, but done 10 plus years without one.
Would depend how much your doing I suppose.

 

[William G]

I have both rock spike and auger. Hardly ever use auger. There popular in some areas but not much use in stoney ground. Rock spike pushes through stones and mostly give you a good pilot hole. Auger is more for dry tight ground. River gravel etc that is easy dug but no give in it to drive into. That’s the only conditions I use auger in otherwise it’s always spike.

 

[tepapa]

I have both but my opinion is exactly opposite to @Big Wull.
Rock spikes are useful in hard ground and river gravel/boulders but no use in rock.
Augers are better in stoney ground, shale and rock and you'll get a post in deeper with an auger than bashing the hell out of it after a rockspike.
I've used a rockspike twice in four years and I literally mean two holes through hardcore.
If I could only have one or the other it would be auger but it all comes down to the type o ground you fence in to which would suit you best.

 

[William G]

I have both but my opinion is exactly opposite to @Big Wull.
Rock spikes are useful in hard ground and river gravel/boulders but no use in rock.
Augers are better in stoney ground, shale and rock and you'll get a post in deeper with an auger than bashing the hell out of it after a rockspike.
I've used a rockspike twice in four years and I literally mean two holes through hardcore.
If I could only have one or the other it would be auger but it all comes down to the type o ground you fence in to which would suit you best.

I find stoney ground in this area the auger jams and you spend half the time reversing trying to free it up. Takes way longer than a spike. Supposed it must depend on stone size and how compacted they are etc. Every area is different. Neither work on rock though. When you hit solid rock it has to be done with a breaker. You would need a diamond tip auger to get through rock. As far as retro fitting to an existing machine though. The mechanism for spike or auger is the same. But it’s way cheaper to shove a spike in it and see how you get on. If you feel in your own ground conditions an auger would be beneficial then you can always get one. But a spike costs peanuts so I’d certainly give it a go first as many people use nothing else

 

[jamj]

The auger needs a hydraulic motor to drive, so I would have expected it to be more expensive.
Rock spike supplied on a Protech is about £1100 extra.

 

[Binc]

Use a rock spike here all the time for strainers and gateposts, you know that the end of the post has a clear path, we have a lot of large stones under the surface or shale otherwise and the post makes its way down after no problem!

 

[agrotron]

Augers are easier on the machine. I have one to go on mini digger and use it if putting big telegraph poles in for gate posts. It’s hard going on the machine putting the spike through rock and eventually the post cap will crack.

 

[iitc123]

I have asked our local mechanic to put a rock spike on my post knocker, he asked the advice of a large fencing contractor who said rock spikes are a waste of time, better to use an auger, what is everyone's opinion? We have a lot of stone near the surface and knocking in posts can be a problem, and once a strainer starts to "lean" there is nothing to do about it!

In a similar situation, bought a wrag post knocker last year, struggling a bit with strainers on hard/ rocky ground. Got a quote for £1500 for a spike to fit on mine, sounds very expensive for a spike!! Still trying to work out how to make a home made one! Any pictures of your attempt would be useful!

 

[Binc]

Augers are easier on the machine. I have one to go on mini digger and use it if putting big telegraph poles in for gate posts. It’s hard going on the machine putting the spike through rock and eventually the post cap will crack.

I would agree that an auger is probably easier on the machine however, an auger is neither going to go through or move a big stone where like an iron bar a rock spike will and in wet ground it doesn’t make sense to remove material just provide a ‘pilot hole’ but that’s as I see it in our circumstances

 

[jamj]

In a similar situation, bought a wrag post knocker last year, struggling a bit with strainers on hard/ rocky ground. Got a quote for £1500 for a spike to fit on mine, sounds very expensive for a spike!! Still trying to work out how to make a home made one! Any pictures of your attempt would be useful!

It will have a hydraulic ram to lift lower it and another section in valve block. Spike will be hardened steel of some sort. Price that up plus the work and it will soon add up.
Having said that £1500 seems expensive. Ours was £1000-1200 +vat last Dec. Maybe your price includes vat?

 

[RhysT]

I believe a pro tech rock spike approx £900 to fit on a new model. Priced one about a month ago