Post and Rail

[Man Friday]

Hi, I'm a forum virgin, please be gentle with me! We have just moved to North West Devon to embark on a self build and as part of the work I need to post and rail the land for the ponies. It's about 840m. I'm looking at 5 x 3 posts 1.8 long and maybe 4 x 2 rails at 3.6 long (4 of them) Can anyone recommend the best place to buy from in the Okehampton area and do you know who hires vibrating post hammer (Hydraulic breaker with a cup instead of a chisel) Thanks.

[Will Heal]

That’ll be expensive! If they’re only ponies then post and plain wire fence should do

[Will Heal]

Bridgemans at Newton st petroc would as good a place as any to buy it.

[Man Friday]

One of them is tiny and old, but the other is a young Highland. I never appreciated exactly what one horse power is capable of!!? My wife has insisted on post and rails.........she knows best!?

[Man Friday]

I'll give them a go, thanks.

[Matthew Storrs]

Fenceline uk Nr Holsworthy would do all that, or nearest mole valley. 

Your looking at approx £7500 just for the materials for the spec you’ve described, and if you plan on getting more ponies they like to chew! Also you want to be on exceptionally good ground if you want to have any luck vibrating 5x3s into the ground square and straight without them twisting out of line. How about using round posts 6ft 4-5” will be stronger, quicker and considerably cheaper- and as suggested above using plain wire will do the same job at considerable savings- even if you substitute only 2 of the rails for wire...

I’m on Dartmoor but if I was nearer I could have done the post ramming for you.

[Man Friday]

7 minutes ago, Matthew Storrs said:

Fenceline uk Nr Holsworthy would do all that, or nearest mole valley. 

Your looking at approx £7500 just for the materials for the spec you’ve described, and if you plan on getting more ponies they like to chew! Also you want to be on exceptionally good ground if you want to have any luck vibrating 5x3s into the ground square and straight without them twisting out of line. How about using round posts 6ft 4-5” will be stronger, quicker and considerably cheaper- and as suggested above using plain wire will do the same job at considerable savings- even if you substitute only 2 of the rails for wire...

I’m on Dartmoor but if I was nearer I could have done the post ramming for you.

Twisting is certainly an issue, I've done it before on a job in Northamptonshire. Round posts would certainly save me worrying about that side of things. I've contacted Mole Avon, just waiting for the quote........I'll be sitting down!? If I wasn't going to vibrate them in what type of rammer would you recommend? I've only ever used the converted breakers.

[Matthew Storrs]

It’s not the vibrating that’s a problem with 5x3 they will twist as soon as they hit a rock- you can make a tool (like a 2 prong fork) to try and twist them back a bit- but if your knocking into shillet its will be near impossible- some full spec post knockers have a hydraulic post twister which would be the best bet. If customer insists on 5x3s to me I really only auger them in- as it’s the only way I can guarantee a tidy job of it, I’ve tried too many times to knock them and been frustrated with battling against them twisting. I’m on very hard ground though most of the time...

[Man Friday]

That makes sense. I will probably end up using a masted hammer attachment as it's easier for one person to operate and get them straight and twist free. Thanks for the advice.

[Jcarbor]

One of them is tiny and old, but the other is a young Highland. I never appreciated exactly what one horse power is capable of!!? My wife has insisted on post and rails.........she knows best!?

Correct your wife does know best, never use stock wire for horses, they can get their hooves caught in it and end up with a very serious life threatening injury, i know because it happened to on of our horses.