Posted: 6/12/2017 9:51:33 PM EDT
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I think I'd like to buy an earth auger for landscaping work. In many areas I have a couple of inches of loam on top of about 12-18 inches of road base (builder did a shit job of cleaning up after the driveway and other flatwork pours). The drilling won't be super easy/soft.
I've read a ton of reviews and it seems like a mixed bag for hard ground unless you have something really powerful. Any recommendations? |
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Are you talking about on a bobcat or tractor or what?
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That would be awesome, but no.
I'm taking about a 1 or a 2 person type auger. Something which can support at least an 8" bit, but would prefer something more like 12-14". Like this (or similar): Attached File |
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I would rent one before you buy one, they dont like hard dirt. Even the one on my Kubota in tough going I have to run a water hose to loosen stuff up as I go. In topsoil it is awsum though. |
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This! Â Rent. Â I rented from homedepot to put a fence in, blew up about three before I was done. Quoted:
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I would rent one before you buy one, they dont like hard dirt. Even the one on my Kubota in tough going I have to run a water hose to loosen stuff up as I go. In topsoil it is awsum though. 
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I have rented a Toro Dingo with an auger attachment a couple times.
That is what I would recommend. Way better than a hand held two man or even a three point PTO type. Attached File |
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That would be awesome, but no. I'm taking about a 1 or a 2 person type auger. Something which can support at least an 8" bit, but would prefer something more like 12-14". Like this (or similar): https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/348144/IMG-6650-229524.JPG |
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That would be awesome, but no. I'm taking about a 1 or a 2 person type auger. Something which can support at least an 8" bit, but would prefer something more like 12-14". Like this (or similar): https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/348144/IMG-6650-229524.JPG |
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I have rented a Toro Dingo with an auger attachment a couple times. That is what I would recommend. Way better than a hand held two man or even a three point PTO type. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/35314/Toro-Dingo-229545.JPG |
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Get all your stuff lined up and rent a skid steer with a hydraulic auger for about the same amount as purchasing your own gas powered auger.
Or do it the old fashioned way with an Iwan type manual auger (I have two of these, they don't work well at all in rocky soil but you can get the job done in clay or sand/small gravel). Clamshell if that fails. Seriously though, rent the machine. ETA I have used a two man 10 inch auger in heavy soil and it was terrible. If the clay is wet you run the risk of having the thing screw itself right into the ground too. |
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That would be awesome, but no. I'm taking about a 1 or a 2 person type auger. Something which can support at least an 8" bit, but would prefer something more like 12-14". Like this (or similar): https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/348144/IMG-6650-229524.JPG For a man-operated unit, get one of the units where the engine sits on the ground and an arm angles up to the auger gearbox, which has the handles you control it with. Here is one, its the Little Beaver 
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I have one of these Definitely powerful enough to do what you want For sure a two man operation http://www.homedepot.com/tool-truck-rental/assets/img/General-Equipment/336x336/LG-Digging-GeneralEquipment-Auger2Man-large-01-A.jpg Where in Texas you at? |
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Liberty Hill (north of Austin) Quoted:
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I have one of these Definitely powerful enough to do what you want For sure a two man operation http://www.homedepot.com/tool-truck-rental/assets/img/General-Equipment/336x336/LG-Digging-GeneralEquipment-Auger2Man-large-01-A.jpg Where in Texas you at? I am NE of Dallas about 50 miles My brother lives in Leander just south of Liberty Hill |
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Reason #87 I love GD. Great feedback and suggestions. Can a normal sidewalk (4" or so of concrete with typical welded wire mesh) support one of those skid steers with an auger attachment? |
| Like others have posted, it really depends on the dirt and how dry it has been. I have one of the portable two-man augers, as well as a 3-pt hitch model, and have actually run into conditions where neither wanted to dig. In fact, several years back it had gotten so dry that the auger on the tractor would do nothing but spin on top of the ground....had to get the bucket on the backhoe to physically push down on the attachment to get it to dig. |
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Reason #87 I love GD. Great feedback and suggestions. Can a normal sidewalk (4" or so of concrete with typical welded wire mesh) support one of those skid steers with an auger attachment? |
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A little far for a loaner I am NE of Dallas about 50 miles My brother lives in Leander just south of Liberty Hill |
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That would be awesome, but no. I'm taking about a 1 or a 2 person type auger. Something which can support at least an 8" bit, but would prefer something more like 12-14". Like this (or similar): https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/348144/IMG-6650-229524.JPG The other thing is that in anything but the softest of soils, down pressure is a huge factor in how well the auger drills. You ain't fat enough for a 14" auger buddy. Is the ground rocky? Dangerous to use a handheld auger. |
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Kind of related. The first time that I visited the SO's family in Wisconsin was during hockey season.
We were watching the Badgers team on tv and then came on a commercial for a propane or lp gas powered auger for ice fishing. I thought that was a CSB.Â
 The commercial was low budget. I found it to be kind of cool. Being from the desert. |
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8" is pushing it for a handheld auger. Jesus I would not want to even attempt a 12"-14" handheld auger. Do you have any idea how heavy that is going to get after just a few holes? The other thing is that in anything but the softest of soils, down pressure is a huge factor in how well the auger drills. You ain't fat enough for a 14" auger buddy. Is the ground rocky? Dangerous to use a handheld auger. 
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If you're digging thru old road base, rent the skid steer with the attachment. You're not going to hold a 10" plus bit by hand in that. And PLEASE - call the " call before you dig" people!!!! Angering into a gas or electric line is NOT a good day!
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Winning! A job worth doing is one worth overdoing
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As someone who used to rent such units to people, my advice (which was very infrequently taken) is spring for a unit that is far in excess of what you think you need.
The "One Man" and "Two Man" units suck in Alabama Dirt (Mostly Red Clay, with Rocks) get one of the mini skid-steers or the tow-behind if you are doing any large amount of holes or in difficult terrain. Yes it costs more, but it doesn't beat you to death, and it goes much quicker and smoother. |
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Yup. A few inches of loam on top of 12-18" of compacted road base (foundation and driveway fill). I've dug about 10 holes by hand, and at this rate I won't finish until Christmas....2030 unless I get some mechanical help |
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A coworker got her arm caught in one. She destroyed the free arm while trying to pull the caught one out. That one got tore off.
So, normal, hard working woman is minus and arm and two hands. She accidentally overdosed about a year later. I would have too.... That being said, I like mine. Keep the spinny thing covered and keep the kids away. |
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A coworker got her arm caught in one. She destroyed the free arm while trying to pull the caught one out. That one got tore off. So, normal, hard working woman is minus and arm and two hands. She accidentally overdosed about a year later. I would have too.... That being said, I like mine. Keep the spinny thing covered and keep the kids away. |