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5/8" Rebar instead of t-post for hill country feeder/feeder pen

8,581 Views | 32 Replies | Last: 10 yr ago by stick93
ttha_aggie_09
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Have a really good spot for another feeder at our lease, but it is literally sitting on two large slabs of rock where to creeks merge.

We were able to get one tpost in for the feeder to hold it down from the north wind, but once the hogs got to it and started bumping corn, it took about a week for them to knock it over.

The idea is to get really thick rebar and cut it into 5' sections with a 45 degree cut on one end to help penetrate the rock. What do yall think?

And for reference, this is in the most remote section of the property, so no heavy equipment (barely a 4 wheeler makes it back there) and I have built a ton of pens in rocky areas and this is by far the worst I have ever seen. Plus, there were a couple of us that couldn't break 2" with a tpost and most of us aren't small guys.
MouthBQ98
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Rebar is surprisingly soft steel. 5/8 might be solid enough.
txagfisher
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Can you get a skid steer back there?
ttha_aggie_09
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quote:
Can you get a skid steer back there?
Nope. It would take a few days to carve out a path to get back there with one. We are talking remote...... The creek bed is a good portion of the road.

I know logic says move it to a better location, but there is not another nearby and this spot is in the middle of about 5 trails coming out of draws.
rather be fishing
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Get a hanging feeder?
giddings_ag_06
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3 five gallon buckets. One leg in each. Sacrete in each bucket to the top. Add water and let set. Heavy ass base for a solid feeder. Aggie Engineering 101
birdman
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Get a 50 pound rock bar and nut up.
Daddio
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Get a generator and rent a Electric hammer drill from Home Depot, works great in soft limestone.
bassmaster07
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Rebar is not going to be driven through rock with hand tools.

Go with the t-posts and lots of help.

Or, many many trips to anchor the legs down with concrete bases. Gonna need more than a 5 gallon bucket to keep cows from knocking over though.


Could try powder actuated anchors into the lime stone?
agenjake
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What if you drill holes and then set the rebar with epoxy?
Allen76
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I think your idea will work.

We have always cut the bottom of a t-post to a point with a torch and of course remove the spade. I realize this is still a little bit larger than 5/8 diameter.
ttha_aggie_09
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quote:
Get a 50 pound rock bar and nut up.
I promise you "nutting up" is not the problem. I bent about 4 t-posts into a C shape trying to muscle through it. Not familiar with a 50lb rock bar though.
ttha_aggie_09
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quote:
Rebar is not going to be driven through rock with hand tools.

Go with the t-posts and lots of help.

Or, many many trips to anchor the legs down with concrete bases. Gonna need more than a 5 gallon bucket to keep cows from knocking over though.


Could try powder actuated anchors into the lime stone?
T-post won't work without heavy machinery. Cows aren't an issue here, but aoudad and hogs are. Not sure the 5gallon buckets will hold up, but maybe.
ttha_aggie_09
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quote:
Get a hanging feeder?
No trees big enough to hold it.
bassmaster07
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quote:
quote:
Rebar is not going to be driven through rock with hand tools.

Go with the t-posts and lots of help.

Or, many many trips to anchor the legs down with concrete bases. Gonna need more than a 5 gallon bucket to keep cows from knocking over though.


Could try powder actuated anchors into the lime stone?
T-post won't work without heavy machinery. Cows aren't an issue here, but aoudad and hogs are. Not sure the 5gallon buckets will hold up, but maybe.
With no cows...the old redneck standard is bailing wire and rocks. Use the wire to anchor rock after rock to the posts. Really heavy, plenty of rocks around (guess?), bailing wire and pliers are no problem.

This only lasts a few years due to rust, but it is cheap and easy to replace.
TRL-Ag
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Stop being cheap. Just get some panels made
tree91
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I suggest t-posts and dynamite.
Lungblood
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A rock drill and a generator is what I would use as well, given this scenario.
CanyonAg77
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Worse thing about rebar is it doesn't resist bending like a T-post. But then, it appears you haven't had luck with them, either.
birdman
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You either need to use your brains or your muscles. I've already suggested the muscles route. Get familiar with a rock bar.

The brains route is easier. How about moving your feeder to location without giant rocks? You said that you can get one t-post in the ground. I'll bet you can find some other pockets around there that aren't covered in rocks.
ttha_aggie_09
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For reference:




ttha_aggie_09
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And in regards to nutting up to drive t-posts, this is me:


I have never come across a t-post that I couldn't drive that someone else could.
ag92tx
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Make a wooden box mold out of 2x4s. Get 8 bags of cheap concrete and in the field make two big concrete blocks. Add a metal eyehole into each before it sets and now you have two very heavy objects to chain the feeder with.
ttha_aggie_09
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quote:
You either need to use your brains or your muscles. I've already suggested the muscles route. Get familiar with a rock bar.

The brains route is easier. How about moving your feeder to location without giant rocks? You said that you can get one t-post in the ground. I'll bet you can find some other pockets around there that aren't covered in rocks.
The location is perfect, hence why I don't want to move it. It is literally in a perfect spot, less the rock situation.

Muscles..... Not lacking in this department.

It is where three draws converge into one and has A LOT of traffic. Moving in any direction would warrant the same or similar problems. It is literally the rockiest place on the property.
duddleysdraw88
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quote:
Get a 50 pound rock bar and nut up.
Here is your answer!!!!! If my 75 yr old FIL and his 87 yr old neighbor can bust rock for 300 feet of cedar post fence using one............. you can too!!!!
rather be fishing
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quote:
Make a wooden box mold out of 2x4s. Get 8 bags of cheap concrete and in the field make two big concrete blocks. Add a metal eyehole into each before it sets and now you have two very heavy objects to chain the feeder with.
This is a decent starting point. Set some anchor bolts in concrete and run some cable from the concrete blocks to the feeder as guy wires. Still would be best to anchor the blocks some way or another, though.
Lungblood
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Use a T post driver.... Not a sledge. That's your problem.
greenman99
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Cordless hammer drill and redhead anchors use the rock to your advantage.
hillcountryag86
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quote:
Get a generator and rent a Electric hammer drill from Home Depot, works great in soft limestone.
This (although can't stand hd). Rebar is soft and you'll likely not be able to drive it into the ground. If staying with T Post, make sure it's a heavy -- 1.33, not a 1.25.
schmellba99
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Generator, hammer drill, epoxy.

Or do what others have said and make some deadmen.

The generator and hammee drill is the easiest and best route.
GottaRide
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A rock bar is your cheapest and route and won't be that difficult. With a good bar you will be surprised how quickly it will go. And it builds character is what I was told- so many times...
FCBlitz
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Very easy solution here.

Step One: use what is availble to your favor. There is plenty of lime stone rocks around to use as counterweight right? No need to carry in bags of concrete.

Step Two: use small gauge chicken or garden fence material and form either a cylinder or block square and fill with rock. One per leg
A roll of wire fence shouldn't be that heavy to carry in.

Step Three: use a chain or wire to anchor each leg into the block of wire bound rock block

Old Sarge
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You guys are making it too hard, and hauling too much stuff/weight.

If the ground is basically mostly rock, then try a cordless hammer drill with a 3/4" bit. Or a corded drill with a small Honda inverter generator. (can be rented from home depot. Drill 18" deep hole, put some embed epoxy on some #5 (5/8") rebar and put in hole.

Seems a hell of a lot easier than what you currently are trying to do, and would take a lot less time. If there is that much rock, it will hold.

(Edit): Apologies, as I should have read the whole thread before posting my stunningly genius solution to an already solved problem.
stick93
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No doubt. I've got several tubes of Powers epoxy if you need it. Scrape back to rock, drill a hole, epoxy in eye bolt, drink beer and marvel at your brilliance.
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