IS THERE SUCH A THING??

GRUMPA · Aug 31, 2004

Where my tractor is going to end up theirs alot of variation in soil. Meaning very hard pan to soft soil to sandstone. Been trying to find info for post hole diggers most of which I get from the forums. But I have yet to read on one that has a replacable bit. Sure they seem to work fine when new but am reading that over time because of soil conditions that the cutting end of it will wear down (understandably so).

I'm just wondering if they make one that has a variety of cutting bits, if you need one for going thru sandstone you would put on a carbide tipped one on. Or if you wore down the end from using it on hard pan soil you could simply replace the end rather than buying a new auger regardless of cost?

Inspector507 · Aug 31, 2004

Send a PM to wroughtn harv, he seems to be pretty much an expert on augers and the tips. I know he'll love the compliment I just gave /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

755inNY · Aug 31, 2004

GRUMPA,

I have replaceable cutters on my augers. I thought they all came that way. I purchased my auger from Central Tractor (similar to Tractor Supply) so it is not a "high end" unit at all.

Jeff

daedong · Aug 31, 2004

GRUMPA,
Looks dry like down under, whats your rain fall. I know some augers here have cutting teeth held in by set screws, simply change them as they wear.

Inspector507 · Aug 31, 2004

Maybe he was thinking of the center bit itself...?? I don't know. Mine is replaceable on a TSC special.

But even though it's replaceable, I don't know if a different type could be used for different soil/rock types.

GRUMPA · Aug 31, 2004

daedong,

We get under 12" a year their (north eastern az.) As for the rest that were kind enough to respond, From what I get on the net (granted I dont have nearly enough links in my favorites folder) all they show is the unit at a far distance and it would take super human eye sight to tell if the augers have replacable cutters.

I have but one link that provides a very up close picture of the cutting edges themselves. But for sandstone those wont be nearly good enough. One would have to be made of carbide and NOT hardened steel. To put it as best I can I was more or less thinking if they have replacable heads, kinda like a well drilling rig, they simply (or by force) replace the worn unit with a new one.

If I were to dig holes and 6" below the dirt I hit sandstone I would like to unscrew/remove the cutting portion of the auger and put on something like a carbide toothed cutting head to finish the job. Living in the city (soon to be elsewhere) I simply dont have a tractor supply outfit close enough to visit after work to get a closer look, most are way on the southern end of town and arent open on weekends.

wroughtn_harv · Aug 31, 2004

Here's a thread that will give you most of your answers.

It's a couple of years old but dirt doesn't change much these days.

digging post holes

(Thanks for the PM 507)

GRUMPA · Aug 31, 2004

wroughtn_harv,

BOY OH BOY what a thread,
I had to put it in my favorites so I could read it later, I havent read such a comprehensive topic in a long time. I can tell that what I want/need wont be cheap (good thing the wife dosent know). But I'm sure good equipment is that way. I'm not as handy with a welder as most and wont even attempt what alot of people have done so I'll look for a auger that suits me needs.

Thanx

Gaspasser · Sep 1, 2004

Digging post holes in southwest Oklahoma in the summer is no fun. I did a lot of that as a kid. We used a Danuser digger on a JD 3010. Had the replacable serrated blades serrated PHD blade hard-faced at the machine shop so they would last longer in the hard ground. Sometimes the ground would be so hard you would dig as far as you could, fill the hole with water and come back the next day to dig again.

Paul