The frost ended up being about 2.5 feet deep. With the nearly 3,000 pounds of down pressure we were able to auger post holes in frozen ground much easier than without using it. I hope this demonstration proves that with the proper equipment it is easy to dig through frozen ground.
Can you use an auger to drill post holes? A one-man auger with a 6-inch auger bit can be used to dig holes for steel fence posts. A one- or two-man auger with a 10-inch bit can be used to dig holes for a 4 x 4 wooden fence post or larger plants.
What size auger bit do you need for a 4×4 post?
Post Holes- If you plan to secure your posts with cement or by tamping dirt, you will need spacing around the post to do so. For example: A 4×4 post (actual size 3.5″x3. 5″) has a maximum width of just over 5″ (diagonally). Therefore, the 4×4 post will likely fit into a hole drilled by a 6″ diameter auger.
What size auger do I need for fence posts? A 12-inch auger, best attached to a heavy machine, will create a hole large enough for a 6×6 or 4×6 post and plenty of concrete. Smaller augers, like 4- or 6-inch options, are appropriate for light-duty work (like mailboxes) as well as metal fence posts for chain-link fences.
Can I use an auger for fence posts? When it comes to digging fence post holes for a new pasture, augers are the way to go. Whether you’re using a handheld auger or (better yet) a tractor-mounted model, augers significantly speed up and simplify the process compared to manual post-hole diggers.
Should I use an auger or post hole digger? Post hole diggers focus on one task – they dig holes for posts, whereas a hole auger is suited for a wide variety of tasks around the garden. Post hole diggers rely on more work than a hole auger, these heavy hand tools are basically thrown hard into the soil with force then lifted out.
Can an auger dig through frozen ground? – Related Questions
Can you use a Jiffy ice auger to drill post holes?
I’ve used my old Jiffy many times for digging post holes. If you hit a big tree root or rock it gets a little hairy but for the most part works great! I just use an old ice blade and haven’t had any trouble. I had the same thought so last week I bought the earth auger at menards, brought it home, hooked up to my Jiffy.
How big of an auger bit do I need?
To choose the auger that best fits your needs, consider how you’ll use it. If you plan on only using your auger to plant plugs, for instance, then a 2- or 3-inch auger will fit your needs. If you anticipate the need to bury stakes or set small posts, then you may prefer a 4-inch auger or another, larger size.
How big of a hole do I need for a 4×6 post?
For a six-foot-tall post, therefore, you would dig a hole two feet deep. The ideal diameter, meanwhile, should measure three times the width of the post. So, for a standard 4×4, the ideal hole would span twelve inches across.
How deep should a 6×6 post be in the ground?
How deep should a post be in the ground:– in general, a post 6×6 or 8×8 that extend 8 feet or more above ground level should be at least 3 feet deep buried in the ground. Posts that extend 6 feet above ground level should have holes at least 2 1/2 feet deep.
How deep should a fence post hole be?
Dig post hole so diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the post (i.e., the hole for a 4” wood post should be about 12 inches wide). The depth of the hole should be 1/3-1/2 the post height above ground (i.e., a 6-foot tall fence would require a hole depth of at least 2 feet).
How deep should a 7 foot fence post be?
How Deep Should a Fence Post Be? For an average fence post, about 6 to 8 feet tall, prepare to dig a post hole about 2 feet deep. To install a fence post, you’ll need a shovel or post digger, a 6-foot level, soil, and gravel or crushed stone.
How deep should a 10 foot fence post be?
The general rule of thumb when setting a post is that the depth of the post’s hole needs to be one-third to one-half of the actual above-ground height of the post. So, a six-foot-high finished post ideally needs to be buried three feet into the ground.
How long does it take to dig a fence post hole with an auger?
Augers are available for rent at tool rental centers at a cost of around $60 a day. Power augers can dig as many holes in an hour as a post hole digger can dig in eight hours, with hole sizes ranging from 6” diameter holes and up.
How do you dig a post hole in hard ground?
- Step 1: String your line and pound the stakes. …
- Step 2: Carve out a soil divot with a spade. …
- Step 3: Loosen earth with a tile shovel. …
- Step 4: Use your clamshell digger. …
- Step 5: Use a reciprocating saw on large roots. …
- Step 6: Dislodge rocks with a digging bar. …
- Step 7: Tamp the soil with the other end.
How do you use a hand post hole auger?
What is the easiest way to dig a post hole?
There’s no question about it — the fastest and easiest way to dig post holes is to use a gas-powered earth auger. Fill the tank with gas, position the auger on the ground, fire it up, hold on tight and watch the soil come streaming out of the hole.
Will a post hole auger cut through roots?
Post hole diggers are not capable of cutting through large roots, and it is time consuming to try and chop the root out by hand. The most effective method of installing a post through a root is to drill through it.
Will an auger go through rock?
Augers are very powerful machines with a lot of torque that can throw you like a sack of potatoes if the auger bit encounters a rock or a root. If your soil is loamy or sandy, you too can drill 30 holes in a day’s worth of rental. But rocky ground or heavy clay can stymie even the most powerful auger.
Can you use a post hole digger for ice fishing?
Most powerheads for post hole diggers are the same as those used for ice. You need to buy an ice auger bit that you can attach to your powerhead, price should be less than $100.
Can I use an earth auger for ice?
We used a earth auger powerhead and a homemade collar to attach a hand auger drill to it for a few years, it worked. That would be my suggestion if you want to use it for ice, find a used hand auger and make an adapter collar so it fits the shaft coming out of the powerhead of the earth auger. It’s an option!
Is an 8 inch hole big enough for 4×4 fence post?
The diameter of your post hole should be three times the diameter of your post. So, if you’re planning on using a four-inch round or 4×4-inch square post, your post hole will need to be 12 inches in diameter. For a six-foot-high fence post, we would need a hole that’s 36 inches deep and 12 inches in diameter.
How big of a hole do I need for a 6×6 post?
A 6×6 post requires a 10″-diameter hole. Shovel a 6″ layer of gravel into the hole to provide drainage.
Will auger go through concrete?
Mechanical and Adhesive masonry anchors require a pre-drilled hole. Our Concrete Auger Bits are an excellent choice for preparing the anchoring hole. Specifically for use in drilling clearance holes through concrete, block, brick and stone.
Should fence posts be set in concrete?
Concrete provides a strong foundation for wooden fence posts, but can rot them more quickly. Setting them in dirt, with or without gravel or crushed rock depending on your soil type, can help the posts last longer before going rotten. You can also use metal fence post anchors to prolong their life.
How many bags of concrete do I need for a 4×4 post?
| Depth | 50 Lb Bags |
|---|---|
| 10″-14″ | 2 |
| 16″-22″ | 3 |
| 24″30″ | 4 |
| 32″36″ | 5 |
Why do fence posts rot at ground level?
Wood fence posts will rot due to prolonged exposure to moisture in the soil.
How do I keep my post level while concrete dries?
You need to level it in two directions with a 4-foot level. After getting it straight in the first direction, hold one of the braces against the post and drive a single screw to connect the brace to the post. You can then level and brace the post in the other direction and begin filling the hole.
Can you set a post with dry concrete?
Fast-setting concrete is ideal for setting posts because there’s no mixing—you simply pour the dry concrete from the bag right into the hole, then add water.
What size post do you use for a 6 foot fence?
Post lengths for fences start at 8 or 10 feet for a 6-foot-tall fence. They are commonly four-by-fours, which measure approximately 3 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches, or six-by-sixes, at around 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches.
How long does it take to dig a fence post hole with an auger?
Augers are available for rent at tool rental centers at a cost of around $60 a day. Power augers can dig as many holes in an hour as a post hole digger can dig in eight hours, with hole sizes ranging from 6” diameter holes and up.
Can I use an auger bit in a power drill?
Some auger bits can be used in a power drill, but they should only be applied to specific purposes.
Which of the following tools is ideal to use for digging holes for posts?
Augers come in all sizes and power. If you need to dig large holes for fence posts or similar, consider an industrial electric post hole digger. It sure beats any manual tools.
Do augers work in rocky soil?
For drilling in rocky soils, always recommend heavy-duty augers to avoid damage. These augers are equipped with a more durable tooth and side cutting blades as well as heavy-duty flighting.
