post hole diggin

I'm using a standard posthole digger and a breaker bar to dig post holes. This gives me a perfect 6" diameter hole in about 20 minutes, but the digger seems to max out at ~30" of depth. At that point, the handles can't open far enough for the scoops to grip the soil. I need another 6" of depth. I have about 25 post holes to dig.
Anyone know any tricks?

 

If you are digging this deep, you should rent a post hole auger from a home center. It will be WELL worth the expense of about $40/day or so. It will be ALOT faster too.

I don't think there is much more you can do with a manual digger.

 

You'll have to widen out the top of the hole. I usually start the hole with a shovel to get a wide top and then switch to the post hole digger after around 2' when I can't get any deeper with the shovel. The tops of my holes are normally 12" to 18".

 

Nothing wrong with power diggers, but you're using an old style clam shell. It has it's limitations.

A few years ago it was redesigned. I was under the impression that Jeff, the inventor, would have blanketed the market by now. Anyway, the new design will dig five feet straight down with little effort. It's a slick tool for a hand clam shell style digger. It costs more than it's cousin also. Search terms, if you're curious: “the hole deal”.

Know any tricks? Yeah. Hire illegals, and put your feet up.

 

I dug holes for 250' of fence in half a day using a power auger rented at HD. No sweat, no blisters, no aching back. I'll never use a clamshell digger again.

 

That actually looks like a good tool so I might actually try it. The one-man power augers look really unwieldy to me. Despite being a lightweight, I really didn't find it hard at all to dig with the manual clamshell digger, especially after softening up the dirt with a breaker bar, and I can put the dirt straight in a wheel barrow instead of all over the grass, and I'd rather have the tool in my shed for the same price I could rent a powered one for a day.


Illegals!? Someone get Micheal Chertoff.

 

Yeah, I was getting all kinds of blisters too until I discovered gardening gloves ($3 at the HD).

 

meh. now I think it over again and will rent a two-man powered auger and get a buddy to help. save my back for the flower beds and do the rest of it in a day Beer 4U2

 

I went and rented an eazy auger from a big construction rental place. You tow it home w/ your hitch and let me tell ya! Super easy to use. You still need 2 people, but it is a lot less wear and tear on your hands than the 2 person auguer you r going to rent. This one is on wheels! Comes w/ different size augers. My buddy and me had 34 hols done in about 1.5 hrs, but it took us about 2.5 b/c we stopped every 3 to 5 holes to have a beer!! HE HE Beer 4U2

 

Did someone say hire illegals ?

Go ahead , do so.... God forbid they hit something, hurt themselves and or just plainly do not like your attitude towards them ... They may be here illegally or they may just appear to be but regardless they still have rights and they can give you a lawsuit that would make your head spin.

Hiring someone who is residing here in the USA illegally is in fact, ILLEGAL.

Going that route may be easy for some people, but it would never be even my last choice.

You can ask a friend, and use a two man auger. That sometimes works if you can find the friend that is willing to break his back in a days work.
Yes using an auger makes it easier than digging holes manually, but I have much experience with this, it does not leave you without having a back ache at the end of the day.

If you are using post hole diggers and have had no problem all along other than you need an additional 6 inches of depth, then do as "chandltp" states where it is said to widen the hole. It is not a manufacture defect in the digger that you can not go further, it is the simple fact that your digger handles are hitting the side walls of the hole. If you wanted and you had the will you could dig a hole 10 feet deep with post hole diggers... I mean why would you?,,,, you would not need to, but it can be done.

I give advice on the tools pro's and con's only if I believe what I say.

Two man augers are dangerous ! That is the simplest thing I can mention .

I dig many holes, and I find that the easiest way to go depends upon each individual application of which the job is being installed. If there are trees in the area, using an auger is not an easier way to go. It may be even more dangerous using an auger if you hit something in the ground. For instance a tree root, a rock of significant size or worse, a power line, cable line or even the simplist an old or in use fuel line.

If you choose to use an auger, rent one or buy one that has a clutch. Using this type would leave you to options should you hit something that would make the power bit bind. If you can find one, rent an auger that has reverse. These , using being hydraulic are heavier to handle, but for sure you hit something, you just put the bit in reverse and back it out.
Everything has its use... do not rent a tool without knowing a little bit about it. Ask for a reccomondation from more people. Ask the people you know first hand... they would give you the advice you may trust first hand.
My advice is sound for me .. I would not advise you to do something that would in fact hurt you or anyone else.
Hiring illegals is not an option you should explore.
Using a "two man" clutchless auger is not an option you should explore.
And always , without a doubt call your neighborhood utilities ONE CALL. Have them come to your property to mark out any underlying utility lines. If you do not do this , and you hit something you will be fined by that utility company, and or you may suffer personal injury or if the line is power it may kill you .

No matter what route you go remember to work safely. It may sound corney but the simple truth is that something can go wrong. Do whatever you need to protect yourself and your friends from that danger. Digging holes is not easy nor is it clean, nor it is without hidden issues... But it can be accomplished without injury if you take all the proper precautions.

That is the best advice I can give.

Good luck !

Gregs Fence~

 

I am in total agreement that hiring illegals is not the way to go. I'm pretty sure the original guy was joking. I was also.

The towable auger would be nice but the local tool rental place does not carry it.

The reason I am not continuing with the manual digger and breaker bar is that it takes about an hour for one 3'Dx9"W hole in our soil.

I plan to have two buddies help me and work straight through while they take turns. Besides I just helped both of them move so they owe me, and the one is also set to put up a fence in his yard so I will be helping him.

Way back before I started any digging in my yard I called the local utilities and had them mark out any buried lines or pipes. In Virginia the service is called Miss Utility.

Now if I could find a farmer willing to drive his backhoe over to my house with an auger bit attached that would be the easiest thing. . .

 

Geeze, this reminds me too much of a summer job I had many moons ago for a railway owned telco. We had to dig 5ft holes to place the telephone poles by hand. You start with shovel, then a clamshell digger, then finally a breaker bar and a "spoon" (long handled shovel with a small head bent about 90deg).

I would imagine they make spoons of various sizes (we were digging .. i forget.. 15" holes ?).

Maybe a bar and a spoon shovel will get ya where you want to be, but Ill agree with the most of this thread.. get a gas post hole digger.. sounds like you might be able to rustle up a pal for the job.. save your back.