Posthole Digger Post Hole Digger PTO vs Gas powered (Hand operated)

[dougrout]

A couple of years ago I was building a small pole barn to serve as a woodshed. I had 12 holes to dig. Unfortunately I made the mistake of having a load of coarse gravel delivered before I dug the holes. (The gravel contained rocks as large as 4" in diameter). I rented a two person PHD for the job, hoping that my wife and I could dig the hoes ourselves. After two holes I had to get my neighbor to come help me. As soon as the digger hit a rock it flung us around as though we were rag dolls. It took us about four hours to dig the 12 holes!

If I had more holes to dig I would definitely buy a 3 pt PHD or rent one.

 

[hillman1228]

take my word get a pto ,the hand type will kill you !! lol there big work. look around and you can find a used one ,i did for $75 and it work effortlessly

 

[phiferpharm]

I rented a two man to dig about 30 holes for a dog park last year. My son( who is a horse) and I felt like we had been beat silly by the thing and where I live there are no rocks or roots we needed to deal with.

For the pole barn we're putting up now, it was two guys with hand post hole diggers doing 20 poles that required much bigger holes and they had a couple of root issues. They knocked it out in less time than we did with the two man.

I have about 800' of fence to go in next. It will either be a PTO or by hand. The two man was not fun....

 

[RoyJackson]

For the pole barn we're putting up now, it was two guys with hand post hole diggers doing 20 poles that required much bigger holes and they had a couple of root issues. They knocked it out in less time than we did with the two man.

Experience does tell, doesn't it. Those guys probably let the machine do the work, where as we amateurs try to work the machine...so it beats us up.

 

[dustinfox]

Another alternative:

From:
Hydraulic Post Hole Diggers

Equipment2U.com - Post Hole Digger 340CC Towable #HYD-TB11H

Products | Little Beaver, Inc.

Holy crap! $4,195... I could buy seven PTO driven for that price!

 

[dustinfox]

Tractor Supply has one on sale this week for $419 (Auger sold separately). Think I'll go with that one.

What size auger should I get? 6" is to small, the 9" might be okay but for an extra $10 I can go up to the 12" auger. I'm thinking I'll go with the 12"

http://www.tractorsupply.com/-2100220

 

[EddieWalker]

I havea 12 inch auger and use it mostly for posts. Most of my fence posts are 5 inches square. That leaves me with 3 1/2 inches on either side if I get my hole in just the perfect spot, and I go down perfectly straight. Every now and then, this actually happens. Most of the time, I'm off a bit, or I hit something in the ground and my angle changes.

A nine inch hole means that I would have to be perfect every time. Even with a 12 inch hole, I have to adjust them to some degree with my clam shell diggers to get my fence posts exactly where I want them. Fortunately, that's pretty easy to do once there is a 12 inch hole in the ground already.

It's easier to dig it bigger with the auger then with the clamshell diggers. I've thought about going even bigger, but the 12 inch is pretty good most of the time. I would never consider going smaller!!!

Eddie

 

[SSdoxie]

I've got 12' & 9" very seldom use the 9" for same reason Eddie mention, it gives a little more room the get the post centered where you want it. It does take a little more back filling and tamping but that is what I have the hired help for. I hold the level and steady the post, the hop on the tractor and drill another hole.

 

[hillman1228]

I HAVE A 12 INCH THAT CAME WITH MY HOME MADE ,GOT IT FOR $75 WORKS GREAT .LOOK ON CREIGS LIST IN THE FARM SECTION THERE OUT THERE ,HAPPY DRILLING

HILLMAN