Torque limiter or external clutch for really big drills?

[toolaholic]

Hi all, I have a forestry supply earth auger Power Planter® Earth Auger 5" x 28" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004D5XWOY/?tag=atomicindus08-20 that is 5" and 28"'long that I drill holes in the ground to plant shrubs etc with my Milwaukee 1663-20 spade handle drill (7amps 115/450tpm). Milwaukee 1663-20 7.0 Amp 1/2-inch Compact Drill https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004T16K/?tag=atomicindus08-20 I can manage kick back if I hit a rock. I have used this combo successfully many times. I recently bought a very very heavy duty custom auger that is 5.75 x28 to do post holes. Post Hole Auger Garden Tree Planter Earth Drill By Custom Augers 5.75 x 28 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003GXC8IA/?tag=atomicindus08-20 I do have a skil 543 3/4 inch 375rpm 10 amp drill. But the 3/4 if kicks will really kick. The custom auger people love the Milwaukee super hawg with its torque clutch to control binding. Is there anything you can retrofit to drill to control kickback. I read some people wired light bulbs that lit when drill draws alot of Amps when it is going to stall. Light bulbs cut current and kickback down. http://www.gardenauger.com/

 

[toolaholic]

Bump! If anything the garden auger site is interesting reading

 

[toolaholic]

Bump

 

[metaleltr]

I grew up in the circuit breaker era so I don't know if this will work but if the old style screw in fuses fit a standard light socket you could rig up a cord with an inline light socket and just screw a fuse into said socket. Just select fuse amperage based on full draw when caught. Also make sure it is not a slow blow or time delay fuse.

 

[toolaholic]

I grew up in the circuit breaker era so I don't know if this will work but if the old style screw in fuses fit a standard light socket you could rig up a cord with an inline light socket and just screw a fuse into said socket. Just select fuse amperage based on full draw when caught. Also make sure it is not a slow blow or time delay fuse.

Thanks great idea!

 

[toolaholic]

I may use a extension cord with a circuit breaker built in.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I grew up in the circuit breaker era so I don't know if this will work but if the old style screw in fuses fit a standard light socket you could rig up a cord with an inline light socket and just screw a fuse into said socket. Just select fuse amperage based on full draw when caught. Also make sure it is not a slow blow or time delay fuse.

Bussmann #bp-sru Recep & Fuse Holder

Just mount it in a handi-box.


Finding the "right" fuse could be a challenge. When you start reading the specs, you will see that a fuse may have to exceed its rating by 100% to act "quickly". A 10-25% excess would pass current for a "long" (minutes) time. These are standard fuses, not "slo-clow".

 

[manwithtools]

I don't see the fuse or circuit breaker solution working very well at all. By the time they trip or blow you will be on the ground or holding your broken wrist. If you get one sized small enough to offer any jam protection it will be a nuisance in normal operation. You need a torque limiter of some type. I'm not aware of any inline units that would be of reasonable cost.

 

[toolaholic]

I don't see the fuse or circuit breaker solution working very well at all. By the time they trip or blow you will be on the ground or holding your broken wrist. If you get one sized small enough to offer any jam protection it will be a nuisance in normal operation. You need a torque limiter of some type. I'm not aware of any inline units that would be of reasonable cost.

I used that 3/4 with a slightly smaller power planter 5 inch auger. Hit a root and spun the cord around itself. My wrist was sore for a week. The smaller 115-450 speed control Milwaukee 1663-20 7 amp spade I can control. I set the speed at around 200rpm.

 

[PBCampbell]

I really can't figure out what the OP is doing, but if it's holes for posts I'd get a real 2 man rig or an old fashioned post hole digger. I looked over that website, but I don't think I'd subject an expensive drill to digging holes for posts.

 

[toolaholic]

I really can't figure out what the OP is doing, but if it's holes for posts I'd get a real 2 man rig or an old fashioned post hole digger. I looked over that website, but I don't think I'd subject an expensive drill to digging holes for posts.

For the occasional bulb and tree planting or a post hole here and there I like the auger. If I had a lot of holes I would go gas.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Screw that side handle out, replace with a piece of threaded pipe about 8 feet long, with another person controlling torque reaction. This is how I drill large holes with twist drills on things that won't fit in the mill or drill press.