lakngulf
Veteran Member
I need a PHD, not the education kind but the kind to dig holes. Is there a place to find them used down in my area? Will need 12 inch auger I think.
I need PHD
- Thread starter lakngulf
- Start date
- Views: 2978
300UGUY
Super Member
Bigger is better. With a 12 inch auger, I don't have to be as accurate drilling holes, the wiggle room helps.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
The most important thing when looking at post hole diggers is the tip of the auger. Most of the rest of them is all pretty similar and basic. I have a Leinbach Line that came with a pretty poor auger. I replaced it with a Country Line auger that has replaceable teeth and tip that is just amazing. It cuts through the hardest clay easily.
Tractor Supply sells them and for the most part, I don't like Tractor Supply, but I love this auger and highly recommend it.
I've only had a 12 inch and wouldn't want one any smaller. Getting holes lined up in a straight line, and then drilling them perfectly straight, and having them remain straight as you go down is just about impossible if you do more then two holes in a row. Having a few inches to line up you post makes a huge difference. Even with a 12 inch hole, it's not uncommon to have to dig a little with the clamshells to get it just right.
Eddie
Tractor Supply sells them and for the most part, I don't like Tractor Supply, but I love this auger and highly recommend it.
I've only had a 12 inch and wouldn't want one any smaller. Getting holes lined up in a straight line, and then drilling them perfectly straight, and having them remain straight as you go down is just about impossible if you do more then two holes in a row. Having a few inches to line up you post makes a huge difference. Even with a 12 inch hole, it's not uncommon to have to dig a little with the clamshells to get it just right.
Eddie
BobG_in_VA
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Messages
- 2,027
- Location
- Central VA, USA
- Tractor
- Mahindra 6000 MWFD, 2 1950's Farmalls, 1974 Farmall 140, 1967 Mf 135Delux
I have a 12" auger County Line (same model as Eddie)...no joke, if you don't watch it, it will suck the tractor down the hole after it..I was amazed at how fast it digs and I only use it just above idle speed. Good unit. BobG in VA
OP
lakngulf
Veteran Member
Tractor Supply has PHD for about $470 and 12 inch auger for $180. Given the number of holes I need to dig 650 to 700 is probably a pretty good price. Afterwards I could probably sell it on ebay
Buggs67
Veteran Member
I saw one on Craigs list around here which is surprising.
GreenWannabe
Platinum Member
When I was looking for a decent PHD with a 12" auger, I had no luck at all finding a used one I could afford within 400 to 500 miles. My dealer sells Rhino, and used one of his stock units to dig two holes for a new sign he needed to put up. He couldn't sell it as new after that, so he put it in one of his quarterly auctions, and I got it for just a little more than I wanted to pay. So I now have a practically new PHD for a used or less price.
Point is, I would check with your local dealers, see what they might have available. You could luck into a bargain.
Good luck.
Point is, I would check with your local dealers, see what they might have available. You could luck into a bargain.
Good luck.
OP
lakngulf
Veteran Member
Indeed I did got to Tractor Supply. Couple years back I was able to talk them into a discount on a bush hog and a tiller, but they would not come off the $700 (tax included) price for the post hole diggers and auger. Nine digs so far so I am at $78 per hole, and that will go down considerably with the projects I have over the next few months.
Scrambler82
Veteran Member
lakngulf,
Keep us posted on how the TSC PHD works out.
I was looking at them and not sure yet.
I like the ETA PHD, looks rugged, $760 w/6" auger, they claim heavy duty built.
Ltr
Haoleguy
Platinum Member
Recently I saw a Danuser F8 reconditioned for around $750. It is a brute of a pto PHD and cannot be stopped. At the moment I'm using one that my orchard buddies have loaned me and I can tell you it is a little bit of a hassle to hook up as it weighs >300#. Another thing I've found is that for my Landini Mistral 50 I cannot get 48 inch vertical clearance to do a vertical post but I am able to do a steep angle which is what I need it for. So depending on the tractor you're using and the weight of the PHD you might find some are better for your tractor and easier to get on. At the end of the day if I had some extra cash laying around I would go for a hydraulic PHD that I could put on my bucket. That way you get easy maneuverability, clearance out the wahzoo, easy angling, down pressure, and reversibility.
