Manual post hole digger

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boland

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#251583 2-Jul-2019 12:57

Sorry, deleted previous topic, as I found there was a similar topic already. I got an email somebody replied, apologies!

After reading that, I'm planning to buy this to dig 4 post holes, and perhaps some more in the future.

I've already got a spade like this so that should work to dig the hole itself?

Any other tips please?

I don't want to buy another petrol driven tool, already got enough stuff.

mdf

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#2268399 2-Jul-2019 13:01

What sort of dirt? If it's anything like mine (combination of clay, tree roots and craptacular hard infill), the only thing that works is a digging bar.

boland

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#2268404 2-Jul-2019 13:09

mdf: What sort of dirt? If it's anything like mine (combination of clay, tree roots and craptacular hard infill), the only thing that works is a digging bar.

Think similar to yours, although this part is mostly clay, there are no trees nearby so should not expect lots of roots. So you've got something like this?

mdf

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#2268444 2-Jul-2019 13:25

Yep similar to that (mine has a point at one end, I can see the advantage of that palm rest style though). Basically a solid lump of steel that you can use to lever, pry and break up rubbish, before removing with a shovel or the separate and lift digger thing you linked to before.

djtOtago

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#2268495 2-Jul-2019 14:03

I find a long handle spade easier to use to dig post holes than using a short handle garden spade.

Bung

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#2268522 2-Jul-2019 14:42

+1 to the long handled spade. I've substituted for a digging bar in the past with a brick bolster shoved in the end of some water pipe. Not as good as a lever because pipe bends but has the right weight for downward chopping.

neb

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#2269386 3-Jul-2019 15:31

I haven't found anything that comes close to the Fiskars QuickDrill, it powers through stuff like yellow clay mixed with gravel that you'd normally need a pick to chop through. I got one on special when I needed to dig around thirty holes, and it turned what would have been a multi-day job into something taking a few hours.

tchart

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#2269411 3-Jul-2019 16:15

neb: I haven't found anything that comes close to the Fiskars QuickDrill, it powers through stuff like yellow clay mixed with gravel that you'd normally need a pick to chop through. I got one on special when I needed to dig around thirty holes, and it turned what would have been a multi-day job into something taking a few hours.

+1 for fiskars quickdrill

Don't waste your money on another spade.

The fiskars is amazing. We live in upper Hutt and the soils is clay with rocks. Does a great job. If I get stuck I have a waratah (metal fence post) that I use to lever out any larger rocks.

Best ~$150 I ever spent. I just wish I could find the bigger ones in NZ - I've had no luck.

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tchart

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#2269413 3-Jul-2019 16:20

Forgot to mention the fiskars is also handy for planting plants, trees etc. The missus love it.

Kickinbac

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#2269448 3-Jul-2019 18:30

I have this type of manual post hole borer and recommend.

It’s easy to use, was mainly using it in clay.
Also +1 for a long handle spade.

Technofreak

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#2269526 3-Jul-2019 20:34

Unless you're filling the hole with concrete, don't make the hole too small in diameter as you need space to ram the earth around the post.

I'd recommend good digging bar and a spade, long handled is a bit easier but if you already have spade (which you have) then it should be OK. If you're only doing a small number of holes this is all you need in my opinion

I've found a saw like this is excellent for cutting through tree roots. Fiskars Xtract Plus it's excellent for trimming tree branches, cuts through them like butter even large branches.

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LennonNZ

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#2269607 3-Jul-2019 23:59

I was bought up on a farm and we used something (when we did it by hand) like

https://bottensrental.com/auger-manual

Using a spade is difficult for post holes as how are you going to lift dirt up 4 feet when the hole is only a foot wide with a spade?

Might be easier (and time as well) to hire (not from mitre10) something like

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/jobmate-post-hole-borer-52cc-2-stroke-engine/p/329140?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpPHoBRC3ARIsALfx-_LK3aYssoNOevhQOPeZ2uBUTVu7-szuhH4kZ1YftmOeWrI_gNwxhfkaAnuVEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

And get it finished such quicker.

Technofreak

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#2269799 4-Jul-2019 11:51

LennonNZ:

I was bought up on a farm and we used something (when we did it by hand) like

https://bottensrental.com/auger-manual

Using a spade is difficult for post holes as how are you going to lift dirt up 4 feet when the hole is only a foot wide with a spade?

Might be easier (and time as well) to hire (not from mitre10) something like

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/jobmate-post-hole-borer-52cc-2-stroke-engine/p/329140?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpPHoBRC3ARIsALfx-_LK3aYssoNOevhQOPeZ2uBUTVu7-szuhH4kZ1YftmOeWrI_gNwxhfkaAnuVEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

And get it finished such quicker.

Assuming we're talking about fence posts or similar the recommended depth in the ground is about 1/3 of the height above ground. So for a 2 metre above ground post will need about a 670 mm (27 inch) hole. Nowhere near 4 feet. I put in a 2 metre (above ground) post just recently using just a garden spade and a saw like I linked to in my post above to cut some tree roots. It wasn't very difficult. The hardest part was cutting through the tree roots.

Sure if you need to go much below 3 feet then a long handled spade and or a Post Hole Digger would be very useful or if you are doing a reasonable number of posts then either a manual or motorised a post hole borer would be the way to go.

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