If your company makes, sells or installs signs, you are also in the post business. Every sign needs something to hold it up, and getting that post into the ground straight, fast and without damaging it is where many sign jobs lose time and money. This guide is for signage companies, sign installers and signage distributors who need to drive U-channel, square (Telespar-style) and round pipe posts, or who supply the crews and contractors that do.
Why signage companies need a proper post driver
Installing posts by hand means digging, or swinging a sledgehammer at the top of the post. Both are slow, tiring and hard on the post. The usual problems are:
- Damaged post tops. A mushroomed or bent top makes it hard to mount the sign hardware and looks unprofessional to the customer.
- Crooked posts. Off-centre blows pull the post out of line, and fixing it means pulling the post and starting over.
- Slow installs. Digging a hole, setting, backfilling and tamping takes far longer than driving a post.
- Injuries. Overhead swinging and repetitive strain are a common source of injuries on sign crews.
A steel post driver that fits the hammer you already own lets a crew drive posts quickly and keeps the blow centred on the post.
Match the driver to the post
Most signage uses three kinds of post. Each has a matching driver.
| Post type | Typical use | Madido driver |
|---|---|---|
| Square perforated tube (Telespar-style) | Traffic signs, parking and facility signs, delineators | Telespar / Square Sign Post Driver |
| U-channel | Road signs, utility and temporary signs | U-Post Driver |
| Round pipe | Larger signs, posts and bollards | Pipe Driver |
You can see the full range in our driver collection.
Manual drivers, hammer-driven drivers and powered post drivers
There are three common ways to drive sign posts. The right choice depends on how many posts you install and what equipment you already have.
| Manual post driver | Hammer-driven post driver (Madido) | Gas or hydraulic post driver | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | A few posts | Regular installs with the equipment you already have | Very high volumes |
| What you need | Operator strength | An air or demolition hammer with a matching shank | A dedicated machine |
| Effort | High | Low: the hammer does the work | Low |
| Upfront cost | Low | Low: a steel attachment | High |
For most sign shops and installers, a hammer-driven attachment is the practical middle ground. It uses a hammer or breaker the crew may already have on the truck and adds a driver sized to the post.
Why distributors should stock drivers with their sign posts
If you distribute signs and posts, your customers still have to get those posts installed. Many of them are contractors, municipalities, property managers or small sign shops without the right tool.
- Easy add-on sale. A driver sells naturally next to the posts it drives.
- Fewer damaged posts and complaints. Posts that are driven correctly arrive at the job in good shape and stay straight.
- Repeat business. Once a crew has the right driver, they come back for more posts and drivers in other sizes.
- One supplier for the whole job. Sign, post and installation tool from the same place.
For quantity pricing or help building a driver range for your customers, contact us.
What you need to run a post driver
- A hammer. A demolition hammer, paving breaker or air hammer with a hex or Hilti TE-S shank.
- The right shank. Madido drivers are available for 7/8" hex x 3-1/4", 7/8" hex x 4-1/4", 1" hex x 4-1/4", 1-1/8" hex x 6", 1-1/4" hex x 6" and Hilti TE-S.
- The right socket. For Telespar-style posts, square socket sizes are 1-1/2", 1-3/4", 2" and 2-1/4".
Tell us your hammer model and your post dimensions and we will confirm the match before you order.
Tips for faster, cleaner installs
- Locate underground utilities first. Contact your local one-call service before driving any post (for example, Info-Excavation in Quebec).
- Start the post plumb. Check it with a level before the first blow.
- Seat the driver fully on the post. This makes the blow even and protects the post top.
- Use short, steady bursts. Let the hammer do the work and check alignment as you go.
- Use the right size. A driver that fits the post well protects the top and keeps it straight.
- Wear eye, hearing and hand protection.
Frequently asked questions
What do sign companies use to drive posts? Most use a manual driver, a hammer-driven driver attachment, or a gas or hydraulic post driver, depending on the number of posts and the equipment they own.
Can I use a demolition hammer to drive sign posts? Yes, with a purpose-built driver that fits the hammer's shank and the post. Do not strike the post directly with the hammer, because it will damage the post top.
What size driver do I need for Telespar-style posts? Match the socket to your post size (1-1/2", 1-3/4", 2" or 2-1/4") and the shank to your hammer.
Can I drive U-channel posts with a hammer? Yes. A U-post driver slips over the post and takes the blow so the post top stays intact.
Do you work with sign distributors? Yes. Contact us for quantity quotes.
Get the right driver for your crews and customers
Madido drivers are made in Canada from heat-treated steel. For equipment compatibility, quotes or distributor quantities, call (514) 737-2400 or email sales@madido.com. You can also read our guide to installing Telespar and square sign posts.
Telespar is a registered trademark of its respective owner and is used here only to describe post compatibility. Madido is not affiliated with or endorsed by the trademark owner.