Post Hole Digger and Rocks?

[kday64]

Hi all,

I have not yet purchased my first SCUT but I an interested in post hole diggers, since I have no fence in my back yard. However, I live in Connecticut and the ground here is filled with rocks of all sizes. Most of the rocks are 3-4 inches in diameter.

Will these rocks break the post hole digger or the PTO?

~k_day64

 

[Don87]

I'ts possible that a rock of that size may break a 'shear bolt', but that would probably be the only thing.
But the other concern, is that, with rocks........it can alter the course of your hole, which depending on the size of the hole.........and the size of the post could leave you with an 'angled post'.
If it's for a yard.........I would make an oversized hole, then set the pole straight............for a field: depends on the installer.
But it all depends on your soil.

 

[kday64]

Don,

I guess I didnt think about the auger creating a crooked hole. I imaging a quality auger bit would greatly reduce this problem.

It looks like there are some auger bits that are designed to drill through solid rock.

As the post hole digger gets deep do does the tractor need to reposition at all, to ensure the hole goes in straight?

~k_day64

 

[whistlepig]

Rocks or not the post hole digger will have to be repositioned while drilling. I start the hole and go down about 12". Then I pull the tractor forward about 12" until the auger is level again and finish drilling the hole. An occasional 3"-4" diameter rock shouldn't hurt much. If the ground is pure 3"-4" rock they will grind the end of your auger off after time if you can even get the auger to dig at all.

 

[Gary Fowler]

None of the post hole diggers are designed to dig in rocky soil. A small rock of 1" diameter or so will just be pulled out with the dirt. Anything much larger and the auger will start bouncing around and running sideways. Large 4" diameter rocks will likely bind up and shear the bolt on your auger. If your soil is that rocky, I would suggest using a backhoe rather than PHD. If you dont need one past this point, just hire out the digging or rent one from a local rental place. Unless you have a very large yard, you could likely dig all your holes in one day.

 

[kday64]

Howdy,

I have done a little bit of research and Belltac makes augers that are designed to opperate in soil/rock mixtures. The sad part is these augers require a post hold digger that has down ward pressure.

~k_day64

 

[ctgoldwing]

Geetings fellow glacial till neighbor!

I am in the process of building a dog containment fence and have drilled 8 holes so far (about 80 more to go when I get some posts delivered). I did snap one shear bolt on the first hole. Its a learning curve. Now I go pretty slowly and as soon as I feel it hit a larger rock I raise it up & try lowering it again - repeat as necessary or until I decide the rock is just too big.

The auger is pretty good at removing stones up to abot 3-4 inches. I find raising the auger completely out to clear the material is very helpful in also removing rocks.

I have a double whammy in trying to keep the auger drilling straight. I am going down a fairly steep grade and its difficult to keep anything straight

 

[Don87]

Don,

I guess I didnt think about the auger creating a crooked hole. I imaging a quality auger bit would greatly reduce this problem.

It looks like there are some auger bits that are designed to drill through solid rock.

As the post hole digger gets deep do does the tractor need to reposition at all, to ensure the hole goes in straight?

~k_day64

Nice video here: L7200JR Junior Tractor 3 Point Hitch, PTO Driven Post Hole Digger, Driller, Auger, for Compact and Sub Compact Tractors

 

[whistlepig]

You may want to consider renting a skid loader with the post hole digger on the front. These have down pressure.

 

[kday64]

Whistle,

I was really hoping that I would be able to tell my wife that I could use the BX2360 and a post hole digger to dig the holes required to build a fence in our backyard.

The wife still thinks I am nuts for wanting a SCUT rather then a craftsman.

~Kevin

 

[whistlepig]

I'm the same way. I'm not going to rent a skid loader if I have a tractor. I used to live along an old river bed that was almost pure rock. I got it done with the tractor and a post hole digger. It can be done as long as you don't mind using a spud bar.

 

[sodamo]

And where you encounter those rock relative the depth of the hole can make quite a difference. If my place is too rocky at the beginning of the hole, mostly I have to change location of the hole unless I can shovel past them enough for the auger to grab a bite.

For me, augering a hole is a two person operation. Usually, it's my wife on the tractor and me on the Phd yelling directions. Well, she says I'm yelling, I say I'm just trying to endure I'm heard.

 

[Mace Canute]

Rocks! Man, back when I was a Lineman building power lines, I ran into some rocky soil occasionally. One time I was running a digger truck and was trying to dig a hole for a power pole. I hit a SOLID rock a couple of feet under the ground and when I repositioned down the line the full distance of the stinger, about 5-6 feet, I still hit the same rock. I swung around to the other side of the truck and tried it there, and hit the same rock again! That's an awful big rock for the area! I'm very sure it was one big rock since I couldn't even get the point of the auger to find any crack. Another time, I found a layer of rocks about 8" below the surface. It took me 3/4 of an hour to dig that hole, laying the auger over trying to force the point between them. The pole had to go "there". They were so tight together, you would think they were hand shaped and laid together to fit without even a small gap. Once I got a couple of them broke apart, I hauled them out of the hole by hand and finished in a couple of minutes, but that first little "chink in the armor" was tough! Another time I got through the grass and maybe 4 inches of "soil" and I hit small rocks, pure small rocks between 1" and 4 inches in diameter, and no soil whatsoever. They were all rounded off so they were old river rocks but had to have been deposited there (like all rocks around here) by the glaciers from last ice age. Took hours to dig a hole there. A BH would have been faster but there wasn't one around for miles and miles, so we did it the only way we could. The 6 foot deep hole was almost 12 feet across at the top. Filling it in was almost as slow as digging it and worse since it was all by hand. Rocks that size are the devil to shovel by hand! If I never see another rock again in my live, it will be too soon.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have a few rocks in my Arkansas dirt also, luckily most of them are below post hole level, but there is a lot of small rectangular rocks 1-3" long that the PHD goes thru fairly easily but there are the occassional ones like the photos that you just have to do something different. The perk test photo is pretty typical of what you find when digging with the occassional super rocks encountered.

 

[JohninCT]

It can be done as long as you don't mind using a spud bar.

I agree. Dug many post holes here in rocky soil of CT. You need to have a good digging bar and a clamshell post hole digger to clear those pesky rocks out of your hole so the auger will penetrate further. Some holes you can dig right down no prob. Others you need to stop and clear out maybe two or three times. It's a crap shoot, but it can be done.

 

[beenthere]

..........
The wife still thinks I am nuts for wanting a SCUT rather then a craftsman.

~Kevin

Hopefully you win THAT battle. Craftsman and SCUT are not even in the same sentence.

And JohninCT has the answer to rocks in the way of an auger. Pick them out and move further down with the hole.

If you want to have some fun, go into the hardware store and ask the new recruit if they have postholes for sale.

 

[kday64]

Hopefully you win THAT battle. Craftsman and SCUT are not even in the same sentence.

BT,

I am winning the battle. The hold up at this point is the shed. Our house does not have a garage and the shed at the back of the property is only so big. The double doors only give me a 46" opening and the mowing deck I want is 54". Ah heck, the snow thrower is 51".

Guess I need a new shed as well! Dang it

~Kevin

 

[kday64]

Hi all,

Well I have done some more research and I think the proper answer to my rock problem is manufactured by Land Pride.

I am thinking that the Land Pride PD10 combined with the optional down pressure kit would allow me to smoothly break through the rocky soil.

Land Pride Post Hole Digger Manuals

Additionally, I think a BellTec Bit would go along way and certainly help prevent the sound of a snapping shearbolt.

BELLTEC Industries :: Bullet Tooth Rock Auger

What do you all think?

~Kevin

 

[whistlepig]

I really like the augers. Didn't know they made such a thing. You might want to look at Bush Hog post hole diggers also. I have a 2102 Bush Hog and it can take an optional down pressure kit. The Bush Hog set up looks a bit beefier than than the Land Pride set up. Nothing against Land Pride. I have a Land Pride rotary cutter that I like very much. Looks like you are going the right direction. I sure would like to know how will this set up works if you go that way.

 

[kday64]

I really like the augers. Didn't know they made such a thing. You might want to look at Bush Hog post hole diggers also. I have a 2102 Bush Hog and it can take an optional down pressure kit. The Bush Hog set up looks a bit beefier than than the Land Pride set up. Nothing against Land Pride.

Whistle, I went to my local tractor equipmeny store and walked around the lot and I got to see a Land Pride PHD next to a Bush Hog 2102. Though I am not sure of the Land Pride model number I have to agree. The Bush Hog looked, felt and smelled of durablity and strength. The Land Pride model did not.

All this research is because the local fence companys want $9k to install a fence in my back yard.

~Kevin