Debate: Should we pre-drill every post hole or just wing it on soft ground?

I was out on a job in Sandusky last Thursday and saw a crew just pounding T-posts straight into clay without pre-drilling, held fine all day, but I've always drilled first and wonder if I'm wasting time on easy soils... what's your take on when it's okay to skip the auger?

3 comments

3 Comments

eric_knight71mo ago

Drove posts straight into sandy Michigan soil for years without any problems.

lunaf671mo ago

My cousin's crew out near Fremont never pre-drills unless it's rocky and they've been doing it that way for years... I figure if you're in sandy or loamy soil that isn't packed tight, you're probably fine to skip the auger and save the arm work.

-1

taylorellis1mo ago

Whoa hold on, I gotta push back on that a bit. In my experience, even in sandy loam, skipping the auger can bite you later when you hit a random pocket of clay or a buried rock six inches down. Your cousin might have good luck, but I've seen too many posts get twisted or split from the sudden resistance, especially if you're driving with a sledge instead of a machine. Take it with a grain of salt, but pre-drilling saves your back and your material in the long run, even in forgiving soil.