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.

Is a post hole digger worth it? While that won’t make a lot of difference if you have loamy, soft soil to begin with, for those who have hard-packed clay soils it certainly does. If your soil is very solid, or has a lot of rocks, a post hole digger is an essential tool to have.

Can I use an auger to dig post holes? Post Hole Digging. If you’ve ever had some post hole digging to do, then you know that this can be a cumbersome, backbreaking job, especially if multiple holes need to be made. An auger simplifies this job, and it’s a tool that you can put to a variety of other uses.

Can I use an auger for fence posts? You can use a post hole digger or power auger to dig the hole. A post hole digger is a manual tool and will get the job done in average soil.

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.

What size auger do I need for fence posts? – Related Questions

How deep should fence post holes 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 big of a hole do I need for a 4×4 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.

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.

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.

How long does it take to dig post holes with an auger?

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 without an auger?

What is the fastest way to dig a hole in a shovel?

Can you use an auger on wet ground?

Especially if conditions are wet, the grass and vegetation may clog the end of the auger, sticking in place and making it impossible for the blades to get a grip on the soil below. Save yourself some time (and your auger a little trouble) by using a shovel to remove sod before you drill.

Do manual post hole diggers work?

For long swathes of new fencing, manual post hole diggers are a lot of work, but they are much more efficient than digging holes out with a spade and also give you neater edges so if you decide to use cement to set your fence posts, you’ll have a better set a the base as a result with less soil dilution on the edges.

How deep can a one man auger dig?

The available depths for an auger are generally 3 and 4 feet–but there are augers that exist that allow you to drill with more width and depth. Those wielding a one-man auger shouldn’t use it for any holes exceeding 8 inches in diameter. Whereas two-man augers get the job done for a maximum of 18 inches in diameter.

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.

Is it easier to dig wet or dry soil?

Soil that’s turned over when wet will form clods that will be very difficult to break apart later, Trinklein said. This is because wet soil is more easily compacted than dry soil. He recommends the “baseball test” before you start digging.

Will an auger cut through roots?

The most effective method of installing a post through a root is to drill through it. There is a power tool available known as an auger that will drill through the root, and allow you to put the post right where you need it.

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.

Why do fence posts rot at ground level?

Wood fence posts will rot due to prolonged exposure to moisture in the soil.

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.

How long will a treated 4×4 post last in the ground?

A treated 4×4 will last 20 to 25 years in the ground if the conditions in the soil and climate are favorable. That number could increase to 40 to 75 years if you install the treated 4×4 in a cement ring rather than the soil. There are a few factors that influence how long the 4×4 can last in the ground.

Is 18 inches deep enough for a fence post?

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 many bags of concrete do I need for a 4×4 post?

How far apart should fence posts be set?

Most fence posts can be spaced 8 to 12 feet apart. While this is a general criteria, it doesn’t cover all scenarios. For instance, high tensile fence can have larger spacing, requiring line posts every 15 to 20 feet for field fence styles, and as much as 20-30 feet for high tensile barbed and smooth wire.

How do I make sure fence posts are in line?

How do I put a post in the ground without concrete?

There are a few options for materials to set your fence posts if you aren’t using cement. These include dirt, gravel, sand, and crushed rock. Dirt: Filling the hole with dirt and compacting it will help to support the fence post. However, this method is not very strong.

Can you dig fence posts in frozen ground?

“You can dig a hole in any kind of frozen conditions this way, even if the frost is down 2 feet,” he says. “After the fire has burned awhile, you can dig out the thawed ground underneath it, and if it’s not deep enough for your post hole, you can build another fire to thaw it on down.

Can an auger dig through frozen ground?

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.

How do you dig a post hole in the winter?

Do manual post hole diggers work?

For long swathes of new fencing, manual post hole diggers are a lot of work, but they are much more efficient than digging holes out with a spade and also give you neater edges so if you decide to use cement to set your fence posts, you’ll have a better set a the base as a result with less soil dilution on the edges.

What are post hole digger used for?

The tool is used to dig holes in the ground, typically from a few inches to a about a foot in diameter, for general purposes such as setting fence and sign posts or planting saplings. In operation, the tool is jabbed into the ground with the blades in the open position.