Hydraulic ssqa augers?

[mopardude318]

I have the McMillen X1475 10-25 GPM for my M7060 with 16.2 GPM available to the 3rd function. I only have one auger bit, the heavy duty cast 12" bit. It has performed flawlessly, down pressure helps tremendously, being able to reverse is also real nice. I am happy with McMillen products. Available at Everything Attachments, it was cheaper by $400 with shipping (free), than getting it at my dealer...

 

[Fallon]

I only have a 12" auger so far. It's way beefy, much more than the high end 9" Pengo auger I had for my 3pt. That 9" was double the beef of the standard 12" farm store type auger. Hydraulic augers use 2" hex or 2.5" or so round interface. Stronger and maybe bigger than the 2" round interface for 3pt PHDs. Cheap farm store 2x round drive augers are $100-200 for a 9-12". 2" hex or the big round start at $400. A lot more cost, but better design & a lot more metal to back up the expected abuse. Better teeth options on the nicer augers with various hardfacing options for more abrasive ground. The base teeth are equal in cost to the farm store auger teeth. The farm store teeth are usually somewhat propitary & may behard to find. McMillan Danhuser, Pengo & other nicer augers have more comodity type teeth.

I find 12" a pretty good size. My personal project fencing has a top rail that sockets into a 2" hole in each pole. I upgraded from a 9" auger so I'd have more wiggle room to get things connected & lined up.

 

[Rustyiron]

Also what size bits do best for 4x4 , 6x6 , and 8-10" round posts? Like to stay with just two sizes for now, seeing how costly they are. Been looking at the better cast bit with hardened or carbide teeth. For clay and such, don't really need the full on rock bits.

Ya got a post driver or an excavator handy?
I would drill a 4" pilot hole and pound (either method above) a post in the hole for a super tight, strong post.

 

[flyerdan]

One thing I would recommend is to run a bead of hard surface rod up the flights, it keeps them from thinning out at the edge and being susceptible to damage from rocks and big roots.

 

[DieselBound]

Auger sizes really depend on how you're setting posts. I, because I'm crazy, hand tamped mine (about 100 of them); I can assure you that these are set as good, if not better, than driven in- I alternated materials (some excellent stuff that packed liked cement)- and at 3 1/2' deep for 4 1/2' out of the ground they're insanely solid (some were put in places where water existed a mere 2' down!

I rented a skid steer with auger. Wanting to say that it was a 12' auger (a good 2x post size- if one is going to tamp; also keep in mind that your string line, or whatever you use, isn't going to be perfect, so having a little bigger hole allows you to correct for that). All said, what I found doing all this was just how incredibly heavy all the material collecting on the bit can become. I've got some pretty heavy clay. The skid steer is one hole-making machine, and I had several holes that the skid steer struggled getting the bit out of the hole (I was burying past the head). I could ask my rental guy who makes that attachment. I know that he only buys the best. Oh yeah, I dug about 100 3 1/2' deep holes in two days (using different spotters, so had allowances for "training").

 

[blackrams]

Auger sizes really depend on how you're setting posts. I, because I'm crazy, hand tamped mine (about 100 of them); I can assure you that these are set as good, if not better, than driven in- I alternated materials (some excellent stuff that packed liked cement)- and at 3 1/2' deep for 4 1/2' out of the ground they're insanely solid (some were put in places where water existed a mere 2' down!

I rented a skid steer with auger. Wanting to say that it was a 12' auger (a good 2x post size- if one is going to tamp; also keep in mind that your string line, or whatever you use, isn't going to be perfect, so having a little bigger hole allows you to correct for that). All said, what I found doing all this was just how incredibly heavy all the material collecting on the bit can become. I've got some pretty heavy clay. The skid steer is one hole-making machine, and I had several holes that the skid steer struggled getting the bit out of the hole (I was burying past the head). I could ask my rental guy who makes that attachment. I know that he only buys the best. Oh yeah, I dug about 100 3 1/2' deep holes in two days (using different spotters, so had allowances for "training").

You have no idea how much I would like to have been there to participate.

Supervising is still considered participation isn't it. :drink:

Rams

 

[DieselBound]

The tamping work was something that I totally underestimated. And temps were well into the 80s. Don't expect to be doing that again! (which is probably why driving posts is attractive) But, as far as digging holes, it's hard to beat a front-mounted auger (a long time ago I'd pondered getting a 3pt one, but never did). Being able to alter the mode of attack, and, of course, apply down-pressure, means that you can pretty much dig every hole as needed: had a couple that ended up being very big- LOTS of work packing those!; had only one hole that I couldn't punch (and consider the down-force that you can apply with a skid steer), it was some buried chunk of cedar bit couldn't split through it, just rode on it)- no such tree around (last place I'd expected; had only a few holes left at that point; picked up and set down a couple feet over).

 

[rd_macgregor]

I have the same Beltec 150 as bdog, with 9" and 15" bits. It is a nice, reliable unit. My only complaint is that, on my Kioti DK45S, I can't see the exact point where the auger tip hits the ground (the hood is in the way)...I have a video system ready to install to correct this, but haven't gotten around to putting it in yet.

 

[countrybumpkin]

I priced a land pride sa20 with a 9" and 15" bit today for 3250.00. I also looked at the Danuser ep6 again, with the 9" fabricated auger for 2000.00 then purchasing a Pengo 15" heavy duty auger with rock head For 1250.00

I too also do a lot of tamping when installing posts, even built a custom tamping bar with two different size ends and loaded with steel shot.

 

[goeduck]

Danuser here with a 15 inch auger. Love it.