Post-Hole Digger

[awabbit6]

We have around 400m of fence around our block. At least half of it needs replacing. I'm planning on doing one side over the next two weeks and was looking at one-man petrol post hole diggers to make the job a little quicker.
The cost to hire a post hole digger is around $90 a day so I looked at buying one and came across these on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/49cc-PETROL-POST-HOLE-DIGGER-Inc-100-200-300mm-Auger_W0QQitemZ200154302157QQihZ010QQcategoryZ1058 12QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).
The ground is mainly clay so I'm not sure how one of these would cope. Has anyone had any experience with one? Alternatively does anyone have one in the Brisbane area that I can borrow?

Thanks

[Redback]

Don't forget, where there's clay, there's sandstone rock as well:(

[George130]

You will probably find it will do the job. These sorts of things take longer and don't last as long but then you can often but 3 or 4 cheap ones for the price of an expensive one. (I have never used a motorized post hole digger)

[Tote]

I recently hired a two person one to dig new footings in our kitchen. In clay that had not seen rain in 100 years it barely scratched the surface until you threw a bucket of water on the hole and let it soak for 20 minutes or so and then it would dig a few inches and we repeated the process.
I'd be a bit dubious about being able to hang on to one of the ones on ebay with one operator, it was tossing me and the wife around with a two person one. I'd hire one as after using it you will be glad to see the end of the @#$% thing
Regards,
Tote

[kaa45]

I used to be a fencing contractor, years ago when I was young and fit. What size holes do you need? What's the soil type?

1. I wouldn't use a 300mm auger bit, it will throw you if it bites something, ie: tree root, cable, rock, etc.
2.They work fine and the price is good but you do need to brace yourself against kickback, no matter what the ad says about "anti-kickback".
3. The type of ground you are digging will determine how effective the auger is. Sandy loam is a breeze, heavy clay is hard work and rocky or root strewn is shovel and crow bar work.
4. For rural fencing the usual method is a tractor with a ram, no digging!

Danny

[JDNSW]

I used to be a fencing contractor, years ago when I was young and fit. What size holes do you need? What's the soil type?

...........
4. For rural fencing the usual method is a tractor with a ram, no digging!

Danny


Not round here it isn't, except for steel posts - try that for anything blunter than a star picket it will either bend or shatter, and some places you even have to drill holes for the star pickets.

John

[VladTepes]

While we are on the topic I have a (much shorter) fence to erect but the ground is VERY root strewn. Very. Like almost a carpet of roots. I was thinking of getting a bloke with a dingo and auger attachment in to do the work. Worth every penny I reckon !

Now just to find the pennies.....

[awabbit6]

Thanks for the replies so far. The ground is mainly clay with the occasional rock. There is sandstone but it's about 1m down.
The original fence is two strand wire through split posts. They look as though they have been rammed in.
If I was doing all the fences at the same time, I would get someone to do the holes for me but we can't afford that.

My main concern is that I'll buy one of these and end up having to do it by hand because it is simply not up to the job.

[awabbit6]

Now just to find the pennies.....

My problem!

[Bigbjorn]

Iused to sell hydraulic earth auger drives and augers as attachments to skid steer loaders, FEl's and TBL's. The manufacturer NEVER called them post hole diggers, only "earth augers", and insisted we did the same. Even with a lot of hydraulic horsepower they were not 100% successful. Clay loam, good: sandy loam and sand, not so good as the sundy stuff does not flow up very well up the auger flights tending to jusst stir around; rocky soil can be difficult if the rocks are large and the teeth snag on them and start throwing the auger or even the whole machine around; rock or very rocky soil needs a different auger with tungsten carbide teeth; soils with lots of heavy roots cause much the same problems as large rocks with the teeth snagging on the roots instead of cutting, still they are a mile in front of shovel and bar. The small diameter augers, 3" & 4" tended to screw into the ground instead of drilling a hole and forcing the spoil up the flights. 24" augers tended to wander around away from centre under the thrust off the cutting action and you could end up with an enormous shallow hole half full of loose earth. Experience negated many of these problems, but like chain trenchers they are a good idea that does not work as intended 100% of the time.

[barryj]

I have used that type once. When they grab you better be prepared for it. They have a clutch but talk about a wild horse! We had two men on the unit and it was like world championship wrestling :o.

Do you know any farmers out your way who might help out?

We used to have one on the Fergy tractor at Boonah but when the farm was abandoned it was one of the first items to be souvenired :mad:.

[Bushwanderer]

I remember that once, a number of us visited the semi-arid area of NSW. One of the sites that we visited had three rows of fencing, two somewhat in disrepair. It was a great historical opportunity.

[awabbit6]

So it sounds as though the little one-man machine might do the job but it could be tough going. I think I'll investigate more serious machinery tomorrow. I really want something that will last and do the job well - I have lots of fence to do ... and retaining walls and ...

Thanks for the input.

[JohnE]

Paul
used one of those to drill holes in the ground around your way when i did the explosives handling course.
similar soil and structure to yours it worked fine, we just took it easy. Then we filled them with explosives and blew the holes up.

hope it helps. Can't offer you the lend of one because I haven't got one, will put the feelers out and see what I can locate around here. Although most have rams on their tractors in my neighbourhood, there may be a pto driven one around here somewhere.
Just in case, do you have access to a tractor?


john


john

[awabbit6]

Paul
used one of those to drill holes in the ground around your way when i did the explosives handling course.
similar soil and structure to yours it worked fine, we just took it easy. Then we filled them with explosives and blew the holes up.

Just in case, do you have access to a tractor?

So it might be worth a try then. You had incentive to make it work though ... no hole, no kaboom! :)

I have a mate with a tractor that I may be able to access. I was going to give him a call tomorrow to see if he has a PTO auger for it.

Thanks