Where to buy earth auger?

[SD51555]

I'm looking to buy an earth auger for some projects at the land. I could see wanting to drill 100-200 holes in the next couple years. Where would you get one, and what would you get? I'm not looking for a lifelong tool, but instead something that'll just get me what I want for $1-$2/hole before it quits. I can't find a servicing dealer for anything in my price range. Everything at Acme is $500+. There is a harbor frieght option for $219, but I'm apprehensive to figure out how they built one for $300 less than everyone else.

 

[SD51555]

I should also mention, I'm looking for a single light gas powerhead, not the 4-way 2-man handle monster. Looking for a 4-6" bit, and I wanna go down up to 4 feet.

 

[Stubborn1VT]

I've been happy with almost all the tools I've bought from Harbor Freight. If I were buying one, that's where I would go. Here in Vermont I could get a used ice auger off FB Marketplace for cheap. One with chipper blades would do the trick. Just my two pennies worth.

 

[SwampCat]

What does that thing do when it hangs a root? I would hate to be the one holding on when this happened

 

[buckdeer1]

No way would I try one that big as a 1 man for that deep

 

[Stubborn1VT]

@SwampCat That's a 3PH post hole digger. It's just not hooked on the tractor. I've never seen one bothered by a root. Buried cable and waterline are another matter...

I should also mention, I'm looking for a single light gas powerhead, not the 4-way 2-man handle monster. Looking for a 4-6" bit, and I wanna go down up to 4 feet.

You will need an extension to get down 4'. My ice auger reaches 38" IIRC.

 

[hillrunner]

What does that thing do when it hangs a root? I would hate to be the one holding on when this happened

View attachment 73873

No slip clutch on that thing?

 

[SwampCat]

@SwampCat That's a 3PH post hole digger. It's just not hooked on the tractor. I've never seen one bothered by a root. Buried cable and waterline are another matter...

You will need an extension to get down 4'. My ice auger reaches 38" IIRC.

Yes - it was hooked to my tractor when it happened

 

[SwampCat]

No slip clutch on that thing?

Pretty sure not.

 

[buckdeer1]

I have been tangled in a 2 man and it wasn't fun.You go that deep I would do 3pt.

 

[Tree Spud]

I should also mention, I'm looking for a single light gas powerhead, not the 4-way 2-man handle monster. Looking for a 4-6" bit, and I wanna go down up to 4 feet.

You can do ~ 36" with a gas powered, handheld auger. You will just have to finish to whatever the depth you want with a post hole digger. They have a variety of diameter drill heads, I have a 3", 6", & 8".

I have used Earthquake Auger for 20+ years and have drilled 1,000's of holes. Have only had to replace the auger blades as I have rocky soil.

Earthquake 43cc Earth Auger Combo with 8" Auger - 35064 | Blain's Farm & Fleet

Get your Earthquake 43cc Earth Auger Combo with 8" Auger - 35064 at Blain's Farm & Fleet. Buy online, choose delivery or in-store pickup. Great prices on Earth Augers.

www.farmandfleet.com

 

[Telemark]

I got mine from Harbor Freight. Did a few dozen holes no problem. Haven't use it since Covid, and not really sure where it is now. I'll need to find it before the summer though. I am planning to transplant a bunch of Callery pears this Spring and plant a few dozen trees and shrubs in the summer.

 

[SD51555]

I'd get an extension. Where I'm going to be digging, there won't be any roots. One other thing I need to consider, the dirt needs to be very dry for this to work for me I think. I've got cold tooth paste clay in the first part of the season. If I'm gonna take this on, I'm going to want to have one of those 90-day no rain periods that have been the rule the past 4 years.

I had a hand crank post hole digger last year, and that was useless in that wet cold clay in spring.

 

[SwampCat]

I have left an auger in clay before. Couldnt pull it out and didnt want to spend half a day digging it out

 

[T-Max]

I think I know what you are gonna do. Dig 4’ holes and fill em with gypsum. See how that changes the subsoil over time. I’m on to you!


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[fishin coyote]

Guy had work has a harbor freight gas auger. I bet between a half dozen of us we have drilled a couple of hundred holes with it

 

[SD51555]

I think I know what you are gonna do. Dig 4’ holes and fill em with gypsum. See how that changes the subsoil over time. I’m on to you!


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You're not completely off. I want to build some big dogwood enclosures and use my own trees for posts, but I would also do some compaction relief testing too. I've got spots in one plot that are just awful, and if I prove compaction in them this summer, I'll do some boring and back fill those holes with a mix of wood chips, sand, sawdust, compost, and gypsum. I've thought about trying a trencher too instead. I'm still gnawing on a few different ideas for it.

 

[ksJoe]

May I ask how old you are?

I have a harbor frieght 1 man auger. It has been reliable. It did melt some pants that had too much synthetic fiber in them (watch where the exhaust is going!). The big problem with it is, I'm in my 40's. Operating it solo in hard ground is like taking a beating. Soft ground isn't bad. If I was 20 years younger the hard ground wouldn't be so bad.

Maybe you could fabricate something like this to hold it? You need something other than your arms to counter the torque.

 

[MadMadHoosier]

Do you have a tractor?

PHD fail

www.greentractortalk.com

 

[MadMadHoosier]

Oops. Out of stock.