Posthole Digger tractor supply post hole digger?

[fishman]

I've read through most of the threads on the TSC digger but still am unsure if it will meet my needs. I'm not going to be using it a lot, but I can see myself drilling at least 100 holes over the next 3 years. I need a 12" auger because some of those holes are going to be for a pole barn, and others will be for corner posts, etc.

Now, I've got a lot of ground where there is firmly packed gravel with a very few cobble-sized pieces (3"-6"). Only a little bit of the gravel is hard stuff, and the rest is fairly fragile limestone. Some of my ground is soil so that shouldn't be a problem. About 2/3 has layers of fairly fragile limestone bedrock just under the soil that ranges from 8" to 2' in depth and overlays the gravel layer. I don't necessarilly have to drill holes in the limestone, but it would be nice to have that capability.

I just can't justify spending $875 for a digger.

So I ask, what are the capabilities of a light-duty auger, most specifically the TSC model? What can I expect from it? I don't have a problem with working a little slower than a "professional" grade digger would allow, nor do I have a problem with buying plenty of extra teeth if needed (are they needed?). /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[MikePA]

I am far from an expert on drilling holes with a 3ph post hole digger. I only drilled 186 of them this past summer whereas wroughtn_harv does this for a living. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif That being said, my experience has been that success or failure in digging the hole is more a function of the auger and not the digger. I spent way too much money on auger tips and cutting edges from Leinbach and TSC. Get a good auger for the soil you'll be working in. Drill the holes in the spring or fall when the soil is moist, not in mid-summer when the ground has been baked. Don't ask me why I know this. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten the medium duty Leinbach digger and the serrated auger from Danuser. If I had to save money, I'd scrimp on the digger, e.g., get the light duty Leinbach digger (this is what I have-it's the same as the TSC digger) and not scrimp on the auger.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color="red"> firmly packed gravel with a very few cobble-sized pieces (3"-6"). Only
a little bit of the gravel is hard stuff, and the rest is fairly fragile limestone</font>

Hello--With the conditions that you dscribe, I would buy the best PHD available ie, Danuser or Shaver with the serriated cutting edges. Even with this setup--I feel you may still have trouble in the rocks. If you go with the PHD, you may want to get a slip clutch or a big box of shearpins and only drill when the soil is moist (spring or early winter)--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co.

 

[theboman]

Couldn't you lease one much cheaper since it seems to be a one time thing.

 

[Hoeman00]

How about renting a SSL and HPHD, these have very HD
augers available and the hydro drive saves breaking shear pins.
These also have reverse so u can back out of trouble.
Rent one a weekend at a time, maybe arrange some other
work to justify renting it.

 

[fishman]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I really don't want to rent, because I have several projects planned over the course of the next 3 years, requiring at least 4 different rentals. In addition, I can't seem to find a local rent yard that has anything but dull edged, beat up, bent-shaft, unknown maker diggers. Renting a bobcat w/hydraulic unit would have to be expensive, so I haven't checked on their availability. Heck, the reason I got a tractor is so's I can use it whenever I want at the pace I want /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Mike, I checked out the Danuser site and was pretty impressed. Especially with their hole digger head. If it does what they say, it would be worth the extra $250 upgrade, I think. Did you get any specific information about it, other than what was in their website? It looked like from your past posts that you were talking with the company and found out that the auger would fit a TSC digger.

On another positive note, I found out that the wholesale distribution center for Danuser in TX is 2 miles from my office! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> Mike, I checked out the Danuser site and was pretty impressed. Especially with their hole digger head. If it does what they say, it would be worth the extra $250 upgrade, I think. Did you get any specific information about it, other than what was in their website? It looked like from your past posts that you were talking with the company and found out that the auger would fit a TSC digger. </font>
John, here's the text of the email I received from Glenn Danuser regarding using a Danuser auger on my Leinbach 7200. The 7200 uses 2 bolts to attach the auger. If there was any way to swing it financially, particulary since you'll be using the digger for a number of projects over the next few years, I'd go with the complete Danuser set up, the digger and the auger. I'm not sure I'd use the auger if I could only attach it with one bolt. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif


Sorry it took so long to get back to you. After my engineer reviewed your email, he said you should be ok to use the top hole in the output shaft with one bolt if the hole is centered on the shaft. I would recommend our Hole Digger Head Auger, this auger will penetrate anything except solid rock. It will dig through shale, cliché, limestone, clay, rocks etc.. The part number for a 9" X 40" HDH is # 6122 for a List Price of $ 287.66. This does not include shipping.

 

[centex]

If you really want a TSC PHD, I have one down in Austin that I bought last year and used to dig about 15 holes. I would sell it for $300 with 6". 9", and 12" augers. It cost over twice that. I quickly determined that this PHD was not up to the task of digging holes in the Hill Country and bought a Rhino heavy duty auger. It is barely up to the task and if I had it to do over again I would only consider a hydraulic unit even though it would be much more expensive. If your soil is more like that in East Texas the TSC PHD would work just fine but it sounds a lot more like mine.

Let me know if you are interested.

 

[fishman]

Centex, I've sent you a private message. I think your digger is worth a try at least.

I got a price quote of about $1100 for a danuser cat 1 digger with a 12 hole digger head auger. Just curious if everyone thinks that's a good price.

One bolt. Hmmm. I'm with you Mike, that don't seem right. I think I would be tempted to drill some new holes somewhere before using just one bolt.

 

[Slippy]

I also have a TSC PHD and am looking for a 16" auger for it. I am also building a pole barn. I am in Ohio and here the building specs call for a below frost line hole of at least 32" with a concrete pad of 14" diamater. This is for a 30 x 48 barn. You may want to check to make sure a 12" hole is large enough for your structure. Also, I called TSC about their PHD. They gave me the telephone number for Specialty Products, who makes the PHD. I spoke with them and they said they do not make larger than 12" as the PHD was not designed for a larger auger. They confirmed that it is a 2" round shaft. I then called Danuser and they have a number of different augers. Does anyone else have an auger in the 15" - 16" size they would like to sell?

 

[MikePA]

Before you buy an auger, make sure the bolt holes on the auger will match up to the holes in output shaft and not just that they're both 2" in diameter. I have a Leinbach 7200 which is similar to the TSC digger, since TSC augers fit it, and the Danuser augers were made such that I could have only used one bolt to attach the auger.

 

[gerard]

I have a tsc unit with 9 inch auger. The cutting tips are just two beveled pieces of flat stock with a center tip that is like a large screw. Works fine in soil, will pull up rocks up to grapefruit size, anything bigger than that forget it. The flighting isn't too heavy duty either. I can get about 20 holes done and then have to hardface the cutting tips and re grind them again. For the conditions you desscribed I don't think you'll be happy with the stock auger and, as previously mentioned, it's the auger that's the most important part. Spring for a heavy duty auger and slip clutch (or buy the shear bolts by the dozen). Some of those danuser have carbide rock tips that will hold up a lot better in limestone. The TSC stock is just steel far as I could tell based on how quick they wore down.

 

[Rick Jay]

I don't have a lot of experience with my post hole digger (probably 20 holes or so in rock laden clay), but I would recommend the heavier duty unit.

It's true that the bit does most of the work, but all the torque applied to that bit is transmitted through the gearbox, and when the bit hits a rock and before the shear bolt snaps, that force is applied through the gear teeth.

With the number of holes you've got to drill, I'd recommend the heavy duty unit. If you don't need it in a couple of years, I bet you could sell it and recoupe much of your cost.

By the way, I've got a Woods 1160. I had originally ordered the lighter duty 1130, but when I checked the specs. and the difference in price, I felt the 1160 was a much better deal. (The 1130 was only good up to 12" bits. I think the 1160 can handle up to 24" bits. When you see the 1130 and 1160 side by side, the 1160 is visibly more massive.)

Hey...it's only money. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Good Luck,

~Rick

 

[Inspector507]

I have a PHD from TSC, I think it is a SpeeCo from Specialty Products. I got the 9" and 12" augers with it. One Saturday I drilled 3 dozen holes that included "orange" sized rocks. I had no problem at all except the flighting on the auger got a little mis-shaped by a rock. Thankfully I didn't need any extra bolts for the auger, I didn't read ALL the posts BEFORE I dug all the holes. The shear bolt was a little bent, but didn't break.
I'm happy with it so far.

Jerry

 

[alco141]

i bopught a similar model from central tractor (made by worksaver), i have cut over 400 holes with it in vwery rocky soil. have snapped a few shear pins and have replaced the cutting edges a couple of times. works great for planting trees, rose bushes, fences, pole buildings, decks. i have the 12 inch auger. i would not be too afraid of the tractor supply model as i am sure it will meet your needs. if it works in this glacial till with grapefruit sized rocks, just pops them out of the holes. be carefull you dont get hit by them i have seen them fly about 25 feet.

alex