Go Anywhere Post Hole Digger !!!

Thought I would share this inexpensive post hole digger idea...

http://hines.blogspot.com/2012/05/hines-farm-go-anywhere-post-hole-digger.html

Hines Farm - Go Anywhere Post Hole Digger !!!

Recently we needed a 6" hole digger for transplanting larger plants and trees. We purchased a Harbor Freight 6 inch post hole auger (On sale for $49.99 - 25% Easter Day Discount), http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-diameter-auger-bit-95973.html, and adapted it to be used with our Milwaukee 1630-1 drill, (Voltage 120 AC Chuck Size 1/2 in. Amps 7.0 No Load Speed 900 RPM Chuck Type Keyed Spindle 5/8 in.-16 Gear Train Double Cord Type 8 ft. Fixed Construction Type Grounded Trigger Lock -- Spindle Lock No Soft Grip Handle No Length 12-1/4 in. Tool Weight 11.2 lbs.)

Overall it provides for 36" depth, but can be easily adapted for deeper lengths.

It has worked flawlessly so far for us.

Always be prepared to release drill switch if you encounter large tree roots or rocks... (-: !!!







This with a generator, 100 foot drop cord, and a 4x4 tractor, ATV and/or UTV provides hole drilling capacity almost anywhere you want.

Heh. Must be nice to have dirt that cooperates.

Backhoe is pretty good around here if it's an option. Clamshell and digging bar are irritating, but beat taking a ride on the auger express (followed by haveing to use a shovel to get the auger back, and a clamshell and digging bar to finish the hole anyway, if it's even possible in that spot without a backhoe to get the big rocks out.) A rock-cutting diamond auger might work here, but having the well driller come to plant post holes is an expensive proposition.

I've wanted one of these for a while, but not come up with the scratch for it yet, as it's a bit spendy:

nu-boston post hole digger

A much smarter design than the clamshells. Not a miracle, but the ability to get a full scoop out of a deep hole is useful.

Different page with better pictures of nu-boston

I also have a fun time with those fence-anchor augers. I think I got one to go all the way in in one spot once. That's one end of my grapes. I'm currently ripping the other one out of the ground (it stopped abruptly about 1/3 of the way in anywhere I tried to drive it, and now the grape post is pulling it back out.)

Clamshell and digging bar are irritating, but beat taking a ride on the auger express (followed by haveing to use a shovel to get the auger back, and a clamshell and digging bar to finish the hole anyway, if it's even possible in that spot without a backhoe to get the big rocks out.) A rock-cutting diamond auger might work here, but having the well driller come to plant post holes is an expensive proposition.

You gave me a good belly laugh with that response.
We are lucky to have good soil... You made me appreciate it more...!!!

I have seen a rig with an approx 3" auger attached onto a Mantis type rototiller. He uses it to fluff his garden bed soil each spring.

Monte Hines wrote: Always be prepared to release drill switch if you encounter large tree roots or rocks... (-: !!!

You sure aren't lying about that!!

I used a beefy drill like that to run wire through some joists and the SOB loved to randomly catch and slam my hands into the floor boards. When I was done it looked like I had been in a 15 round bare knuckle boxing match.

I like the ingenuity, it sort of looks like my buddies ice fishing auger but electric.

You guys keep me smiling !!!

Yea, you have to be careful...

We had finish carpenter doing work for us about 10 years ago. He did not show for about 2 weeks...

Come to find out, he spent a week in the hospital.

As he explained, he was drilling a hole in the floor in another house he was working on. He had locked the drill on, it caught, he let lose but it managed to hit his testicles 4 times before he got the plug pulled out. They swelled up ... causing the week in the hospital... everyone got laugh but him...

Monte Hines wrote: As he explained, he was drilling a hole in the floor in another house he was working on. He had locked the drill on, it caught, he let lose but it managed to hit his testicles 4 times before he got the plug pulled out. They swelled up ... causing the week in the hospital... everyone got laugh but him...

OUCH!! And here I was going to complain about the black eye I got drilling up through a ceiling and the cracked ankle from getting thrown from the ladder. Not that bad.

there is actually one that hooks up to the garden hose, and uses water as a cutting jet.

works in rocks, but not in caliche.

http://www.myspace.com/video/sunshane-reg/the-water-digger-reg/34908483?_escaped_fragment_=


Bull Digger
think i am going to order this, looks like good for everything but clay

http://www.amazon.com/Bull-Digger-Post-Hole-System/dp/B00271QYBE/ref=pd_sbs_lg_2

We would love to try one of those on our soil as we half dug a root cellar with a bulb (3")bit for a drill and used a hammer drill to power it. Granted we're now filling up said root cellar as it's collecting an obscene amount of water, and not from rain.

It was interesting to see how well the bulb planter worked on our heavy clay soil here, much better than using a pick or a clam shell.

We would love to try one of those on our soil as we half dug a root cellar with a bulb (3")bit for a drill and used a hammer drill to power it. Granted we're now filling up said root cellar as it's collecting an obscene amount of water, and not from rain.

Refer to other thread on digging a pond: location, location, location. Sorry don't have the url for that thread handy.
Is there any way you can locate your pond where you planned the root cellar?

gani et se wrote:

We would love to try one of those on our soil as we half dug a root cellar with a bulb (3")bit for a drill and used a hammer drill to power it. Granted we're now filling up said root cellar as it's collecting an obscene amount of water, and not from rain.

Refer to other thread on digging a pond: location, location, location. Sorry don't have the url for that thread handy.
Is there any way you can locate your pond where you planned the root cellar?

I would but, as it's right next to our current building; it would not work out.

was using a non automated clamshell with two handles post hole digger the other day and still managed to hit myself in the head twice ..with the ends of the handles..seems like post holes are just plain dangerous