Replies

1. 
   goldhiller | Feb 08, 2003 10:14pm | #1

   I've had good luck with the few dozen of these that I've had to do by poking a heavy very pointy solid steel bar (1 1/4" dia) in the ground .........add very hot water......repeat as necessary as you dig out the hole.

   Then there's also the C4 approach.

   Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
1. 
   IMERC | Feb 09, 2003 05:57am | #8

   You must remember to use finesse and a certain level of control. In other words, shape or cratering charges.

   Give the problem to some one else.

2. 
   Brudoggie | Feb 08, 2003 11:53pm | #2

   Take one stressed out builder, add that heavy pointed steel bar. Short work of frost! Beyond that, maybe a propane weed burner, to loosen things up.

    Brudoggie

3. 
   RichBeckman | Feb 09, 2003 01:45am | #3

   I've used a pick axe. Then I stopped building ramps with anchored posts since it seemed everytime I built a ramp, it was no longer needed within a year.

   A one foot square of treated ¾" treated plywood attached to the bottom of the post and set it on the ground (with a bit of pick axing to achieve a smooth area). It worked really well on several ramps.

   Rich Beckman

   Another day, another tool.

1. 
   Piffin | Feb 09, 2003 03:05am | #4

   "... everytime I built a ramp, it was no longer needed within a year."

   That's a sad thing but true. .

   Excellence is its own reward!

4. 
   cybersportSS | Feb 09, 2003 03:09am | #5

   We just excavated and poured a 5 ft. deep footing and foundation in frozen NY ground.  We used jackhammers and pickaxes to get through the frozen ground, built a tarp to cover everything, ran kerosene blower to bring the temp up and insulated with hay until we were ready to pour.  Might be a little much for your job.  Good part is with frozen ground, no collapses from dirt.  where we cut it stays.

   Alex

5. 
   BossHog | Feb 09, 2003 03:57am | #6

   The local hardware store has a 110 volt "pavement breaker" that they rent. It has a wide spade with it that's designed for digging up frozen ground.

   If the space ain't TERRIBLY tight, they make post hole diggers for bobcats. They might have enough downforce to bust through.

   Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.

1. 
   BillHartmann | Feb 09, 2003 07:49pm | #10

   The compact loaders like the Torro Dingo also have auger and can get into even tighter spaces.

   BTW, there is also an armstrong powered pavement breaker. It consist of a rod where you can attach different chisles and a slide weight that you can lift up and drop. I borrowed one to break some rocks under water.

6. 
   Danusan11 | Feb 09, 2003 05:11am | #7

   Get yourself some large coffee cans, drill holes all over can, fill cans with charcoal, add some boyscout water (ie: gas, charcoal lighter,) light match. Keep removing slop as it melts down.  Pick axe and ice spud if your in a hurry.

7. 
   joedigs | Feb 09, 2003 05:02pm | #9

   I don't know what your exact job-site looks like but if it is a tight area, maybe you could tarp the area like the brickies do and would still use the jack-hammer idea but get a few bits, especially a spade bits

   Luck to your project

8. 
   shaver | Feb 09, 2003 08:59pm | #11

   you can purchase post holes at local hardware store, keep thawed until installation.

9. 
   jayri | Feb 09, 2003 11:49pm | #12

   I just did this the other day. Use a heater and point it at the ground.  It will melt the frost in 4" lifts in about 15 minutes.  Took us about an hour to get through 2 feet of frost .  Good luck.

   Jay

10. 
    TJ | Feb 10, 2003 10:30pm | #13

    How high off the ground is the ramp?

    I've seen these post holders in the box stores that might address the problem without a footing. It's a steel sleeve for a 4x4 post that has a long spike on the end. The spike is a cross ("+") cross-section, and is either 2 or 3 feet long, depending on the application.

    I've been using them for mailbox posts, and the current one (3' spike) hasn't moved in 8 years...

    Applications info on the packaging suggests they can be used for fence posts, short decks, etc.

    Just a thought.

    -TJ

11. 
    JMartindal1 | Feb 11, 2003 02:06am | #14

    in WWII the GI's would fire 3 rounds into ground. Insert 1/4 stick dynamite & blow for foxhole. let me know if it works.