Pneumatic post driver

[bc]

Hello guys. Been thinking about building one of these for a long time and an ad for a pneumatic post driver popped up this morning. Google reading my mind apparently.

Can anyone identify what type of air valve setup it is using and where I can pick up those parts?

Or some type of alternative pneumatic system? Such as air going in at the bottom pushing the piston up up it reaches a hole in the side of the pipe releasing the air.

I can figure out the tube design and guess at the weight needed. Goal would be to have something half the weight of the one advertised. Thanks.

Pneumatic post driver

 

[Ozlander]

That valve is the key to the driver. You won't find one on the market.

 

[will-max dairy]

So... hear me out...

You need a spring...

A ball valve with the handle taken off of it...

And a small motor to spin the ball valve stem...


*I'll see myself to the exit at stage left*

 

[wp6529]

That valve is the key to the driver. You won't find one on the market.

Actually, per the parts page with the exploded diagram, the valve is a standard item from one of two suppliers depending on old or newer version of the driver. The rest of the unit appears to be the custom bit and somewhat complicated to build.

Personally, I rather like the Titan gas post driver I have as it is self contained and also has a high impact rate which seems to work quite well in hard clay-sand soil.

 

[bc]

So... hear me out...

You need a spring...

A ball valve with the handle taken off of it...

And a small motor to spin the ball valve stem...


*I'll see myself to the exit at stage left*

Spring and valve are doable. An air motor spinning at 30 rpm or so I don't know about. Do you have a source and also would that need a release hole at the top of the stroke?

 

[will-max dairy]

Spring and valve are doable. An air motor spinning at 30 rpm or so I don't know about. Do you have a source and also would that need a release hole at the top of the stroke?

I was mostly joking. If you follow my advice; there would probably be a few parts from Acme involved...

But seriously, maybe you could get some further inspiration, if you search the web for some clues about the innards of an air hammer/chisel.

 

[Mule Meat]

I like using the "Work it off" brand of post drivers.

Get that guy that owes you money, a load of post and tell him to.. Well you get the picture.

 

[bc]

Actually, per the parts page with the exploded diagram, the valve is a standard item from one of two suppliers depending on old or newer version of the driver. The rest of the unit appears to be the custom bit and somewhat complicated to build.

Personally, I rather like the Titan gas post driver I have as it is self contained and also has a high impact rate which seems to work quite well in hard clay-sand soil.

I just printed those pages off. Have to see what is out there for valves.

The titans start at 30 pounds. A lot of weight to lift over my head for a 6 foot post. I was going to start with a 3 or 4 inch pvc pipe for the outer part. Wouldn't be used enough just to go out and spend up go a thousand bux.

I'm a DIY sometime inventer who may or may not think inside the box.

Thanks

 

[bc]

I was mostly joking. If you follow my advice; there would probably be a few parts from Acme involved...

But seriously, maybe you could get some further inspiration, if you search the web for some clues about the innards of an air hammer/chisel.

Same deal with the air chisel. I don't think my little HF air chisel would pound a post but if it could be modified?

Or if I could chuck some type of rotating head in my HF half inch hammer drill then that might have the force but not sure how fast it would work.

Thanks

 

[wp6529]

I just printed those pages off. Have to see what is out there for valves.

The titans start at 30 pounds. A lot of weight to lift over my head for a 6 foot post. I was going to start with a 3 or 4 inch pvc pipe for the outer part. Wouldn't be used enough just to go out and spend up go a thousand bux.

I'm a DIY sometime inventer who may or may not think inside the box.

Thanks

Yes, the Titan is a bit heavy to lift up onto a 6' post. Typically my wife holds the post at a 45 degree angle with the end on the target, I slip the pounder onto the post and then tilt up to vertical letting the post support the load. After that it's just pull the trigger while keeping it somewhat balanced and in the hard clay-sand soil here about 30 seconds later the post is in. It even works fine with reused posts with a bit of bend at the end - they still drive straight in.

For one person operation I have experimented with attaching a post to the tractor loader with a couple pulleys and a counterweight to support the pounder down to the point it can be lifted with one hand while positioning the post with the other. It works, but the need to move the tractor for each post makes a helper much more efficient.

 

[hurleyjd]

I bought one of these and drill a hole for the post works well for this old man. I use a porter cable rechargeable drill to power it.

https://www.amazon.com/Auger-Planting-Garden-Spiral-Planter/dp/B0C5SQ1F2R/ref=sr_1_57_sspa?crid=NF54VXCKC71X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qkPUwyZHga2wRg4qemgnTEJW1FLIb4vuA4s4TcMMhWnulVmKN8nYr8YEfmd57q3gk-jEitT_MtfbASaeFEOyJkh3wctdY1J9HYJxlBDWOqMAC1A_jjwhkHlHxUA4_LzhTPov_7HYMY78Ru7h9epQbfl-BHDUqQRnyMDL8yt9wYsgv1buhFjp5Jcr5cdy1jJs54flb6qk7ujvsIWaFH-46-9fXfoSm3AkZ7vxuji2JH8FKwArLrxqstPBuobZQV6etVxU8T6xwJItLugDSYD3rpXDDFor02qE8CBbmhLGdBE.C6Ejfefnc9J_vH-t5KA8BbYRqCN69_UehtS89Eg8grg&dib_tag=se&keywords=earth+auger+1+1%2F2+inch&qid=1734477391&sprefix=earth+auger+1+1%2F2+inch%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-57-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9idGY&psc=1

 

[moresmoke]

Same deal with the air chisel. I don't think my little HF air chisel would pound a post but if it could be modified?

Or if I could chuck some type of rotating head in my HF half inch hammer drill then that might have the force but not sure how fast it would work.

Thanks

Most rotary hammers, (bigger hammer drill) have a hammer only setting. You can buy SDS drivers for ground rods.

 

[bc]

I bought one of these and drill a hole for the post works well for this old man. I use a porter cable rechargeable drill to power it.

https://www.amazon.com/Auger-Planting-Garden-Spiral-Planter/dp/B0C5SQ1F2R/ref=sr_1_57_sspa?crid=NF54VXCKC71X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qkPUwyZHga2wRg4qemgnTEJW1FLIb4vuA4s4TcMMhWnulVmKN8nYr8YEfmd57q3gk-jEitT_MtfbASaeFEOyJkh3wctdY1J9HYJxlBDWOqMAC1A_jjwhkHlHxUA4_LzhTPov_7HYMY78Ru7h9epQbfl-BHDUqQRnyMDL8yt9wYsgv1buhFjp5Jcr5cdy1jJs54flb6qk7ujvsIWaFH-46-9fXfoSm3AkZ7vxuji2JH8FKwArLrxqstPBuobZQV6etVxU8T6xwJItLugDSYD3rpXDDFor02qE8CBbmhLGdBE.C6Ejfefnc9J_vH-t5KA8BbYRqCN69_UehtS89Eg8grg&dib_tag=se&keywords=earth+auger+1+1%2F2+inch&qid=1734477391&sprefix=earth+auger+1+1%2F2+inch%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-57-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9idGY&psc=1

Ok. I have one of those 2 foot long planting augers about 3 inches wide. Ground 3 flat spots on the shaft to fit my impact drill. Guess I can try that. Thanks.

 

[will-max dairy]

Yes, the Titan is a bit heavy to lift up onto a 6' post. Typically my wife holds the post at a 45 degree angle with the end on the target, I slip the pounder onto the post and then tilt up to vertical letting the post support the load. After that it's just pull the trigger while keeping it somewhat balanced and in the hard clay-sand soil here about 30 seconds later the post is in. It even works fine with reused posts with a bit of bend at the end - they still drive straight in.

For one person operation I have experimented with attaching a post to the tractor loader with a couple pulleys and a counterweight to support the pounder down to the point it can be lifted with one hand while positioning the post with the other. It works, but the need to move the tractor for each post makes a helper much more efficient.

This reminds me of videos of automated fence building rigs.

I'm a member of a large family that all grew up on dad's farm. Two of us still farm, my brother on the home farm; and myself on the farm that my wife and I bought.

Every once in a while, one of our siblings... or a friend... will share some TicToc or Reels video of some rig that automates fence building... like a truck that you drive along with four spools of barbed wire, a rack of posts, a generator/compressor and a post pounder mounted on it.

I mean... if I was building miles of fence across treeless, flat grassland... that would be great.

As it is... seems that I'm always lugging posts and equipment by hand down into some thorny-vine-infested gully with 30 degree wet grassy clay slopes...

So, yes, often a helper is way more efficient than a 100,000 dollar rig or the best automated equipment.