Jberger93
Well-known member
Looking to buy a post hole auger for building my deck and Chain link fencing . I’ll need to dig at least 60 + holes . Any suggestions ?
Any recommendations for a post hole auger ?
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Jeepster04
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Hooking it to a tractor or what?
Bolson32
Well-known member
I just put in 400ft of Chain-link and I would drive the line posts if you can. I only dug the terminal posts and gate posts.
I bought this thing and used a post hole driver to pound the line posts. It actually went really fast.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QKGSG6L/?tag=atomicindus08-20
As for the auger, I'd just rent one. Most rental centers and big box stores have them for a fair price. If you have all of your holes marked out you can do them in a few hours easy.
I bought this thing and used a post hole driver to pound the line posts. It actually went really fast.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QKGSG6L/?tag=atomicindus08-20
As for the auger, I'd just rent one. Most rental centers and big box stores have them for a fair price. If you have all of your holes marked out you can do them in a few hours easy.
Depends on your ground type. If its sandy an auger type works really well. If its rocky or lots of roots likely the traditional.
all from person experience
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
60 holes? I would hire someone with an auger on a tractor or bobcat.
Jarwop
Well-known member
I bought an Earthquake E43 by Ardisam at the local farm supply years ago. It is a one man auger that works well until you hit a rock or root. Then you have to go to plan B and use a bar. Have no experience with 3 point auger for tractor or skid steer but think would have the same issue with rocks unless the auger has rock teeth.
Very possible there may be no access for equipment so the small auger might be all that can be used. Tractor or skid steer may (will) tear up established lawn that might also be a consideration.
The hand held auger will be difficult to hold onto when a rock or root is encountered. You might consider the two man model.
I have rented mine to two coworkers, I just tell then to check the 8 hour rental cost and that is what I'll charge but they can keep it until their project is finished. I explain that they won't get it done in 4 hours considering travel time and rocks and roots. Both were pleased as there came up extra holes later as they worked nights and weekends for their project. Saved them having to rent a second and third time as they needed more holes in different places. Also drilling 60 holes at once is a chore and you gotta hope it does not rain before you get your posts in. Otherwise you go to plan C.
Very possible there may be no access for equipment so the small auger might be all that can be used. Tractor or skid steer may (will) tear up established lawn that might also be a consideration.
The hand held auger will be difficult to hold onto when a rock or root is encountered. You might consider the two man model.
I have rented mine to two coworkers, I just tell then to check the 8 hour rental cost and that is what I'll charge but they can keep it until their project is finished. I explain that they won't get it done in 4 hours considering travel time and rocks and roots. Both were pleased as there came up extra holes later as they worked nights and weekends for their project. Saved them having to rent a second and third time as they needed more holes in different places. Also drilling 60 holes at once is a chore and you gotta hope it does not rain before you get your posts in. Otherwise you go to plan C.
casmurbax
Well-known member
Wouldn't you use different size hole for your deck footers then your chain link post holes?
As others have asked, what type of soil?
Several types to choose from, all depending on your ability and the type of soil. Plus there are ones you can use on a back of tractor that another poster suggested...
As others have asked, what type of soil?
Several types to choose from, all depending on your ability and the type of soil. Plus there are ones you can use on a back of tractor that another poster suggested...
Kaizen
Well-known member
Agree. Looking at cost to rent I also purchased. Seemed to get some carb issues last use that I will have to look at but did the 30 holes I needed
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Legion Prime
Well-known member
I got the HF auger last year as well after helping dig ONE hole with a manual post hole digger. I used it at my friends house to sink 6 holes for a structure for chickens he's building and another 3 this spring to redo a garden fence. Both times it fired right up. I will note that the first thing I did was put in an NGK plug. Manual is FILLED with "do this or void warranty" entries including one about using the recommended spark plug. The only one listed is an NGK, what does it come with from the factory? Torch
Use ethanol free gas, make sure you use the ridiculously rich mix called for and you should get plenty of use out of it.bradpac
Well-known member
If you're doing 60 holes, go to the tool rental and get a bob cat with an auger attachment. You will go much faster and be less worn out afterwards. It's extra money well spent.
It's what I was going suggest. I bought a bull float from them for about
cents/dollar. The Honda 2000 generator for about 50% off and it had 2 small scuffs on it. Other than that it looked new.
Yeah, check out HD's rental sales.
rusty1
Well-known member
...installed lots of chain-link fence, pound the posts in, get or make a steel slug that fits the posts to keep from mushrooming the tops,.use ground anchors to stabilize the posts...
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
A deck should have a concrete pier with the post attached on top.
A fence generally won't need concrete. Depends on wind conditions, depth, strength required and maybe other factors like code
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Good Lord, it's not rocket science. If you have good soil with no rocks, rent a 2 man post hole digger but be prepared to work. If you know someone that has a Compact Utility Tractor that has a 3 point hitch post hole digger, hire him to dig the holes for you. I put 45 holes and post in, in a days time. One post and one bag of cement mix per hole. BTW....I've had 70mph wind gust hit this fence. The fence is 7' tall with post at 6' apart. And yea...I cut off the excess post height. LOL!!!
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mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
I meant to say soil with no rocks. I have clay, but there are no rocks around my area. Neighbors just built a new house with a full basement.....no rocks. But 15 minutes from me....Boulders.
ludakris04
Well-known member
Side note on building the deck,
Can you get PT Posts in your area?
Seems like all PT posts are sold out around me.... its weird...
Can you get PT Posts in your area?
Seems like all PT posts are sold out around me.... its weird...
rusty1
Well-known member
...chain-link fences posts don't need to be cemented in, there's no wind resistance,...if they are cemented in it's a lot of work to remove later,..and if the posts are cemented in, lot's of times the frost will heave them upwards over the years....the metal ground anchors slip over the posts, then you just drive em into the surface with a big hammer.
(can't find a photo rite now)
(can't find a photo rite now)
Many years ago when I was a young boy My father was extending a fence. I got the job of digging post holes. He paid me, I think, 15 cents a hole. Got some practice earning money and had to save it. I used a hand held digger, not an auger. It may have been 50 holes, I don't remember. I also don't remember if I hit rocks or not. The procedure for dealing is to, A, move to a new spot. B, have something steel that is heavy and sharp and break up the rock. The procedure for hard, dry ground is to start the hole then fill it with water and let it sit overnight, then the ground will be soft, but probably not very deep so repeat treatments or in order. I now have a 3ph PTO powered digger.
I wouldn't take on the job of drilling holes for someone else.
KEH
I wouldn't take on the job of drilling holes for someone else.
KEH
Bolson32
Well-known member
I did and used both of these on my line posts. To be honest, the slip over wing anchors make for an insanely strong post. Actually better than the terminal posts I foamed in. Once those babies were in they don't move.
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Everything depends on what kind of soil you have. My ground is very rocky. I once rented a two man auger and quickly found out it was a waste of time with all the rocks. A bobcat with auger attachment was the way to go, and even that pulled up some very good sized rocks that made the hole a lot bigger than intended.