Auger sizes - best all around use

monkeybreath · Aug 7, 2003

I ordered a 9" and a 12" auger for my PHD - I have the 9" and the 12" is on back order. However, after using the 9" today, I am thinking I don't need a 12" but perhaps a 6" would be better - for round posts, metal pipe posts, . . . I originally ordered the 12" for RR ties, but afer digging a hole with the 9" I can see that the hole ends up a bit bigger than 9" anyway, and the RR ties fit. I don't need the 12 to plant trees. . . is a 6" generally a better choice ? I think I can cancel or substitue the augers if I call soon. Thanks for any input.

JFarms · Aug 8, 2003

Ron, I use a 9" auger for metal terminal posts set in concrete. We have 75 mile hour winds on rare occassion, and I've seen a few 4x4 posts blown over--so I over engineer my fences. My 12" auger is for planting trees. If it weren't for winds, I might consider the 6" auger. Jon

fivestring · Aug 8, 2003

My neighbor uses the 9 and 6. He plants trees, bushes, installs fence posts, etc. and has never needed anything larger than the 9.

Gfsimon · Aug 8, 2003

I've got a 12" and wouldn't have a smaller one. It's much easier to make a large hole smaller than a small hole larger /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Henro · Aug 8, 2003

Hi,

I bought a 9 and 14. I was going to plant 6x6 posts for my shed and I needed to put a 12" round stone in the bottom to set them on. That was the motivation, although a 12" would have worked for that, since the hole always ends up bigger than the auger.

I was glad I went bigger though, cause I did not always get the hole to end up exactly where I wanted it, and I could shift the stone in the bottom enough to center the post on it [most of the time /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ].

The 9" worked equally well for 4x4 posts for the same reasons...

I just figured it might be nice to have a bigger auger in case I wanted to plant something other than pole building posts in the future. I guess the answer is "It all depends..." /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Hoeman00 · Aug 8, 2003

For poles put in the ground around here u need 16" hole minimum because of code and has to have concrete footing under the posts.
When u put in a post the dirt or stone needs to be compacted around the post and a tamping bar has about a 3" head.
So 4"/side (a little clearance) and post size will give the correct size auger.
A 6X6 needs a 14" hole and 4X4 needs 12" hole.

herbenus · Aug 8, 2003

I had a 6, 9, and 12 inch. The 6 I used for post holes on a 4 foot chain link fence. 6 was plenty. The 12 was for tree planting. The 9 was for all other posts. It was nice having all 3 sizes. A larger one would have been more useful for some planting but I'm not sure my CUT, or the PHD, would have handled it.

monkeybreath · Aug 8, 2003

Thanks guys - the 9" worked well for my RR tie terminal posts for fencing as the hole ends up a bit bigger than 9". Actually the ground here is frequently DG, and really braces the posts well when fit is not too loose. I back fill with gravel and sand and pack in with capped pipes - seems to work well. I initially ordered the 12 because I thought I would need it for RR tie terminal posts and a few RR ties upright to hold horizontal RR ties for some landscaping. Here, except for the few RR ties, 90% plus of all posts will be 4x4 square, or 4-5" round for corral or yard fence posts. Other cattle fences are the pound in t-posts for barbed wire. I think a 6" will be more practical - If I ever need larger - which would be rare I think, I could probably borrow or rent the 12. Backfilling around a 9 or 12 for the smaller posts would, I think, be more work than enlarging a hole now and then if I ever needed a larger hole.

Slamfire · Aug 8, 2003

If you do need to make a hole larger, drill three holes in a triangular shape, the remove the dirt from the middle. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

cisco · Aug 9, 2003

9" is perfect for 4x4, and you've room to put a 80# of cement around the post if you wish. 6" is perfect for metal posts - but lots of folks just put a cap (like for pounding the post in by mallet) over the post, and drive it into the ground with a front end loader or backhoe (lazy, and you have to be lined up, but it works, and is fast, if the ground isn't too hard and there aren't a bunch of rocks).
12"-14" for 6x6, trees, etc, though the triangular pattern with a 9" alluded to in another posting works just fine, albeit with some shovel work required.