800-227-7515
Learn how to properly set up the Little Beaver mechanical earth drill for fast success starting your projects, whether it’s installing a fence, building a deck or planting a row of trees. Follow along as Randy VanWagner, our engineering manager, demonstrates the step-by-step process for setting up the drill as well as disassembling it for transportation or storage.
It was a crushing one-two combination. In the fall of 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita beat down the Gulf Coast within weeks of each other, leaving splinters of devastation in the wake of their Category 5 forces.
It didn’t take long after the floodwaters receded from New Orleans and surrounding communities for the phone to start ringing at Hercules Fence. One call became a deluge, and for the next three years the fence replacement jobs kept the Lake Charles, Louisiana company working nearly double-time days, with their mechanical earth drills setting thousands of holes. Company owner Charles Harris never appreciated their dependability, power and versatility more than he did in the aftermath of the storms.
Hercules is a family-owned business that has been installing fences for more than 60 years. There was a time when the work suited the name: crew members dug all the holes by hand, muscling through the toughest soils with manual augers. But for nearly five decades now, Little Beaver mechanical earth drills have been driving the company’s installations because of the drills’ power, reliability and safety. Today, Hercules owns three MDL-8H mechanical drills and uses them for chain link, ornamental, wood and vinyl fences on residential and commercial projects. They’re the most efficient option for bread-and-butter jobs that cover 200-600 feet of fence with 30-60 holes that are 3 feet deep.
Hercules does more expansive commercial and industrial projects, too, installations as long as 25,000 feet that require as many as 2,500 holes up to 12 inches in diameter and 42 inches deep. Because of the sheer scope of the jobs, the crew uses a skid steer equipped with a drill to do the bulk of the digging work. Even for those larger and more challenging projects, the small but mighty Little Beaver machines never get left behind. That’s because for areas with soft soils, a skid steer may get stuck but a couple of workers can get in with a mechanical drill, do the work and get out again.
Because of the tremendous amount of devastation from sister hurricanes, Hercules Fence once again turned to the Little Beaver to help them quickly complete the many landscaping projects on their list. The destruction started with Hurricane Katrina, which not only destroyed businesses, homes and infrastructure in the area; it also took out nearly every fence. Making an already horrible situation worse, Rita blew through a couple of weeks later adding to the destruction, even claiming Harris’ own house.
Despite their own devastating losses, Harris and his crew members helped others rebuild. Over the year and a half following Rita, they replaced fences that provided hard-hit residents and companies with the extra measure of privacy and security they’d lost. It was a huge undertaking, but day in and day out, the crew of three men put all three of their Little Beaver drills to work.
The highly efficient Little Beaver drills rotate at up to 360 rpm to quickly bring spoil to the surface and leave clean holes. The fast operation allowed the Hercules crew to work quickly so they could complete as many projects as possible each day. And with the torque tube, one person could safely operate each drill, even when digging with large diameter augers, without getting fatigue from drill kickback.
Hercules and their drills were again put to the test almost three years to the day after Rita roared through, when Hurricane Ike pounded the Lake Charles area. It took more than a year, but once again the Hercules crew worked long days to restore the area’s fences.
Since then the workday hours have backed down to their normal eight, and Harris found the time to rebuild in Lake Charles. The threat of a hurricane will be there every year. But if and when the next hurricane throws some punches, Hercules will be there, armed with Little Beaver mechanical earth drills to sink the holes and put the pieces back together.
A little maintenance work goes a long way to decrease costs, expand the lifespan and enhance the power of your earth drill. Contractors choose our Mechanical Earth Drills for high power in a variety of applications such as fence installation, deck installation or landscaping. Like most equipment, a mechanical drill requires simple, routine maintenance to stay up and running. By maximizing uptime, you’ll generate higher profits across the board from your landscaping projects.
While these are the most frequent maintenance areas, it’s important to keep other components on your radar, as well. Be sure to monitor other parts, including the throttle, torque tube, augers, points and blades, and the engine to identify any potential issues.
To learn more about warning signs and maintenance tips, check out our online service videos. They offer step-by-step guidance on Little Beaver maintenance protocols. You can find further advice in our product manuals as well as our blogs.
You can also contact us directly regarding any technical issues. Our dedicated support team is just a click or phone call away.
You’ve become an expert in landscaping throughout the region. From planting trees and flowers to installing decks and curb edging, you’ve completed many projects for satisfied customers. Now it’s time to step up your game and add fence installation to your services.
Let these fence-building tips lead you to success.
1. Get Answers.
Start like you would with any project, by working with the homeowner or business owner to establish the size, scope and specifics of the project. To do this, always have a set of questions ready that will get to the heart of the project. What kind of fence does the customer want? What will the layout be? Where do they want gates? How high should you build it?
Check with city building codes and, if applicable, neighborhood association rules, so that the fence specs meet all of the codes. If the city assessor has not surveyed the property recently, you’ll want to coordinate that to ensure the fence is built in the proper location and, depending on the area, you may need a permit. Call 811 a few days prior to digging to have utility companies mark underground utility lines, gas pipes and sprinkler systems.
2. Get Your Tools.
Selecting the right hole digging equipment will help you finish on time and on budget. If it’s a small project, you might use a hand-held posthole digger. If you’re doing more than a dozen holes, though, it will be slow work to muscle each hole clean. To tackle bigger or multiple projects, you’ll want the speed and ease-of-use that comes with an earth drill. A Little Beaver mechanical one-man or hydraulic drill can bore each hole in less than a minute with little effort. It’s equally important is to make sure you select the correct auger, points and blades for the soil type you’re working in. This will help you dig holes faster with less pain.
3. Get it Straight.
You can’t get a straight fence without evenly spaced holes and firmly set posts. Set the spacing by marking and digging all corner and gate post holes first. Run a string from corner to corner and then measure the post spacing along the line.
For chain link fences, space postholes no more than 10 feet apart. For wooden fences, posts usually stand 6 to 8 feet apart. If installing posts in soft soils or windy areas, use a hand posthole digger to flare out the hole, creating a bell shape for more stability. The hole diameter needed is based on the size of the post used. For instance, a 4-by-4 post requires an 8-inch diameter hole. This can be easily achieved with Little Beaver’s snap-on augers that range in diameter from 1.5 to 16 inches. Holes are typically 24 inches deep, but you’ll need to ensure the depth is 3 inches below the frost line to prevent posts from cracking in the frozen ground. In some parts of the northern U.S. and into Canada, that means going as deep as 4 feet. If you’re in windy areas or sandy soil, you may want to dig your posts even deeper.
4. Get the Concrete.
Position the posts so that they are the correct height and plumb; even the slightest lean can create a slanted and potentially unstable fence. Next, shovel concrete into each hole. Avoid touching the post, which could cause it to move. Choosing concrete rather than a dirt and gravel mix will give the fence better stability. Allow 24 hours for the concrete to set, and then attach the chain link fabric or wood framing and face boards. With both types of fences, complete the gates last.
Once you’re done, it’s an ideal time to touch base with your customer on fence maintenance and landscaping recommendations. A job well done here can translate to more work, whether from this customer or referrals, as you continue to expand your landscaping services.
Feel free to contact us for further fence-building tips; or general questions on our full line of augers, one-man earth drills and two-man earth drills. We’re always happy to provide the tools and assistance you need.