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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:23 pm
by Bob_A
Mikey_C wrote:what posts you putting in bob wooden or concrete? never had bag of postcrete when the fella was doing mine. and I wouldn't use it ordinary crete and if you require it to go off quick add a bit of frost proffer (accelerator) or mix one bag of postcrete of several posts.
Concrete posts.
I've used Postcrete before and it was great. Just chuck it in and pour on water. But then again there wasn't that many posts to do so cost didn't come into it.
I've got 17 to do so I might try to make ny own stuff.
Surely it can only be 'All In Ballast' mixed with quick set cement?
Having said that
http://www.wickes.co.uk/postcrete/invt/221100/?source=123_4
Chuck some like broken engineering bricks in with it and that price ain't too bad.
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:39 pm
by haggistini
Bob_A wrote:I don't need tools to last me like a pro would do so what about these?
there is nothing more strenus and demanding than digging a hole in the ground! but the arms pumped to bursting is a good feeling after a good day this is what you need 6FT bar as mentioned with a chizel and spike either end and the patten pending!!! shovelo enjoy..
i have 2 of these but the one photo'd is not as good as the one i'll post tomorrow (better angle on the shaft and blade).
they will proberly out live us all in some rusty shed somewhere!
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:45 pm
by haggistini
17 holes 500mm deep a good day and good ground with two of you taking turns rolling fags 
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:11 pm
by Bob_A
With the longer days on the way I was thinking of getting home from work and doing one hole a night!!!
Just been googling 'homemade postcrete' 'recipe for postcrete' and 'how to make your own postcrete' and drew blanks.
It got me wondering. Surely it's made from normal stuff and there's no secret magical ingredient.
What do you think is in it?
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:32 pm
by haggistini
i would always buget now for postcrete for the speed at which you can move on to the next post two lenths of batton tacked in per post should keep them straight and by the time your setting your 4th or 5th you can whip the battons out and move on to 6th/10th post. A post level is worth the few quid to sort them out!..... bob if you buy the cider ill do it for a grand seeing as you live the other side of a diferent country.
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:30 am
by Bob_A
I'd prefer to do it myself but you're welcome to drop in for a cider
BTW one of previous links was for tooled-up.com. I've ordered from them before.
What a shite company they are. One of those companies that if it goes right you'd be no wiser but one small problem and they are rude and useless.
Take a look
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews59354.html
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:21 am
by seanandruby
are you going to dig them all before you start erecting? Make sure, if you are, that you get your centres exactly right and cover each one. Use a long tape to mark centres, otherwise you will get an accumalation of errors, and some holes will be out, then you will have to widen them, a right pain. it is best practice to dig, place pole, fence panel, or arris rail' then other post if close boarding. :;):
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:07 am
by mickavalon
Agree with Sean there mate, don't dig them all, very heart breaking when you realise there starting to go out of centre. Dig and Post mate. You must be pretty hardcore if that's the grade of cocktail stirrer your using, just punch the holes in!!
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:21 am
by lutonlagerlout
agree with the above 2 ,if its panels or arris fencing you must dig hole,place post ,use 2 lengths of batten to hold post while you concrete it
then use a rod to mark next hole and repeat
I have dug all th eholes first in my youth and its no fun when they start wandering 
LLL
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:32 pm
by local patios and driveway
yeah cant beat postcrete we dont spend time on anything else, its tidy and fast. one bag per post max. £3 a bag as we buy in pallets of it now that the wonderful plastic dust bag is available. the stihl 121 (i think) has a good saftey system to stop it grabbing but the key is to go steady, i could easily dig 100 post holes in a day on good ground and use half the post crete with an augered hole. im suprised anyone doing any large amount of fencing isnt using an auger where possible
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:54 pm
by rab1
on most of the site i work on, its lads with a wrecking bar and the double spade scissor tool.
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:28 pm
by haggistini
oh yes but my betsy and gumpo are the best im thinking of going on the dragons den with them and digg straight through the floor and land on the gargolye (evan davis) below...
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:55 am
by lutonlagerlout
i have used a hand auger and for them to work you need spot on ground
the one i used belonged to a turfer and he used it for irrigation,he had extension bars so that he could go up to 1200 deep :O
but a lot of flints round there parts
i have a long post shovel and a semi round spade the blade is like the shape of a smiley, so i aim for a 9 inch diameter hole for a 4 inch post,
i have 1 of those double shovel gizmos but when it gets to the money depth i just lay down and stick my hand down there :;):
LLL
Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:01 am
by seanandruby
........sounds like a trenching shovel lll. Can't beat the hands for final bit of loose soil, ''dogging it out.'' 