Looking for recommendations and advice for my first Post Hole Digger

[TMGT]

I don't think you have any close to you, but Agri supply has decent augers for good prices, they ship but I imagine that would be cost prohibitive.

I have 6" to 24" augers for my older Leinbach post hole digger, but it rarely gets used. I do need to check it over as I need to pour post for a run in shed.


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[Wagtail]

Following.

 

[Kubota Kid]

Post hole diggers are dangerous, here in the NE they are worthless, rocky hard soil, tree roots, just make things worse. Down pressure helps, but even then one fair size rock sends the auger in unwanted directions. I use a small backhoe with a 6” bucket. I put in a chain link fence , dug hole put sonatube in back fill with gravel to top of tube, put post in and concrete. Haven’t had frost push o post up yet.

 

[Dennis Mohn]

I think the cheapest PHD from TSC or Rural King is what I'd recommend. Your tractor isn't going to tear it up due to being over-powered.

Do your holes have to be 12" diameter? Do they have to be 48" deep? You'll find that it's fairly easy to screw an auger into the ground. BUT, it takes a lot to pull it out once you bury it. You'll need to be careful to only go a few inches and keep pulling it out of the hole to keep the hole cleared out and to keep from burying it. You'll still get it hung up now and then. The bigger the auger bit, the more this is an issue.

I'm also wondering if your tractor will have the height to dig a 4' hole.

Either way, get the cheapest one at the local farm supply and go slow till you get the hang of it. I'd pick whichever color you like best.

I agree, TSC or rural king , just be sure to match to your needs

 

[old and tired]

Following.

Ditto^^^ I have 6" 9" and 12" augers for my older Leinbach post hole digger that I bought new for $400. Used it very little over the 20 years of ownership...

 

[Oaktree]

FWIW, I've found that sticking the 6" diameter auger here in our clay soil is a lot easier than sticking the 2 larger ones. And when it gets stuck it is really stuck.

Make sure to lift all of them often to clear the spoils in the flighting.

Was thinking of getting one of these myself. What do you do if you get the augur stuck? Lots of shoveling?

 

[CH4Ohio]

Was thinking of getting one of these myself. What do you do if you get the augur stuck? Lots of shoveling?

First, you apply up pressure with 3-point hitch. Start rocking it back and forth. Sometimes you get lucky and can get it out of the ground without a lot of work. In worst case you have to shut down and manually unscrew it / back it out. Large pipe wrench and cheater bars are involved.

 

[old and tired]

Time to unsubscribe from the lists that are setup for click bait harvesting....

 

[Sid Post]

I am looking for my first post hole digger to use on my Kioti CK27 HST. Sadly tractor does not have any front end loader hydraulic attachment provisions or any rear remotes so will limit me to a rear 3 point PTO digger. Engine HP is 28 with from memory 20.5 PTO HP.

Initial use will be to dig (30) 12 inch diameter holes to a 42 or 48 inch depth. Location is clay soil with likely some small rocks (less that 3 inch diameter) and small tree roots (the two trees in the area are maple 14 foot tall and 10 inch diameter at base). This will not be an expected high use piece of equipment for me. Expect casual use every few years. Possible next use would be for a smaller poll barn in a years. A few tree holes for new plants and mailbox post from time to time.

(I considered renting a 2 person gas trimmer but two reasons make this not a desirable option. 1) hole dig phase will likely be spread over 5 weeks so rental cost gets high and 2) I am concerned the 2 person hand held hole diggers will be more than I can handle at my mature phase. Son is capable but I think he would be covering too much for me and have to over do physically for himself)

Now looking for recommendations, advise, and help from this group.

My first thought is the Tractor Supply Company (TSC) Country Line 3 point post hole digger (item 1353114) for 18HP to 100HP Tractors. Current sale price is $585 USD with a 12 inch auger adding $153 = $738 total before tax. It has a 3 year warranty so suspect basically if the gearbox, 3 point shaft, or weld fails you might have some support. From my review of the still in shipping box at TSC store it looks to be a light duty post hole digger intended for casual low use.

What other options would the group suggest.
Again this would be my first post hole digger. I have never use one myself so I am looking for any help. I would love to get the heavy duty piece of equipment but my expected use does not support an expensive unit.

Thanks and best regards

Spanky100

A Continental brand PHD from your local implement dealer is what i would recommend. Cost us ~$550 and does a great job. Grew up with one on a big tractor too! Simply works well for decades at a modest cost.

 

[leonz]

Dig post holes with a mini-excavator?

Set fence posts in a trench?

Wasn’t going to ask but it’s worth 4 more chances to win a jacket …

It depends on how much you are willing to fight the ground you are dealing with.

Renting a Toro Dingo with a tree transplanting or buying a small tree transplanting
auger to use on the Toro Dingo would be a simple bet as you will always have the
auger to use on other holes and for planting trees.

The long taper of the tree transplanting auger allows for easier digging as the auger
is not facing the resistance of the post hole annulus/outside diameter as the dirt is
being forced out easily along the angle of the attack which is the angle created by
the tapered tree transplanting augers edge to the top of the hole.