Posthole Digger Post hole digger - Medium or Heavy Duty - plus auger size

[rba901]

G'Day All,

I am looking for some advice on what post hole digger I should buy. I am looking at either the medium duty and the heavy duty from an Aussie supplier called Hayes, Medium duty with 12" Auger - Hayes Products - Tractor Attachments and Implements

Looking at a few others on the market it seems anything with the more rounded tubular steel versus the square steel is lighter duty. When they say heavy duty can it drill into harder ground as well, or is it a case that the heavy duty type has got a longer life expectancy, I note the weight difference is around 65-70 pounds.

In respect of my usage I am just a weekend hobby farmer with a number of projects which involves fencing around the property. I have a Kubota L35 which the digger will be connected to.

And my last question, 9inch versus 12inch, will my L35 be able to work either effectively. You note I really have no idea, but my simple logic tells me the 9inch drill bit will be more effective on hard ground, and the ground where I am it typically pretty heavy clay once you get through the 12 inches of sandy soil.

Thanks, Ben.

 

[majorwager]

Partial to US made products, such as Befco, which also offers down pressure. Currently use shop-built Hydraulic unit mounted on FEL. Driven by a White RS hydraulic motor, designed for 8-12 GPM, it digs well in rocky soils with a bit dia. of 8 inches. Use a 4 in. bit as well for fence posts. If you select a PTO driven model, pay attention to HP and auger size requirements. Few are effective w/ large rocks in heavy clay soils. Simpler to move the hole location. Manufacturers offer different HD contact tip styles dependent upon conditions. These may become quite expensive from the general purpose, light duty bits. I have excavated test holes w/ my backhoe, on my farm to determine soil conditions before initiating a new fencing project. Understand your desire to consider "down under" geographic products given your location.

 

[Trillium Farm]

G'Day All,

I am looking for some advice on what post hole digger I should buy. I am looking at either the medium duty and the heavy duty from an Aussie supplier called Hayes, Medium duty with 12" Auger - Hayes Products - Tractor Attachments and Implements
In respect of my usage I am just a weekend hobby farmer with a number of projects which involves fencing around the property. I have a Kubota L35 which the digger will be connected to.
And my last question, 9inch versus 12inch, will my L35 be able to work either effectively. You note I really have no idea, but my simple logic tells me the 9inch drill bit will be more effective on hard ground, and the ground where I am it typically pretty heavy clay once you get through the 12 inches of sandy soil.

The only difference in this PHD is the tubing, you 3PH doesn't have downward pressure so I'd go with medium duty. If you are drilling for fence posts and since you have clay I'd worry about drainage and consequently I'd go for 12" so that you can put more grovel/crushed stones below & around the post to reduce decay.

 

[MickeyDBC]

If you can possibly swing it get a hydraulic auger that mounts on your loader. Mount it a little off center so you can see where you are going to drill and catch it quicker if you snag on something. Nicest thing about a hydraulic is you can reverse out of a hole with a simple button push vs. unhooking the bit and a 4ft pipe wrench to unscrew it out the hole (been there and done that).

 

[majorwager]

Another option............

 

[muskiebri]

Another option............

Sorry for the distraction, but I drilled 230 holes in 2 days with the Little Beaver and a 6" or 9" auger bit in 1992. My right thumb is still a little numb! LOL. Most of the original posts are still standing. Not gonna do that again though.

 

[rba901]

Appreciate the input, looking at the FEL mounted units at the moment.

With regarded to how these operate I assume they will run off my tractors hydrolics. I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[majorwager]

Need to match hydraulic motor to tractor capacity, Mine, shop built w/ white brand motor to match ford 8 gpm output. Stihl drive head and augers (purchased used @ rental yard.) Motor was new, simple shop fab frame for pallet forks mount.

 

[joecoin]

Sorry for the distraction, but I drilled 230 holes in 2 days with the Little Beaver and a 6" or 9" auger bit in 1992. My right thumb is still a little numb! LOL. Most of the original posts are still standing. Not gonna do that again though.

Yeah, last fall I needed to dig 40 eight inch holes on a hillside. I rented a Little Beaver . It worked fine on the top of the hill for the first 6 holes. Then I got into the clay and after 3 holes I gave up and hired the rest out.

 

[bdog]

Definitely get the loader mount hydraulic unit if you can afford it. Having owned both there is no comparison. I only drilled maybe 30 holes with my 3pt and none of them were easy. Some took 39 minutes due to lack of down pressure. I have drilled hundreds maybe even a thousand with my hydraulic and they are a piece of cake. My fence posts are 9” holes but I have drilled several 18” holes up to 8’ deep with no problems. My current project which I marked the hole locations for today will have ten 18” holes about 6’ deep. Why so deep? Well they really only need to be about 3.5’ but I am not manually mixing that much concrete so I am calling in a truck and they have a four yard minimum so if I am paying for it I might as well use it.