Anybody got any reccomendations on one? I've dug almost 40 post holes in last 2 weeks & I'm TIRED . . .I know it's good exercise but enough is enuff . . .I don't dig this many all the time - but some every week. I work alone so I need something 1 man can handle - or should I stick with the clam shells? I usually dig 'bout 30" deep in hard clay soil - can be tougher, though; specially if you run into construction fill - (gravel-big chunks of concrete-tree roots, etc.) I saw one somewhere that's a tow-behind unit - small & compact but probly pretty expensive - any advise will be appreciated -
Posted by Mark Sheflo (Member # 3608) on :
Carl,
Though I've never personally used one, I have heard good things about this digger.
Seems a bit different, but it works from all reports.
Mark
Posted by Carl Wood (Member # 1223) on :
hey it does look weird - was looking towards a gas powered unit, though. I read a couple of the comments & they said not to slamit down hard - that makes me dought if it's tough enuff - haven't seen one in this neck of the woods, either. Hey thanks for the quick reply - I'm still checking out the Google Earth program - it's amazing!!!
Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :
I'm not touching that with a ........ never mind. ======================================== It's the dark of the night and I can't sleep and the typo in the headline started me laughing and then it was all down hill from there.
I owe you one, Carl.
Posted by Mark Sheflo (Member # 3608) on :
Carl,
Are you digging with just the post hole digger? You should have a digging bar as well to break up the ground, pry on rocks and repack when your done. Digging with just the digger is WAY too much of a PITA.
Mark
Posted by Carl Wood (Member # 1223) on :
I carry a good selection of tools - -3 diff. post hole diggers - 2 shovels - 2 tamping sticks - pick-ax to bust up top 6 inches of ground - plus crow bars - 2 pistols & assorted knives - you git the idea - no rookie here - sometimes work in tough neighborhoods in Memphis - Hey Myra thanks for the heads up on my typo - LMAO - Carl
Posted by Mike O'Neill (Member # 470) on :
Carl, can you not rent a small Powered digger? build the rental cost into the installation.
Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :
I use a "Earthquake" one man power auger I bought at Lowes. Works pretty good. Damp clay, no problem, hard dry clay it will bounce off of. Will pull out gravel and small (golfball size) chunks of asphalt. I still use a bar, spade and post hole digger along with it. You need to use it wisely, since it will kick back on you if it locks up on a rock. I sprained my wrist a few times and have burnt myself on the muffler. If you do decide to buy one, get the extension. Makes it much easier to dig holes 30"+.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Carl, mine is an Earthquake too and it's been a dependable machine. Have had it for about 8 years and it's still cranks and runs faithfully. I used it just last Friday and it bored the three holes faster than you could say "man it's hot out here". Hard clay will require the digging bar or manual diggers to break it up but it digs fast in normal dirt. It's saved me lots of time and many blisters.
Oh yea, and you can get an extension to go on the auger shaft should you need to drill deeper than 30''.
[ July 09, 2005, 09:47 AM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
Posted by Mike Duncan (Member # 316) on :
I've rented two man augers and they worked OK, but require two people. Here in New England the only augers that really work well are the heavy duty hyrdaulic units like the power company has. I found that the best bet is to have someone else dig the hole. How about a high school kid to help on installs?
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Carl, it sounds like you have earned your PHD, sir. Congratulations.
I don't dig post holes because I can't think of anything more unlady-like than throwin post hole diggers. I have layed brick, I have and will do framin' carpentry, will climb 30ft ladders and ride buckets, I sharpen my own lawn mower blades and PHD blades, will run skill saws and hammer dirlls . . .I'll even cut-a-romp in the mud in my truck . . . but refuse to dig post holes...
I typically hire a kid to do simple digs the fashioned way . . .I get real guys to do install billboards.
We have rented the 'fork-lift' size auger you actually drive. It can take a bigger bit. On one particular bill-board job we used it to go through the really packed dirt and loose asphalt of a log-truck parking lot to set 4 6x6's. More expensive to rent and a LOT more expensive to buy. You'd also have to have a low-boy to haul it. When you rent, the rental center delivers and picks-up from the site.
The rental center also has the auger-with two wheels attached that you can pull like a trailer although, it's seems kind'a small for that, so we put it on a utility trailer. It does fine but tends to move forwards or backwards easily while boring. Even when you chock the wheels it then trys to go side to side. The up-side is you don't have bear the weight of it.
I have rented the two-man auger a few times.
Once, I got it for me and this guy. He's about 6' and lanky but pretty strong. The two-man auger is obviously designed for two-people. It's a large motor with two-handles. It's ungodly heavy. But this guy, in essence said, "Step aside ma'm. Let a MAN handle this."
ok.
He then reved it up and it proceeded to spin him around in the air several times. I thought he looked an awful lot like Pecos Bill ridin' a tornado . . .he finally did 'let me' help him finish my job.
I only ever rented that thing once after that.
They make those one-person augers, but they still don't seem worth the maintenance, gas and weight.
And as with ANY kind of auger, you STILL have to clean out the hole with the PHD's.
I only have a 4x8 here and there, or a single-post install . . .mabey once a month or more, or less...sometimes a rash of them, but it just does'nt seem to warrant the purchase of special equipment. . . .as long as there are lazy boys sittin' around hopin' I'll call and who are totally thrilled at makin' a 20 for a half hour of work once in a while. Posted by Michael Latham (Member # 4477) on :
rent a tow behind model once, and yyou'll never go back to manuel or "little beaver" style diggers. I used to run a large rental house and the tow behind models are the ticket. The counterbalance feature will help you dig and pull auger out of hole laden with dirt. Add a little on each sale and unit will pay for itself shortly. Rent or buy one and it'll pay for itself in saved time and backache on the first hole!
Posted by Darryl Gomes (Member # 98) on :
I have used the 2man butterfly style diggers before.. There is a reason they are called butterfly because they have spun me and another guy my size around.
I rented a 1 man auger early this spring, the ground was still frozen about 8" deep. I used a breaker bar to bust through the frost and started the digger. Those were the easiest holes I have ever dug!! I will never use a 2man auger again. $50 was cheap for a day's rental.
The auger looked like this.. 1 Man Digger Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
I dug my own holes one time, & the sign never did want to stand up straight!!!!
Since then, my husband & I pitch in. He uses the spud bar, & I grab the PHD & scoop out the loose dirt.
We have an old 9n Ford tractor that he uses with an auger to dig holes for people that need more than a few dug. When he first got it, he had me holding a bar to help guide it straight into the ground. That thing jerked so bad, it scared me to death! More than once we got it tangled up in roots & it was stuck in the ground, he broke a Craftsman wrench using a cheater bar to turn the thing to get it loose. What a contraption!!!!
Sheila, that story of you & that lanky guy is HILARIOUS!!!!!!! I have a really amusing picture in my head!!!!
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
I can highly recomend the little beaver rig. had mine 18 years.... bitchin' lil' unit.
Even better would be to sub out the work to a fence company on quantity orders.
Pretty hard to do pinstriping after a couple days of humpin' one of them augars! Posted by Carl Wood (Member # 1223) on :
Hey thanks for the replies - Sheila that story was too funny - I know he was embarrassed. I think I'll try renting one of the small, 3 horse Tecumseh one man & check that out first, but I like the looks of that Little Beaver Towable Hydraulic from Mike Duncan's Link. 11 horse Honda engine & 2 yr. warranty almost has me sold already. 262 ft. lbs. torque - Looks like a hoss . . .
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
I have the one man auger that Wayne just posted the link to. I havent personally run it myself buy my partner who does all the installs loves it. We had one subdivision street sign job than more than paid for it.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
I've been diggin post holes for over 40 years and have been disapointed with every power auger I've ever tried.
For those of you that are using "spud bar"... quit ...all you are doing is packing the soil as you go down.
The best digging impliment you can buy is a long handled sharp shooter...use it to loosen the soil buy simply dropping it in the hole and pry to the side...(working your way around the hole)if you get too aggressive it becomes a chore...if you let the tool do the job then clean out with the "clam" you'll be amazed how fast and easy it is to dig a hole.
Here's some absolutes...dig the hole twice the width you need to accept the post (otherwise you'll end up with a shallow pointed hole)this will give you the proper amont of room to tamp solid...also wider holes are easier to dig than narrow holes.
Always dig 3' (not 34" not 35") a full 3' or nothing...that has to be your goal (if you don't have that goal you'll never make it to the bottom of the hole, and you'll be cutting off the post because it's easier.
Always remember..."you have to WANT to dig a post hole" if you don't WANT to do it... it will be more of a chore than it really is and you'll never reach 3'.
For those of you that know all this carry on for those of you that don't .."It werks fer me it'll werk for you" Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
Monte, here in Michigan code is 42", you really have to want it.
Sub contract is the way to go but we never seem to schedule it that way. Even though I call for local utilities to survey I am never confident that I won't hit something. Anyways, they always leave a message to hand dig.
You never know, sometimes the dig is as easy as beach sand to go through and other times you hit dirt from the dark ages.
Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :
Here's a thought for any of you who may be contemplating getting yourself a power auger. Years ago, I used to regularly rent one of those for digging the post holes. Then one day, I got this idea that the rent-all place should really have all their equipment prominently identified with their name and phone number. We proposed making them the necessary decals to do this (screen printed), and they agreed to trade for the 2-man auger we usually rented from them. It was a Stihl, and it gave years of service, before it gave up the ghost. For the price of 1 screen stencil, some ink, 50 sheets of vinyl, and some wash-up solvents, we acquired our own auger, and saved a bundle in rental fees.
It may be an idea that could work for you too.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
I forgot to mention ...it's a great way to stay in shape!
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
I've never used the one man or two man units but I've heard plenty of stories of spinning humans with those units.
I've used the Little Beaver many times, and when I was younger it wasn't too bad, but as I've aged and my back isn't too good any more, it's gotten too difficult lifting the auger full of dirt along with the haudralic head. Plus as David Wright said, code in Michigan is 42 inches and I usually like to dig at least 4 feet, 5 feet if I can. When you add the extension you have to practically stand on a ladder to lift it out of the hole.
The Big Beaver looks like a nice machine, I'm going to check it out.
I've also used the one man pivit type as shown on one of the links above. I found it difficult to bore a straight hole with that type.
The best one man unit I ever used was really sweet. I don't know the name of it but I'm going to find out. I rented it from a renatl place when I was digging about 70 miles from my shop. It was a tow behind. The motor was on the head which rode on two vertical rails. The only thing I didn't like was that you had to pull start the motor when it was way up in the air. Once started, you released the locking mechanism by moving a bar up (I think) and then cranking a wheel with a handle on it to lower the auger. When the auger had dirt on it, you released the throttle to stop it's spin, and cranked up the auger. The machine had adjustments to tilt the whole thing in two directions so you could auger holes on angled ground.
This was the slickest machine I've ever used. I'd like to own one, but in the mean time, I have a Bobcat dealer dig my holes and pass the cost on to the customer.
Posted by Mikes Mischeif (Member # 1744) on :
I asked all of my 18 landscaping companies which they owned. They do more post holes than anyone.
A crowbar (3 different kinds, but keep them sharp) and curved post hole shovel works here. Monte, I've got marks cut into the shovel handle from the bottom end every 6" so you know when you're getting to the bottom of the hole!
Actually, the last few jobs needing posts I told the customer he had to dig them & he went off & got a Bobcat to do the job, so I only had the installation to do.
The other option here is post spikes. That's what I call them- they're a rocket-shaped pointy thing 2 feet long (with flutes on all four sides) that you whack into the ground. When it's in, it is a socket for 2" bore pipe to sit in, and wedges driven in each side keep it there. They cost about $20 each, and I rigged up a rammer to get them in. They have saved the day a few times with their speed of insertion- don't dig a hole first, just ram them in. Also for rocky ground, if you can get them in, you'll never shift them afterwards. All the local councils use them for stop, give-way, no-u-turn etc signs these days. You do need a picket rammer though to help drive them in.
Sheila, if you ever decide to stop signwriting, you should be a journalist!
Posted by Tom Giampia (Member # 2007) on :
We own this one man auger made by Stihl - http://www.stihl.ca/products_augersDrillingTools.asp If we have a job with more than 2 or 3 holes needed, we'll use it. It still requires a break bar to move larger stones and roots, but it cuts the soil pretty well. I still will sub out larger projects to local landscapers or just hire day labor if we need to do alot of holes. It makes more sense to spend $10-15 per hour for unskilled labor than to spend a day away from the shop breaking rock!
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