Any one used an auger for fence posts?

[renewablejohn]

I will stick with my little 3 tonne excavator. Pushes posts into our heavy clay very easily. No problem with the back but the bum takes a beating.

[Justme]

If you dig / auger a hole then every thing that comes out of the hole must go back in the hole with the post.

Why?  When I used holes from previous posts they seemed fine (slightly wider post)

So the ground still has the same volume as you have only removed the post not the soil.

It ensures that the post is held tightly rather than just a gentle hug from the dug holes sides.

[rogeriko]

Best 150 quid I ever spent. I have planted 2 vineyards 1 acre each, hundreds of grape plants, and dug concrete filled holes for guy wires for a dozen wind turbines. I have the eight inch auger.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EARTH-AUGER-49cc-PETROL-2-STROKE-POST-HOLE-BORER-DRILL-/250816000606?pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenPowerTools_CA&hash=item3a65cc725e

[w0067814]

I've used a hole borer like the above to drill 20 holes to take 4" square posts. The soils is mixed clay & loam. Most of the year pretty good, but bakes hard in a dry summer, and a bit muddy in the winter. Each hole took under two minutes with a petrol borer, but I would strongly advise to get a two person one - I found it easy work, but every now and again the bit would catch a large rock and the borer would spin around - pulled several muscles as it happens so quickly. A two person machine with long handles would give the leverage to prevent this.

-Tim

[chasfromnorfolk]

It's a personal thing, and maybe I'm feeble, but I'd say if it's the hand-held type (as opposed to tractor-mounted) a) get two of you on the job - make sure it is a two-man auger b) anticipate it finding a brick and sweeping you both off your feet c) make sure the other guy can be trusted not to let go and d) don't be too ambitious and go for the 6inch auger - 3 or 4 inches, in this instance, are enough...

I (we) dug a series just 2 feet deep (I wanted perfect round holes to take drainpipe making sleeves for easy post removal) in good conditions and found it very exciting...

Chas

[MN]

Best 150 quid I ever spent. I have planted 2 vineyards 1 acre each, hundreds of grape plants, and dug concrete filled holes for guy wires for a dozen wind turbines. I have the eight inch auger.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EARTH-AUGER-49cc-PETROL-2-STROKE-POST-HOLE-BORER-DRILL-/250816000606?pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenPowerTools_CA&hash=item3a65cc725e

That looks a good price as it comes with the bit.  Is the kit ok?
I hear what Chas says though - maybe a two man one would be better.  Or 2 person as 2nd 'man' would be Mrs MN!!

MN

[desperate]

Dont whatever you let go


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KvxOuC7Bhc


 

Desp

[camillitech]

Maybe we're a little backward up here  but the island I live must have some of the most challenging fencing ground on the planet and in twenty odd years I've never seen anyone use an auger. I don't even know any professional fencers up here that posses one  I've seen miles of deer fencing done much of it dropped in by helicopter and apart from the odd rock drilling.



it's all been done with a spike and post rammer



With the strainers holes dug with these.



Seriously I know four guys who do this for a living over the most inhospitable terrain in Scotland and an auger is not in their tool kit.

Good luck, Paul

[Justme]

This is my baby.







It used to be much longer as it was for installing telegraph poles.

But I cut about 3 foot of it & then had a bit made up that I welded to the auger so it could bolt back to the motor.

[MN]

This is my baby.

 

Now that WOULD BE over the TOP!!!

MN

[clockmanFR]

This time of year machines even normal farm tractors damage the fields.

Its real nice to have the power, and I have used a mini digger and a JCB to put the posts in in the past.
 
But here on the local soil/mud organic clay, the machines chew up the ground and i spend the folowing year flattening out and reseeding.

6 years ago, early in the year, I got a JCB sitemaster stuck down at the bottom of our field, up to its axles, could not pull or push itself out. Ended up digging it out with a 1.5 tonne minidigger on scaffold boards, and pulling with a 4 tonne dumper. What a Mess, so i have learnt to follow Natures Seasons.

[rogeriko]

Had mine 2 years now no problems at all. When it hits a rock it has a clutch that slips so it dosn't spin you around. I have no problem using it on my own. In earthy ground it goes down the full 90cm in seconds on full throttle and in rocky ground if you keep lifting it up and down it kicks out all the rocks/stones, its a great little machine.