Bent auger bit

[budman72]

So all my neighbors say they never hit any rocks while drilling fence holes, I hit a bunch and bent one of the tips on the 12" auger. I straightened it, but now the metal is weak and bends easily.

Any one know how to put some temper back in the metal? I thought about heating it and quenching, will it work?

Bud

 

[RickNC]

Bud,

I had the same thing happen. I had to have metal welded to the back of the auger to reinforce it. I doubt that the metal has lost its temper. Usually that only happens if it has been overheated, but I could be wrong.

Good Luck.

 

[rozett]

I did the same thing with mine. I had only dug about 6 holes when I hit some ledge. I was still learning some of the techniques of using it effectively. So, I took the bent up tip and the auger to my local welder. He said that heating the tipe will soften it and I am much better off, just buying a new one. There are some better tips out there than the one that came on my Leinbach PHD.

 

[markct]

it would be pretty hard to temper something like that, especialy not knowing the type of steel, and its most likely mild steel anyhow and didnt have a heat treat to begin with, but when ya bend and bend back metal it gets weaker, best bet would be to weld on some flatstock, it will add to the wear surface and also it will strengthen the flighting of the auger