Posthole Conundrum

[E/S]

Dug a whole bunch of really nice 9" x 4' holes for the llama corral today.

Problem is they have to be a full 4' deep and a regular hand porthole digger will not close enough to hold the dry loose dirt.

The wife is threatening to getting my shop vac and have me string 500' of extension cord.

Any ideas on how to save my shop vac and get me out of just saying "Yes Dear " for the next few days ?

E/S

 

[eddie]

i don't like doing the vacuuming either but a good shop vac is a great way to clean out a post hole.

ed

 

[pat331]

E/S, did you try pouring a small amount of water in the hole? I've done that before and using the tractor mounted digger, the wet dirt would stick on the bottom of the auger and leave a pretty clean hole. I also remember seeing a special post hole digger that had the hinge a lot higher on the handles, but where, I have no idea. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[handyman]

Know what I would do . I would get a tamping stick and hit the bottom of post hole until it was solid again then she would think you really worked hard cleaning the dirt out. Then tell her all that cleaning was real hard work.handy

 

[E/S]

Know what I would do . I would get a tamping stick and hit the bottom of post hole until it was solid again then she would think you really worked hard cleaning the dirt out. Then tell her all that cleaning was real hard work.handy

Only one problem with that, we are doing this project together!

E/S

 

[E/S]

Thanks for all the replies, I think I will dig out the generator and try the shop vac.

If it works, the wife was right and I win !
If it doesn't work, I tried her way and I still win ( I hope )!

E/S

 

[Bulldog]

Thanks for all the replies, I think I will dig out the generator and try the shop vac.

If it works, the wife was right and I win !
If it doesn't work, I tried her way and I still win ( I hope )!

E/S

A joint project, shop vac, and a man that thinks he's going to win no matter if the wife is right or not.

I hope this works out for you but it sounds like this situation has disaster writen all over it.

 

[B7100]

I don't like getting taking sides in a "domestic" so ,I use one of these:http://www.avinylfence4you.com/nu_boston_digger.html
It will do 45" ,and get to your 48" with a bit of water to bind the dirt!
dave

 

[E/S]

A joint project, shop vac, and a man that thinks he's going to win no matter if the wife is right or not.

I hope this works out for you but it sounds like this situation has disaster writen all over it.

I am trying to look at the bright side, that and I get real tired of saying Yes Dear day after day after day.

E/S

 

[E/S]

I don't like getting taking sides in a "domestic" so ,I use one of these:http://www.avinylfence4you.com/nu_boston_digger.html
It will do 45" ,and get to your 48" with a bit of water to bind the dirt!
dave

I would use one of these if I could find one in Reno, no luck so far.

E/S

 

[Sam427]

I'm just wondering, why so deep? Even 3 foot in the ground is pretty deep and as deep as I go, when tamped in, they are solid as a rock.

 

[B7100]

I would use one of these if I could find one in Reno, no luck so far.

E/S

Do these ship to you? http://www.hooverfence.com/tools/nu-boston-digger.htm

Dave

 

[E/S]

Do these ship to you? http://www.hooverfence.com/tools/nu-boston-digger.htm

Dave

Yes
But you know how the boss is with her llamas, she wants this done now ( so it doesn't inconvenience the llamas ).

E/S

 

[E/S]

I'm just wondering, why so deep? Even 3 foot in the ground is pretty deep and as deep as I go, when tamped in, they are solid as a rock.

I did that 10+ years ago and had all the corners lift on 40 acre's of fence.
I am getting too old for doing the same thing over and over.

E/S

 

[Sam427]

I did that 10+ years ago and had all the corners lift on 40 acre's of fence.
I am getting too old for doing the same thing over and over.

E/S

Were the corners braced? I guess you may have softer soil than we have in the south too.

 

[E/S]

Were the corners braced? I guess you may have softer soil than we have in the south too.

Yes & 2.5' deep with concrete around them. The soil is really dry ( high desert ) and frost heaving in the winter.

E/S

 

[E/S]

Ill be dammed, the shop vac worked !

Real quick and the boss is happy.

I have attached some pictures of what I am trying to fix.

Thanks for all your input.

E/S

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I think if it were me I'd go buy a 50lb box of spikes and pound it 4 to 6 of the spikes at the bottom of the post so the concrete will have something else to stick to and lock onto other then just wood.

 

[Will In Tx]

UH.......drill, slamb a post (steel) in with a FEL then cooncreet it in.
One small problem is you have way to many T post on long run!
Should go (per ways I have built fence) 1 post then 4 tee post then 1 post, etc......
But never seen a woman wanting it done like that.
My thoughts and you can tell her your friend in Texas said if she is so froggy then build it like you like hunny bun.
If you have no clue as to building a fence then hire a pro old farmer, Not a business!