AUA2 Post Hole Auger by Seymour

I give this auger 9 out of 10 acorns.  I believe your results will vary greatly based on how rocky your soil is.  I have sandy loam and I dug thirty 8" diameter 2' deep post holes on Saturday.  To give you an idea of how sandy, I collected about 20 rocks that were no bigger than an egg in all that digging.  This auger tears through sandy soil.  Each 360 degree turn of the handle removes an inch of depth.  After four turns the head is full and you have to pull out the auger to remove that pile of dirt.  It turns fairly easily unless you hit a rock.  Then you have to hope it gets loosened and finds its way to the interior of the auger or you have to pull it out another way.  It took me under a minute to dig each hole.

I did start the hole with a post hole clamshell digger for two reasons.  One was to collect the chunk of sod in one piece.  The other is that while the auger will chew through the sod, it wanders around a bit and requires more work to get into the sod than it takes to dig the rest of the entire hole.

This tool is built very well and looks like they have been making it the same way for 80 years (cast parts, beefy looking).

Another benefit of this design is that you can extend the handle with common black pipe.  Last winter I dug a 7.5' deep hole with it.  You're only limited by how much weight you want to lift and how high you want to lift it.

I'll second the motion...

VS a clam-shell post hole digger, this is a MUCH more efficient design.  I do wish they mad one that was 10".

I use mine in combination with a standard clam-shell.  I find it easier to start the hole with the clam shell (breaking through turf and such) and then auger in!  Once I'm to depth, the clam-shell is helpful for shifting the bore profile ... make it a little bigger here, there, etc.  I have an 18" galvanized pipe (black pipe works too ... any 3/4 pipe thread will do) on it as an extender... that lets me get plenty deep.

We have a tractor mounted auger that we don't use ... its not as accurate in its placement of the hole, makes a much larger hole, is lousy at clearing said hole, threatens to suck in any loose clothing.... A major benefit of this auger is evident when go to pack gravel or concrete around your post ... the amount of fill material required is greatly reduced!