one person power auger

Paul T · 03-22-2006, 06:45 AM

Need to install about 300' of split rail fence soon in fairly rocky soil - anyone ever used one of these? Looks safer than the standard type that I've seen. I've only used a manual post hole digger before and I'm getting too old for that!

vash · vash's Garage

i think that would work if the land is nice and flat. i have used that hand held unit, and it kills.

last time i did 400", i rented a small bobcat, with an auger attachment. once we figured out how to drive it, we were at 50 seconds per hole. in hard clay. i wanted to hug myself with happiness. worth the $300.

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Looks more stable than the two-man that I've used before.
Rocky soil. Sounds like fun....

Paul T · 03-22-2006, 07:14 AM

It is flat so I'm thinking this might work nicely - I like the bobcat idea too, I'll have to see what I can get. I don't think it's too rocky from my sample digging, but it's not pure topsoil either. Should be a fun day! I better get the beer meister hooked up first..

VINMAN · 03-22-2006, 07:23 AM

That looks like a good one. I almost snapped my arm with one of those hand held power ones.

legion · 03-22-2006, 07:26 AM

Do they make fully manual ones? I need to dig two fence post holes and renting a powered one seems overkill.

vash · vash's Garage

two holes? post hole digger and a digging bar. apply beer as needed. my record is 13 holes in my soil, in one day. i hated life.

turbo6bar · 03-22-2006, 07:46 AM

If you don't have the means to haul a bobcat, rent a compact tractor with post hole digger.

Seahawk · 03-22-2006, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul T
It is flat so I'm thinking this might work nicely - I like the bobcat idea too, I'll have to see what I can get. I don't think it's too rocky from my sample digging, but it's not pure topsoil either. Should be a fun day! I better get the beer meister hooked up first..

Looks good...having put in a lot of fencing, either this or the Bobcat will do nicely.

A lot of the performance of the system will depend on the diameter of the auger: 10'' and below works smoothly in most soils.

Have fun!

jhc · 03-22-2006, 09:15 AM

The compact tractor version doesn't have much down force compared to the Bobcat. I put in 400' of fencing with the behind the tractor model and it bounced every time it hit a root or rock.

Don't forget to call Miss Utility or your state equivalent. They will come and mark underground utilities for free.

M.D. Holloway · 03-22-2006, 09:52 AM

Alternatives:

ckissick · 03-22-2006, 11:54 AM

You're bad Lube. Funny, but bad.

I've tried one of those and it was worthless. But that was because the auger was old and worn, and the ground was hard. I took it back for a new auger, and the dufus at the rental place just scratched his head and said, "Duh that's the only auger we got." I told him it wouldn't cut butter and got my money back. Don't rent it unless the auger is in good shape.

jhc · 03-22-2006, 01:15 PM

The Mexican alternative would still require at least 3 man/days to hand dig 40 holes not including your transportation time and lunch etc. if it takes one man one day to do 13 holes.

Ask around the rental places if they have a Toro Dingo or similar. They are basically walk behind mini skid steer loader that you can haul in the back of a pickup.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 03-22-2006, 01:19 PM

I did a five acre perimeter with only a manual post hole digger. took me all day. Power sheesh... we dont need no steenkin power

notfarnow · 03-23-2006, 07:53 AM

I used one of those one-man augers last year... worked great. The ground had lots of rocks & roots so it took 2 days, but I did it without getting a sore back. Those two-man augers should be outlawed.

Paul T · 03-23-2006, 08:07 AM

notfarnow - you used the one in the pic (tow behind) or the one man hand-held?

notfarnow · 09:08 AM

Sorry, my earlier post wasn't very clear. I used the one in the pic. It had smaller wheels, which made it a bit awkward, but otherwise exactly the same.

Very easy to use, and I had no problem moving it around on my own.

Don't even consider the cheaper upright ones where a guy holds either side. They are horrible, hateful devices. People that design sell and rent those things should spend their afterlives digging holes to hell using them.

Paul T · 03-23-2006, 09:21 AM

Thanks, good to know. I have visions of my arms being ripped off with the hand-held ones. I imagine there has to be some type of clutch in there though...

notfarnow · 03-23-2006, 09:28 AM

It's hydraulic. The motor drives a pump, and the speed and reverse/forward controls are on the handle. Mine was a b#tch to start, but worked like a million bucks once it was running.