Which Hyd Post driver?

[CumminsMan]

Needing some advice, as there aren't many in my area(not many cattle anymore either). Looking for a good post driver, skid steer mount(case 440), that can drive everything from 6" well casing pipe, to railroad ties. All my fences are shot, will mostly drive corner posts and a line every now and then. Ground varies from excellent black loam to dense clay....no rocks. I sort of like the Shaver and Wheatheart models, but want to hear some opinions on best brands and values.
Thanks!

 

[kyhayman]

I've had several different ones, to me the only one worth mentioning is Shaver. I've got a 10 inch and have for the most part been pleased with it.

 

[JayinNY]

Funny you should ask. My friend just told me yesterday he uses his CAT345 excavator to drive posts. Its got a 1 yard bucket on it. I thought he was kidding, but he said he drives posts with it. The thing is huge. j

 

[RickB]

Shaver drivers have been around for at least 30 years without any design changes beyond the addition of some safety items.
Hands down my choice.

 

[WyoDave]

I have a Shaver, and have no complaints. About the same soil here, no rocks just some heavy clay, and of course really dry some of the time. The biggest I've pounded is 6" blunt round posts, but it hammered them right in.
David

 

[Flurette Farm]

I like my Shaver mostly because it works great and they have replacement parts for every unit they've made and they are nice to deal with...Good luck however you go..

 

[Heat Houser]

I like my home made one. It was made from a two stage Hyster forklift mast. The inner is the pounder and is operated by a 4 ft cylinder. The cylinder piston is modified so the cylinder rod is the effetive "piston". It will shatter a 7 inch post if it hits a rock.

Top link is a cylinder to tip it front to back. The yellow cylinder in the photo tips if from side to side. That way, you can "level" it in all directions.

 

[tg in VA]

JayinNY has the right idea. I hired a Cat loader and installed 236 posts in about 2 hours. It took longer to mark the "holes" and distribute the posts than it took to drive them.
I had purchased a used Danuser for the task...it's still sitting in the woods. For a wire fence, the loader is definitely the way to go!