Post auger sizes?

[onyx landscaping/fencing]

are augers that much quicker than post hole diggers? we do a lot of feather edge with post hole diggers and they are pretty quick( cant remember the last time we had "easy" digging). how do you get on with obstacles with an auger? in the last couple of weeks we have had 2x 9" clay pipes about 14" down and a 2" electric cable 8" down with nothing in or around it all of witch we managed to avoid but im sure we would have had a problem with an auger

[Matthew Storrs]

Depends really, if your only doing 2ft holes for domestic fencing and the ground isn't too bad than shuv holers are fine, but augers (I'm talking mine which is on a digger) are far quicker on shillet/small rocks etc. Incidently on good soils my auger will drill and clean out an 8inch hole 1.2m deep in about a minute. I wouldn't be without mine.

Now moving on to handheld augers- I'd sooner have a decent spade and shuvholer any day!

[Matthew Storrs]

Unfortunately they do have a habit of hitting services well if your in that sort of area.

[onyx landscaping/fencing]

Unfortunately they do have a habit of hitting services well if your in that sort of area.

 

the electric cable I nearly s$&t my self! never found one that bad before

[Aaron]

general rule is you want double the size of your post, eg 4 inch = 8 inch auger.

[doobin]

general rule is you want double the size of your post, eg 4 inch = 8 inch auger.

 

Is backfilling a hobby of yours? If you're smart you can do as I do and use a 20KG breaker with a long blunt chisel to tamp a post in with minimal effort/space required.

 

For 5x3s I use a 5" and am prepared to take a smidge off the side with the coon spoons. Petrol auger is pretty accurate, sometimes on tough ground I do a pilot with the petrol auger and 2" bit, then bore her open with the digger and a 6" bit.

 

Re backfill material, I had good results with crushed chalk on post and rail in clay ground. Dirt cheap and of course it consolidates to form a solid plug around the post much the same as concrete if you do it right.

 

Don't say I never give you any useful advice you lot!