Post hole diggers

[jibe717]

I am thinking of buying the motorized hand type of post hole digger. I can rent a bob cat attachment in town but it can be difficult to get into some of the ares I will need to get to. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations on the hand held motorized units? Or where to best find one on line? I'm going to need to dig a couple of hundred holes this spring and will only need a 4-5" hole 20-24" deep.

Thanks

Jim

 

[Ed of all trades]

Why don't you just get a three point one for your tractor????? You can likely get a used one for the same money and you don't have a small motor to keep up. The big thing is by the time you do a couple hundred holes you will be ready to throw the motorized one in the creek. Ed

 

[flyerdan]

If you have help the best ones are the Groundhog two man units. Very popular among fence installers for the smaller jobs or where the bobcat won't go. You can find them on craigslist occasionally. Since HF engines are so cheap, a good transmission and condition of auger(s) would take precedence over a runout engine.

 

[ustmd]

Please see my comments and others on the 1 man augers:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/335372-one-man-gas-auger.html?highlight=

 

[joefromga]

The see-saw type is easiest to use. The pivot point makes it so you push down and the auger lifts out of the hole.

That one man deal will tear off your arms when you hit a root or rock and will wear you out.

 

[square1]

Some of the funniest stories I've ever heard come from people that have survived motorized handheld post hole diggers.

 

[redman135]

I have used the cheap chinese handheld post hole augers and they are hard yakker.Their balance is slightly wrong, and they are prone to kickback. I have also used a Still post hole auger and it has a much better balance, and the kickback ,when you hit rocks is a lot less. I reccomend you get a short (6-8") extension for the auger as you will run into the spoil with the standard auger drilling to 24" depth. Note , I was in light volcanic ash soil with some rocks and in heavy loam/clay soils.
If you can use a machine ,then go that route. It is far less effort.