Post Driver

mickey1985

Looking at getting a post driver just looking for any recommendations between the different brands Malone , Kentec, Vector, MB, Cross, IEP. Malone seem to be most common available costing 4k. All the others coming in between 4200-4600 mostly vector and cross abit more. Any reason you should pay the bit extra on one of them from experience thanks

mr.stonewall

Bought a new multec in the north about 7 years ago for around €2400. Basic enough for a farmers but worth it's weight in gold. The main things that you need are tilt on the top link and side tilt you would be lost without it. Within a year I put a ball hitch on the post driver as it's handy to pull a trailer around if fencing, be it carrying posts, tools, cleaning up branches etc

The11Duff

If you can get one with wire unrollers and a rock spike, any would do. Was looking at the Cross post driver at the Tullamore show and the model there had a rock spike. Didn't get a price on the day but must ring my local Cross dealer any day now

SodiumCooled

Are them prices incl. VAT? we are also on the look out for one but only getting started with getting pricing?

Coolcormack1979

Bought an iep post driver in 2020.3200 was the cost of it.has all that I need on it and I’m happy with it.was sick of going to co-op looking for their one on hire and it either not available or something broke on it

mickey1985

Ya including Vat. The malone at 4k is the cheapest I have seen. I think IEP was 4300. Kentec, keltec both around 4500. IEP has a different pulley mechanism than the malone.

Tonynewholland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058309820/post-driver

I've a Malone which are fine to be fair but I've used a Cross in the past and they are a serious machine for driving big strainer posts.

Aravo

Am thinking of getting a post driver. A lot are based on the same principle. Malone, MB Eng, Belmac, etc. Newer Belmac ones are galvanised. Cross have a much different design. Would a 75hp tractor drive them ok?

Tileman

yes no problem at all. It works off hydraulic flow not pto so nonprob at all. Smaller tractors might be a bit slower depending on oil flow but will do it do prob

Tibulus

Bought a Malone earlier this year, 4k. Decent machine. Checked out a few before purchasing.

Seen the cross after and taught it was the best of them. Has the hammer on a rotating chain (driven by hydraulic motor) opposed to hydraulic ram on the Malone (and most others). As noted above, great for driving strainers. Looks to be a lot more steel in the cross too.

No complaints about the Malone, just cross is a step above.

bogman_bass

a motor would be a lot more expensive than a ram no?

Tibulus

Yes, think the cross is over 5k

K.G.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967851#Comment_123967851

Have a cross here but you d want your head on the job with it

bogman_bass

how so?

straight

Malone have alot of them made/sold so they must be fairly good. Ive been informed by a fencing contractor that vector is the best of them. They are all gone very expensive for what they are.

visatorro

Have an iep one. Have it a few years. Should have bought it years ago. Got the reeler for electric wire aswell. Super job. Only thing is a dont use it as much because I use alot of the clipex posts now.

Never thought of a rock spike, are they a good job? Get it hard to drive strainers in a few spots

Tonynewholland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967994#Comment_123967994

The weight is in free fall. No stopping her when it’s released

hopeso

Just looking at the Cross one online there now. I wasn't aware of them. Does the hammer have to be lifted full height every time before tripping the free fall? If so, it's a poor design. Sometimes lifting the hammer a short distance is enough to drive a post the last few inches, or when working in easy ground…

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123968344#Comment_123968344

You can do it both ways with the Cross but once it gets to the very top and trips then it’s free fall and there’s no stopping it.

K.G.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123968344#Comment_123968344

YYou Can lift any distance you want and let it off but where the extra bit of vigilance is required is when you re lift up the driver to watch that you don't go to top and let into free fall.its a super job for big gate posts and strainers but you wouldn't want to be sleepy

hopeso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123968760#Comment_123968760

I wouldn't have a problem with the freefall bit, but the fact that it automatically trips the freefall itself is very dangerous, in my opinion. It seems like there's a chain to stop it reaching the trip point, for when you're setting up a post or something, but what happens the one time you forget to attach the chain?

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123968095#Comment_123968095

We are using clipex as well, we be more inclined to buy a petrol post driver now than a tractor driven one