1 man phd and auger from TSC

Soundguy · Apr 25, 2004

Anyone here used the 1 man phd and 6" auger setup from TSC. I was in te store today looking at it and noticed the unit is only 208$ and the auger is 114$ They ok? I don't need something to be a familly heirloom.. just has to do the job, and live a bit longer for regular fence maintenance...

I've got to replace fencing on 10 ac, and was going to hire it out.. but with the economic times changing fast, I figure I'll take my time and save 25$ of the cost and just do it myself
(I've fenced a bit here and there, so am real familiar with the armstrong types..). I'll be fencing in areas I can't get a tractor mounted phd close too.. besides it costs as much as a big 2 man gas powerd job anyway. And I would like to spend less on tools, and more on materials if you get my drift.

Soundguy

wroughtn_harv · Apr 25, 2004

I used one once helping a customer out with one hole. He had the auger with an eight inch bit.

I was surprised how effecient it was. And heck, I've got one rock bit for a twelve inch auger that costs three times what that whole unit goes for.

If your ground isn't tough you'll find the machine adequate. Don't expect to beable to dig in tough ground though. You're taking a ball pein to a blacksmithing seminar so keep your expectations in line with reality.

KAB · Apr 25, 2004

I bought one to install a chain link fence. (About 35 holes.) Worked really well. If you have rocks be careful until the slip clutch loosens up a bit. It tried to take my arm off. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I ended up wearing welding gloves while using it since when it caught a rock the muffler would swing around and catch my arm. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Lowes carries the same brand. They were more than TSC but they price match then beat the price by 10%. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kurt

EastTexFrank · Apr 25, 2004

I don't know what the TSC brand is but I've had an "Earthquaker" (I think) with 6" auger for quite a few years. I've used quite a bit at the house and around the farm and it starts and works well. Mine doesn't have a slip clutch so I can't comment on that but as others have said the one thing that will make a man out of you in a hurry are ROCKS ... and roots aren't much better. When that auger stalls, the only thing stopping the head from rotating is YOU. The ground at the house is pretty rocky once you get down about 1', there's a hardpan layer, and when I fenced off my wife's vegetable garden I was one beaten and bruised little puppy from my ribs down to my knee on the left hand side. That's the reason I got the PHD for the CUT. No more whippings for me. At the farm where the top 3'-4' is fairly sandy and light, it works great and you can get it into places where you can't go with a 3-pt PHD.
When my brother-in-law set fence around his house he hired a one-man, gas driven, small trailer mounted unit similar to the one shown in Northern Tool. Now those were the easiest holes I ever drilled.

Rivendel · Apr 25, 2004

I've got an Earthquake digger with a 6" auger. I used to have a construction company and my Deck crew used it to put in posts. I still use it occasionally to dig holes. Works great unless it's really rocky or you run into tree roots. My wife nicknamed it a "Coyote Digger" after the first time a crew member did a Wylie Coyote spin with the digger when he tangled it up in a root. He kinda looked like a human helicopter blade.

MarkStewart · Apr 25, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My wife nicknamed it a "Coyote Digger" after the first time a crew member did a Wylie Coyote spin with the digger when he tangled it up in a root. He kinda looked like a human helicopter blade.

)</font> I wish I had seen that LOL. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I also bought one to install a fence around my house. It works great until it hits big rocks. I have heavy clay soil with rocks. I used that in conjunction with a digging bar and regular post hole digger to get the rocks out. It still beats digging them all by hand though. If you have soil with few rocks it should work very well for you.

Alan L. · Apr 25, 2004

I tried a one-man, then a two-man rig in my clay and found neither of any use. The clay was just too heavy and you couldn't hold it without spining. So I got a PHD for the tractor.

I have used in light soil and sand and they worked OK there.

Soundguy · Apr 26, 2004

I mostly have sand.. with vegitation atop it.

I see they have the 12" 8" and 6" augers.. I figured the 8" was too much for it.. and figured 6" would be fine.. as the fence posts are probably 4-5. My corner posts are of course bigger.. but I figure I can drill them.. then use a manual phd to enlarge them.

So for sand I'm probably in the safe?

Like I say.. I figure I'll save about 25% ( not 25$ like I indicated.. in first message.. ) and thats a bit o money. When we had our house and first pasture and areena fenced in 3board black w/ 2x4 no climb wire I about fainted..

Soundguy

EastTexFrank · Apr 26, 2004

Saving 25% for postholes in sand ... go get one.

jpr62902 · Apr 26, 2004

I bought an Earthquake 2 man PHD with 6" auger at Home Depot some years back and used it to drill about 180 post holes for fencing, deck posts, etc. Worked fine in my clay\soil, but the clutch broke after that much use. Wasn't much to replace and get running again though. Those smaller PHD's are real time savers, in my estimation.