Father in Law wants a Handheld Gas powered earth auger

[Budweiser John]

Well, if your FIL takes the plunge and buys one my recommendation is to be on vacation when he wants some help.
I'm surprised the CPA or OSHA hasn't outlawed their use.
B. John

 

[Texasmark]

Hello,

My father in law, sort of, is wanting to buy a HANDHELD gas powered earth auger (don't ask me why, we already have one for the PTO for use on the tractor).

He likes this one from Harbor Freight Gas Powered Earth Auger

This one from Harbor Freight is about $199.

I am sure there are some better options out there....maybe for a bit more $$

Like Stihl or something like that?

Any suggestions please?

Thank you

Is he akin to Charles Atlas and Arnold Schwartzenegger combined. When I first bought this farm I thought I'd rent one (no money to buy one of any kind) and it beat the wife and 2 siblings to death. After the 4th hole (attmept) it went back and no more fencing till we got a tractor and digger.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I have an Earthquake auger, 43cc power unit with a 10" bit. It works well bu the 10" is all it wants, they don't make a 12" and I wouldn't want to use it if they did. I will be getting a smaller auger one of these days because a 4" or 4x4 post doesn't require a 10" hole and I set alot of them that size.
I didn't want to buy a tractor mounted one and I like the portability of the gas powered unit.

 

[fidowanttobe]

We have an older General brand 2 man 5hp Briggs powered with a 6" and a 10" augers that we have drilled hundreds and hundreds of holes with. Even have a 12" extension for it. My brother and I are both in our 50's and 200 ish lbs. Don't have a 3-point digger and don't want one cuz after we bought this one 20 years ago, the 3-point never got used so it was sold. Throw it on the truck, go out and punch 1 or 10 or 100 holes, done. Great for fence repair or all new. Less than 30 seconds a hole and move on to the next. No way a clumsy 3-point can do that, BUT it IS a TWO man.

 

[Teachu2]

The one I have is the new model. The old Earthquake was 1.5hp and had lots of issues. The Predator is 2.0hp (probably a model number, NOT true horsepower) and has been impressive in handling some very hard stuff. Granted, I'm 6'3, 280lbs, and able to do lots of things once, but I also have a bad shoulder, a partial knee replacement, and a pacemaker. I've rented bigger machines and been beaten up by them. This lightweight is easy to put in the Rhino, easy to get out, easy to start, easy to use. If I can't do it with this one, I'll hire a teenager....

 

[newbury]

Rent him one for a day, after it beats him up for a few hours he will change his mind about getting one of his own.

And IF he will let you use your tractor and PHD, drill alongside him compare the effort needed for the holes produced.

You should recommend the harbor freight one, and it is the least amount of money wasted. It should like he has a hard head and won't listen to wisdom of MANY people advising that those things are of VERY limited value. Soon it will be discarded in the corner, and it is just $200 bucks down the drain, and hopefully no permanent injury. Some people WILL NOT learn from the mistakes of others, they must make them all themselves.

I'd go with the HF one also. It could be handy. There are some places I've wanted holes I couldn't get my PHD. But for most digging of holes for fence posts etc. I view the "one man augers" as an idiot bit. A bit on one end, an idiot on the other and the shaft is in between.

If he's spending his own money I say, cut the man some slack. We old men don't appreciate being told what to do.

But we sure like telling others.

 

[stuckmotor]

There's a cupon at Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977 for their 2hp gas powered auger for $159.99 right now.

 

[Mace Canute]

I and another fellow worker used an electric two man one back when I was in my prime when I was a lineman in my late twenties and tough as nails since it was a very physical job. It was enough to convince me that anyone who thinks one of these things is a "good idea" is either a bullshitter or has soil that could be dug with a dull board.

 

[leonz]

I and another fellow worker used an electric two man one back when I was in my prime when I was a lineman in my late twenties and tough as nails since it was a very physical job. It was enough to convince me that anyone who thinks one of these things is a "good idea" is either a bullshitter or has soil that could be dug with a dull board.

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Well said Mace Canut,

Can you tell me about your pups? I grew up with a silver sable that had Rin Tin Tin As a distant relative.

 

[stuckmotor]

I had an auger that was driven through a gearbox by the motor of my chainsaw. It had a blade that was supposed to shave through the ground to dig a hole. More often than not it went down a few inches then spun uselessly on top of the red clay. I sold that one and bought a hand operated clamshell digger which I liked better. The 3pt hitch auger I have now has an agressive screw in the end and digs very well but like someone said is cumbersom and difficult to line up.
I still maintain that if the man wants the auger, it's his money.