What is a good / cheap Post Hole Auger?

tomrscott · Mar 18, 2005

The wife decided I can have a post-hole auger if I will build her a raised-bed garden and gazebo with it (setting a bunch of 4x4 posts). So our ground is mostly very good top soil down to at least 3'. Some rocks but not usually anything huge.

So, ... I don't think I need anything real heavy duty. The biggest job would be that I'd like to get a large diameter auger for digging tree and shrub planting holes. Probably need a 9" and a 12" auger.

The local Wilco Farm Store sells KingKutter stuff probably as cheap as anything. What is a good price for one?

Are there any that should be avoided at all cost? Or features that I should hold out for? Do they all have good bearings with grease fittings?

And I haven't studied one up close, how do they transfer the power up the boom? Is it some sort of flex shaft? Or just a couple of universal joints? Or is this an area where they differ?

Thanks! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

JerryG · Mar 18, 2005

Tom,
They all use a PTO shaft with u-joints. I have a Brush Hog digger and I am real happy with it. If you are only using it on your place, there are several brands that will work.

Dargo · Mar 18, 2005

I have a Lienbach L7400 with a 12" auger I bought last year for under $400. I have just at 5000 trees to plant with it. So far I've bored a few hundred holes without any problem. I've hit roots and some baseball sized rocks without issue. If I had to point out a difference between this "economy" model and some that I looked at that cost 3 to 4 times the amount, it seems that the more expensive units have heavier bits and some have slip clutches rather than shear pins. I added a slip clutch to mine for about $70. So far, so good. Just another 4600 or so more holes to bore... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

deere_x475guy · Mar 18, 2005

I just purchased the SpeeCo standard duty model from TSC. The cost with a 12" auger was $559.00 including tax. The tip and cutting edges are replaceable. It seems like it is a good as the rest I looked at. I have only dug 1 test hole through some frozen soil and it worked great. I have some areas that is clay and others that is gravel and sand.

EddieWalker · Mar 18, 2005

I have a Lienbach with a 12 auger. I got it as a package with my tractor for $300 two years ago. It's works great, but it's the only one I've ever used, so I'm not very knowledgable.

Mine has 3/8 bolts for sheer pins, which I'm going through like crazy right now. In clay, it works fine, but I'm going through a section of iron ore with an ocational tennis ball sized rock that just snaps the sheer pins.

With another hundred feet to go, I'll just keep putting in .26 cent bolts until I get through it, though a clutch would really be nice right now.

I thought the 12 inch auger was too big when I bought it, and it's one of the reason's I got a good deal on it. Nobody else wanted such a big one and it had been sitting on the lot for too long. Now I wouldn't own a smaller one and really want an 18 inch one. It's allot easier to put the dirt back in then to get it out when your hole is slightly off or you hit a root or rock and the angle changes on you.

Cactus · Mar 18, 2005

Have you checked into renting one ???

Dargo · Mar 18, 2005

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who is annoyed by breaking shear pins on a PHD! Well, I don't mean that I'm glad you have the problem too. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Uh, you know what I mean. I guess you know why I added a slip clutch when I have over 5000 holes to dig. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Dachshund · Mar 20, 2005

No problems with my Spee-co!

tomrscott · Mar 21, 2005

So here are the options I've found in a couple days of looking around locally:

1) Wilco Farm Stores - New Speeco (Model 65 I think) with 12" auger $529 after farm discount

2) Valley View Tractor & Equipment,Inc (Steven Roy, friendly local dealer, like to give him my business if I can) - New Howse with 12" auger $600

3) Valley View Tractor & Equipment - Lienbaugh medium duty, lightly used, but a slight kink in the drive shaft keeps it from collapsing all the way (probably could straighten it) w/ 9" auger (I really want a 12") $425. I'm thinking he might take a lower offer, and maybe swap in a 12" auger.

4) Northern Tool - Unspecified brand, w/ 12" auger $505 + $160 shipping(!) = $665

5) And then there's the local guy who specializes in restoring manure spreaders, got 'bout a dozen of them in various states of disrepair, and plenty of aromatic test material all over his place (he met us at his back door wearing knee-high rubber boots and we didn't wonder) - He had two of the most peculiar looking old antique post hole diggers I've ever laid eyes on One with a 5' depth capacity, but the drive line was solid and not collapsible at all (???), I don't know how that is supposed to work? I finally decided I wasn't sure my tractor would lift it high enough to get it off the ground. He said it was built by some local outfit from car transaxles. The price was right at $200, but it looked like too much of a project. I think I would have had to fabricate and weld on a collapsible drive line, and then there is no telling what kind of shape the gear box is in. He said the other one was an old antique Ford post hole digger, very peculiar construction, wish I had taken a camera and taken some pictures.

Been checking all the classifieds and Nickel Ads, and looked at some farm yard sales.

Couple more dealers in the area that might be good sources for used deals, I'll check this week.

#3 looking like the best deal if he'll dicker a bit, probably #1 is my second choice.

/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Wesdor · Mar 21, 2005

Not sure if you have TSC in your area. But they show a complete 3pt setup for about $450 new.

http://www.mytscstore.com/detail.asp?pcID=4&paID=1029&sonID=79&productID=1765

Good luck in planting posts. Too bad you are so far away. We have a lot of hedge that will be cut soon. Those posts never rot.