Are you on the Fence about which Fencing implement will be the best for you?

Jul 16, 2024    Posted by Sarah Morrall

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When it comes to fencing there is generally always something to be done. It’s an ongoing job and love it or hate it, it can be hard to avoid. That is why Delmade offers the tools to make the job easier for you, whether you are small or large scale there is something in the Delmade Fencing range to suit every budget and operation.

With so many options on the market, it can be tricky to work out what you really need. So, in this article we will break down the fencing options available, some of the features available on different Post Drivers, how they work and in what situations you may need them.

Now in most cases, budget is one of the biggest considerations, generally how much you have to do will impact the amount you are willing to spend and as you would expect the more you spend the more automated your system becomes and the more productive the output.

Post Hole Diggers

When it comes to post hole diggers, there are several options available. For many years, the 3-point linkage post hole auger has been a reliable companion of many farmers. Originally available as only a PTO driven unit the market has evolved to include Hydraulic drive and down force options. But maybe the most evolutionary change in post hole diggers is the front end loader version. The big benefit of these units is you can take the back ache out of constantly looking over your shoulder. They also assist with helping to keep the auger straight and aligned when working on your own, along with allowing you to add extra downforce from the loader when working in hard or rocky conditions. Most of the units on the market are fitted with planetary gearbox, for those wondering a planetary gear box is, it allows the speed of the gearing to be reduced which in turn increases the torque (force) driving the Auger.

Post hole diggers can be used either in drilling a hole larger than the post and setting with soil, concrete or any other option you choose, or you can use an auger smaller than your post as a pilot hole and then drive the post for a snug fit.  Either way it removes that back breaking hole digging from your fencing tasks.

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Post Drivers

From here you generally step up into a base model Post Driver. With Post Drivers you will generally find that there are two main options as far as the driving mechanism most Post Drivers are drop hammers which means as the name suggests that they are a falling weight designed to drive the post into the ground with the force of the falling weight (dolly). The other type of Post Drive is percussion or air driven, where small bursts of air vibrate the post down.

Basic Drop Hammer Post Drivers

This machine is a great functional and safe option which covers the basic needs. There are three options of varying degrees of functionality in the Basic Drop Hammer Post Driver Range.

  • Single Spool Control – which means you have one hydraulic control valve for the one function of lift & lower – to control the dolly
  • Double Spool Control – which gives you two hydraulic control valves – one for lift & lower and one for sideways tilt
  • Triple Bank Hydraulic Set Up – which gives you two hydraulic control valves – for lift & lower and sideways tilt and also allows fore-aft operation via the hydraulic top link

We stock and recommend the Tiple Bank Hydraulic Set Up which means you can lift the unit, tilt left or right and towards and away from the tractor, giving you a range of options to ensure that you are getting your post straight regardless of the surface angles.

As with all our Post Drivers the unit has fully compliant safety features. The features on this unit include full caging for operator protection and cage shut off meaning if the cage is open the dolly can’t fall.

It is important to be aware for your own safety and for farm compliance that it is a requirement that all post-drivers meet the design standards set out in the WorkSafe Industry Safety Standard edition. Failure to comply can result in the machine being “condemned” by WorkSafe.

The overall weight of this unit is just 450kgs and the dolly is standard at 160kg as far as value for money and simplicity goes they are a great option.

There are a couple of considerations to keep in mind with these units. First, they do not offer a side shift option, meaning you cannot operate the unit from the side of the tractor. If you are working along an existing fence line, you will need to back into each post location. Second, these units cannot be equipped with an auger drive, so if you are working on rocky or particularly hard ground and need to pre auger your holes, you will need to purchase an auger separately. But all in all, the unit is a well-built, good straightforward, simple and reliable machine.

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Multisett Drop Hammer Post Drivers

The next step in the Delmade range is moving into the Multisett Drop Hammer Post Driver. Highly functional and efficient, these units will increase your productivity, giving you more time to put into ensuring those gates swing properly 😊.

Similar in function to the Berends unit the Multisett Post Driver operates with a 227kg drop hammer and boasts the fastest freefall on the market. Standard features of this unit include hydraulic tilt, offering side-to-side and fore-and-aft tilt up to 15 degrees. Again you will find safety features such as the cage ensuring that it is fully compliant with Australian Safety Standards.

The Multisett can accommodate posts up to 8ft as standard, with the option to choose the Telesett unit for handling posts up to 11ft tall. Another of the major options on the Multisett is the Side Shift. This functionality allows you to hydraulically extend the Post Driver, so it runs parallel to the side of the tractor, enabling you to drive posts easily along existing fence lines whilst continuing to drive alongside the fence – no more reversing into each post!

Another feature of the Multisett that makes it stand out against the Simple Post Driver is the Auger Function. Making this machine a standalone do it all tool. The auger function simply swings in under the drop hammer and is driven from the same control panel. With a large range of auger size options available, you can easily drill pilot holes for any sized post.

This unit is guaranteed to get the job done fast while achieving a professional finish.

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Auto Driver Percussion Post Driver

If you are a contractor or large operation with endless amounts of fencing to do you will not be disappointed with the Munro Auto Driver. Driven by percussion vibration, this unit requires none of the safety guarding of the Drop hammer options. (Although if you prefer not to become prematurely deaf maybe a set of Earmuffs might not go astray as its comparable with listening to a small child play the drums).

A percussion driver works similarly to a jackhammer, where force is applied to send the bell and then released by a value that releases. This happens at great speed providing increased force, meaning you get your post in the ground faster and safer. Because the movements are so small the risk of injury is greatly decreased than that of a drop hammer Post Driver.

As with the Multisett option, the Auto driver can be made in either a Standard height or Telesett version. The Telesett units are great for vineyard or orchard use or Game exclusion fencing.

With the Auto Driver there are also sizing options that allow for different oil flow rates, these range from the 730 @ 40l per minute minimum flow to the 900 @ 60l/min and 1300 @ 80l/min. The larger you go the faster the operation of the unit will be.

You also have the auger function, again in a swing away set up under the hammer with full functionality making pilot holes a cinch. Do note that when purchasing your auger size(s) as they are listed as an accessory.  Also listed as an accessory are the guide rings and holder bracket for this unit. I would say the holder bracket is a necessity and I reckon so would you after trying to find the right size ring for half an hour on the back of the Ute! Guide rings come in sizes from 4” to 12” and they are basically a metal ring that keeps your post in place during the driving process, you won’t need every size and they don’t need to be snug on your posts but having a few sizes in your kit will make life easier and your posts straighter 😉. The holding bracket clips onto the side of the post to allow you to store the brackets when not in use.

Now for the bells & whistles! Being the star of the show, the Auto driver does come with a couple of extra optional functions and features:

  • There is Side-shift just like the Multisett allowing you to operate the unit off the side of the tractor.
  • Tractor added downforce, now this is a great add on which allows you to transfer the weight off your tractor onto the Post Driver, for a faster drive.
  • A Powerpack, these are to drive the hydraulic pack via your PTO shaft in cases where you have low oil flow or want increased operating capacity.

There are a lot of choices & features on the Auto Driver and sometimes it can be difficult to work out what you need and what’s unnecessary. Don’t worry our team have worked with this entire range of fencing equipment for many, many years so they have the knowledge to point you in the right direction.

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Things to know about your tractor and things to consider

As far as matching the machine to your tractor there are a couple of things to consider.

The key with most post augers and drivers is ensuring you have enough oil flow for efficient operation, most of them are fairly low oil flow considering, but it’s always good to have an idea of your tractor oil flow and to make sure this matches up with the Post Driver you are considering.

Remotes and hydraulic ports are another big one, obviously due to the high functionality of these units they need some options as far as the hydraulics are concerned. So, you’ll want to make sure you have enough ports and everything is going to match up for seamless operation.

Post height if you need posts over 8ft generally you need to look at Telesett or have another plan in mind to make it all fit.

What does it look like in the ground?

Now you’ve got the low down on what’s available when it comes to fencing here are some links you might like to take a look at so you can see some of the gear and features in action:

Simple Drop Hammer Post Driver

Multisett Drop Hammer Post Driver

Auto Driver Percussion Post Driver

Options:

Next Steps

The next step to getting your fencing project underway is to make a decision on which method is best for you. If you feel like you’ve made a decision from what you’ve read here you can lodge an enquiry on our website and start the conversation with a sales rep. Alternatively if you are still unsure you can reach out to the sales team and they will be able to drop out for an on farm visit or have a conversation on the phone to determine which machine is going to be best suited to your application.

Click on the relevant product to lodge an enquiry or learn more:

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