new manufacture would have been $4500 to $7000 depending on manufacturer and features, and that is with out shipping,Ībout $225 for each hydraulic cylinder used, (valve hoses and cylinder and fitting), there were four cylinders total,ĮBay (pulleys, and nylon rope, and a few other parts) about $125 The Hydraulics were bought from surplus center, in Lincoln Nebraska, In this build 60% or more was new, (I have found that getting what you need is many times better than trying to make some thing work just because you have it), I usably blend a number of ideas, for my final product, and some times it is drive by what I can find for materials to use, I made the cage around the post follower, to help keep ones hand off the impact area, I could see a absent minded moment or if two persons were working, how an accident, cold happen, thus the guard, on the follower. The weight is about 350 pounds, at one time it was a ripper shank for a old Cat dozer, One of the problems one drivers that do not have extending masts is that taller posts still need a hole dug to get them to fit under the driver, so I made the unit so I could get in the shop, and under a few gates that have a wire over the top, and yet could easily drive a 10 foot tall post if wanted, In this process that helped as I did not have a pivot point that would interfere with the extending mast, I used through bolt stacked valves, (so if I need to add to it I could, and I did, only losing a bolt kit, in the change, So I altered my design and ordered two more valves and cylinders for the tilt system, I had actually bought or accumulated most of the materials when I saw the design, I went with my sliding one of the lower three point arms, for side tilt and the top link adjustable, (most top links are adjustable manually), and had considered using manual adjustments for the tilt sides to side and tilt back and forth, but got figuring if one was having to manually adjust, if I had hired help the chances of it being adjusted would most likely be minimal, especially if I was not helping, and at first I did not figure that it would not be much of an issue as most of my ground is what most would call flat, until I talked to friend who use one, and he made the statement, what ever you do get one that has a good tilt system, On this I had originally considered a different tilt system, it would have been more complication and most likely weaker, and limited the extending mast idea, Many of my builds I have never been around a working machine, My normal design process, is to see what is out there, look at pictures and videos, see what features I think I need and what makes it work

Electric t post driver