Posthole Digger What's the secret to cleaning out a post hole?

[Z RENCH]

Is there a secret to cleaning out a post hole after you dig it? It seems like you have to dig about a foot deeper than you need the hole to be to allow for dirt to fall back into the hole. That is fine for shallower holes, but when you need to dig a 4 or 5 foot hole, maxing out the lenghth of your auger, then what? Is it in the design of the auger? Is it in the technique? Or do you just have to clean it out manually? Does anyone have the answer? Thanx in advance!

 

[ASV HD 4500]

I do a lot of fencing and all by hand and use telephone poles mostly as they are found the cheapest, but a lot of work. When you put your post in the hole take two 2x6's. Place one at the edge of the hole (the one where you will roll your pole up and the other a few inches toward the circle. Drop it in and hardly any dirt (sand in my case) will go in the hole. If you are bear hugging the holes same process except this time both boards a couple inches in. I have never used cement unless my poles are larger metal poles. Sand, water, tamp, sand water tamp. Takes time, but it will never go anywhere. Some get limestone rock and mix with the sand and that alone will do it, but once again with water (sand and limestone), tamp and keep going to the top. Anyway, just an idea. Everyone has their own way. Good luck.

 

[creekbend]

This is just a suggestion. Turn the auger very slowly the last foot or so, stop the auger in the down position and lift it out slowly-like you would remove the cork from a wine bottle. If you have regular post hole diggers that are long enough, this will help also. Best wishes.

 

[Z RENCH]

This is just a suggestion. Turn the auger very slowly the last foot or so, stop the auger in the down position and lift it out slowly-like you would remove the cork from a wine bottle. If you have regular post hole diggers that are long enough, this will help also. Best wishes.

That does sound like a good idea, glad I thought of it:thumbsup: lol. I think i've seen augers advertised that said " will clean hole". I wonder if these are the augers that have the flighting all the way to the top of the unit, unlike the ones i have now, which only have it 3/4ths the way up it.

 

[bcp]

Post hole cleaners:

Post Hole Cleaner 300mm 350mm | Belgrove Hiring Service

Post Hole Cleaner 350mm | Langys

Cammack Ranch Supply?::?Fencing?::?Post Hole Cleaner

Shop vacuum

 

[Midniteoyl]

Or.. tamp

 

[JohninCT]

Get the hole just about as deep as you need it then put the auger all the way down and bring back up to let the dirt fling out off the flights. Plunge it back in and out a few times like this and the hole will be pretty clean. Our soil here in the northeast is always pretty moist. If you are working with very dry and crumbly soil, a pail of water down the hole will help it stick together better and leave a cleaner hole.

 

[Scooby074]

We use one of these "Post Hole Spoons" http://www.garant.com/html/en/produits/produit.php?idProduit=823&typeProduit=famille. Its as old as Methuselah! Came from my grandfather when he worked on the town doing ditches. Handle finally rotted off after probably 60 years so we need to get a new one. It works good for this purpose (and cleaning out catch basins too)

 

[gwdixon]

We hire Mexican workers from a downtown corner for $10/hour cash. They use a regular clamshell-type post hole digger to clean out the holes.

Oh, don't tell anybody I said that.

 

[SandburRanch]

Is there a secret to cleaning out a post hole after you dig it? It seems like you have to dig about a foot deeper than you need the hole to be to allow for dirt to fall back into the hole. That is fine for shallower holes, but when you need to dig a 4 or 5 foot hole, maxing out the lenghth of your auger, then what? Is it in the design of the auger? Is it in the technique? Or do you just have to clean it out manually? Does anyone have the answer? Thanx in advance!

Soil structure and moisture content often plays an important role in how well a hole will clean. If you determine a hole must be cleaned manually consider a pair of Fiakars post hole diggers. They're built different.

 

[Z RENCH]

Shop Vac?!!! Has anyone tried using a shop Vac for this purpose? I had thought about it , but quickly dismissed the idea for a couple of reasons. 1st- probably no power source on the jos site except for maybe an inverter on the tractor, and 2nd- would it have enough suction power to pull dirt up potentially a five foot deep hole?

Post hole cleaners:

Post Hole Cleaner 300mm 350mm | Belgrove Hiring Service

Post Hole Cleaner 350mm | Langys

Cammack Ranch Supply?::?Fencing?::?Post Hole Cleaner

Shop vacuum

 

[KennyG]

Shop Vac?!!! Has anyone tried using a shop Vac for this purpose? I had thought about it , but quickly dismissed the idea for a couple of reasons. 1st- probably no power source on the jos site except for maybe an inverter on the tractor, and 2nd- would it have enough suction power to pull dirt up potentially a five foot deep hole?

I've used the shop vac and it works great. Of course - specific situations are all different. I had power available and the area is mostly sand. In fact, after I got down a foot or so with a clamshell digger, I could actually dig hole with the shop vac. I went down over 4 feet this way.

 

[Z RENCH]

Well, I think I'll give er a try, that is with the shop vac. The other ways with the clamshell digger or those giant spoon dipper things look like such manuel labor items---YUCK. Does anyone know if different types of augers work better than others? Such as ones with a tighter flighting pattern to them? Thanx for all the input ya'll

I've used the shop vac and it works great. Of course - specific situations are all different. I had power available and the area is mostly sand. In fact, after I got down a foot or so with a clamshell digger, I could actually dig hole with the shop vac. I went down over 4 feet this way.

 

[creekbend]

We use one of these "Post Hole Spoons" Tools manufacturer and supplier, garden tools and hand tools supply for gardening, construction and snow tools supply. Its as old as Methuselah! Came from my grandfather when he worked on the town doing ditches. Handle finally rotted off after probably 60 years so we need to get a new one. It works good for this purpose (and cleaning out catch basins too)

I remember using one of those when I was a Kid. I didn't know that they still made them.

 

[duroc]

Shop Vac?!!! Has anyone tried using a shop Vac for this purpose? I had thought about it , but quickly dismissed the idea for a couple of reasons. 1st- probably no power source on the jos site except for maybe an inverter on the tractor, and 2nd- would it have enough suction power to pull dirt up potentially a five foot deep hole?

My neighbor used a shop vac to dig a trench for his water line. The trench was 3' deep and about 40' long. The ground is all sand and it seemed to work okay, but it took him the whole weekend. Personally, I don't have that much time on my hands so I would have found another way. I think a post hole is doable, but not a trench.

 

[Scooby074]

I remember using one of those when I was a Kid. I didn't know that they still made them.

Neither did I! I just came across it when looking for pics of my grandfathers old catchbasin spoon.

 

[npalen]

I've heard of people cutting up dry oil wells to use for post holes.:laughing:

 

[bcp]

I've heard of people cutting up dry oil wells to use for post holes.:laughing:

I was checking out, buying wooden posts, in the garden section of Lowes a couple of months ago. The clerk asked if I found everything.

"All but some post holes in a box."

"What are those?"

"You don't have to dig holes. Just open the box, place the hole where you want it, and drop in the post."

" We don't have any of those here. I'll call hardware and see if they have any."

"Never mind."


Bruce

 

[Midniteoyl]

 

[Ford850]

I use the double hinged clam shell diggers so you can get them extra deep without the need to pull the handles out wide when you grab a bite of soil from the bottom. If the loose soil in the bottom of the hole is too dry, I splash some water in them all and let is set a few minutes. That soils is soft and if moist it sticks together in a clump, only requiring a few quick 'grabs'.