I’m currently building a deck and need to drill several post holes. I’m going to be needing an auger several times over the next year or two and am thinking of buying one instead of renting.
I noticed the big orange has one on their website, but lists it as an ice auger….it’s the Eskimo S33Q8.
Does anyone know if this will work for earth as well? Are there significant differences between an ice and earth auger?
I’m not sure who might sell earth specific augers.
Thanks.
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Replies
Ice and earth augers are not the same. They are different in the RPMS. 160 +- for earth and 360+- for ice. The gear ratios are not the same and there may be a centrifugal clutch on some models which is different. Obviously, the auger bits are different as well. Don't you have a real tool rental in your area? HD doesn't carry much. Not knowing where you are and soils conditions, I'd either find some help and rent a two man auger or find someone with a tractor mounted auger. These can wreck your back in a heartbeat, particularly with 9" and larger holes. I'd dig by hand before operating an auger alone. Rocks and roots will ruin your day.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I bought an earth auger with a rather small engine, about two HP, many years ago. They don't really dig well unless the soil is really soft, no stones.
I'd use a hand operated post hole digger and a steel point. That's the alternate method employed by many telephone pole installers when their big truck mounted auger can't get into position. It takes some time and some muscle but you get a nice tight hole of exactly the right dimensions.
This is just me.
Unless your going into business digging holes, I'd avoid the auger idea all together. I've dug my share of holes, post and pier mostly, and my favorite tool (tools) for digging in any type of soil are the following three items: 1. shovel (low tech round point) 2. steel bar approximately six feet long with root cutting tip about three inches wide. This works wonders cutting roots and getting (loosening) the occasional stone or rock. 3. The final tool on my olist is my favorite: Bosch demo hammer with spade bit. I don't mean a combo hammer drill type of tool, I mean electric demo hammer that does just one thing...jump up and down rapidly. The one I have is the older model with trigger switch not the more modern slide type POS.
Tool #3 mentioned here is what makes or breaks my whole approach. There are no negatives, that I've found, to owning The Bosch Hammer. It's good for breaking concrete, driving ground rods, digging foundations in tight spaces, and in general moving dirt when one man power is all you've got.
Without those tools, the only way I dig holes of any kind is by hiring someone else to do it.