Auger or Post hole for fence holes

Auger or Post hole for fence holes

Author
Discussion

fourstardan

Original Poster:

5,426 posts

157 months

Monday 28th February 2022
quotequote all
Ok, so if I'm spending 30 quid what's the best one?

I've got existing posts to remove here so not working on new holes.

I'm thinking post hole could have more usage after on the allotment?

illmonkey

18,971 posts

211 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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If you're taking something out, you'll already have a large hole, so maybe a spade?

I hired a petrol auger and it was crap, but mainly due to the clay/stones in my garden. So the soil type is probably the decider.

steveo3002

10,775 posts

187 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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i got most work out of a corkscrew type manual one ...bought both and found the soil just fell out of the clam shell digger thing

megaphone

11,165 posts

264 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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How many posts are you fitting? Getting the old ones out is the difficult bit, suggest you get a breaker. Or easier is to move the posts to fresh ground, if you can.

I have a fence graft which is very useful for the initial digging, then I use a hole digger which is good to lifting out the loose muck. Wickes ones where ok for me.

biggiles

1,899 posts

238 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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Depends on the soil you have.

Post digger (Hercules-style) is perhaps more universal, but if your soil works with the corkscrew, then they work extremely well.

Smokey McPot

47 posts

101 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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fourstardan said:
Ok, so if I'm spending 30 quid what's the best one?

I've got existing posts to remove here so not working on new holes.

I'm thinking post hole could have more usage after on the allotment?
I just spent the weekend removing the bottom rotten fence posts from a fence I lost to the recent wind.

If your posts are set in concrete, you'd likely fare better with a breaker than an auger. I had one post that was set in a metal spike thing, the auger was good for that.

fourstardan

Original Poster:

5,426 posts

157 months

Monday 28th February 2022
quotequote all
Smokey McPot said:
I just spent the weekend removing the bottom rotten fence posts from a fence I lost to the recent wind.

If your posts are set in concrete, you'd likely fare better with a breaker than an auger. I had one post that was set in a metal spike thing, the auger was good for that.
This is my situation. The soil is claybased and I have had a dig about and suspect I need to breakup the concrete.

Whats the best hand tool to break up the concrete with?

I've only got to do 4 posts and got two elsewhere I'll need to do another day in the front garden.

Smokey McPot

47 posts

101 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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My soil is also clay.

I started at it with a lump hammer, bolster and chisels but it was futile. Hired a breaker from HSS and it saved the day... and my arms. Once the concrete was dust, I got a chad spade in there. Managed to get 7 new posts in, in 4 hours on Saturday between 3 of us. We wouldn't have if not for the breaker.

Was ~£60 for the machine, transformer and damage waiver.

robwilk

818 posts

193 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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Smokey McPot said:
My soil is also clay.

I . We wouldn't have if not for the breaker.

Was ~£60 for the machine, transformer and damage waiver.
I was in the same position but decided to buy one from ALDI at £129,99 man maths said i would get more use out of it so worth it in the end.
For digging in the new posts it depend on the soil, in clay we uses an auger in a battery drill and it was fine, but in soft soil the post hole digger won the day.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/ferrex-jack-hammer-1900w/p/...

Edited by robwilk on Tuesday 1st March 12:32

megaphone

11,165 posts

264 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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I've got a similar one to this, https://www.toolstation.com/bauker-1700w-15kg-brea...

Done posts and half the driveway with it, best £130 I ever spent.

fourstardan

Original Poster:

5,426 posts

157 months

Monday 28th February 2022
quotequote all
megaphone said:
I've got a similar one to this, https://www.toolstation.com/bauker-1700w-15kg-brea...

Done posts and half the driveway with it, best £130 I ever spent.
Does look tempting, and wondering I could use it for future works.

I'll try an SDS first and see how it goes.

Enut

920 posts

86 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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fourstardan said:
megaphone said:
I've got a similar one to this, https://www.toolstation.com/bauker-1700w-15kg-brea...

Done posts and half the driveway with it, best £130 I ever spent.
Does look tempting, and wondering I could use it for future works.

I'll try an SDS first and see how it goes.
Having spent a good few hours last weekend replacing three concreted in broken fence posts with an iron pry bar, brute force and sweat I would would also recommend a decent breaker! Pry bars are really handy for lots of things and it did the job, but it was hard work (I'm not a youngster any more), if you have 5 or 6 to dig out of concrete get a breaker.

Thebaggers

365 posts

146 months

Monday 28th February 2022
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I have had the misfortune of digging thousands of post holes in different soil types. Bin the corkscrew auger nonsense, a shove holer and a long heavy bar (search digging bar) will usually get the job done be whilst looking manly. A cheap 15kg breaker (under £150) or at a push an sds chisel will complete the set of you need to replant posts in existing concrete.

Edited by Thebaggers on Tuesday 1st March 07:54

Aerate

292 posts

161 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
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^^^^^ I’ve only dug dozens of holes. But Thebaggers speaks truth.

darreni

4,138 posts

283 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
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I’ve a couple of snapped posts to sort, they let go at the point where they exit the concrete.
The rest of the post is sound & I really don’t fancy digging out the concrete, so I’ve bought these:

https://rsl-engineering.myshopwired.co.uk/fence-re...

The pics don’t do them justice, they are super heavy duty - makes sense when you see the stuff they make day to day.

Not fitted them yet, but I’ll update once I do.

Thebaggers

365 posts

146 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
quotequote all
darreni said:
I’ve a couple of snapped posts to sort, they let go at the point where they exit the concrete.
The rest of the post is sound & I really don’t fancy digging out the concrete, so I’ve bought these:

https://rsl-engineering.myshopwired.co.uk/fence-re...

The pics don’t do them justice, they are super heavy duty - makes sense when you see the stuff they make day to day.

Not fitted them yet, but I’ll update once I do.
They will wobble horribly and fail eventually in a light breeze. Just dig out the concrete. Been there tried that.

megaphone

11,165 posts

264 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
quotequote all
Thebaggers said:
darreni said:
I’ve a couple of snapped posts to sort, they let go at the point where they exit the concrete.
The rest of the post is sound & I really don’t fancy digging out the concrete, so I’ve bought these:

https://rsl-engineering.myshopwired.co.uk/fence-re...

The pics don’t do them justice, they are super heavy duty - makes sense when you see the stuff they make day to day.

Not fitted them yet, but I’ll update once I do.
They will wobble horribly and fail eventually in a light breeze. Just dig out the concrete. Been there tried that.
Agreed, next wind and the fence will be down again.

gfreeman

1,755 posts

263 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
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Baggers speaks the gospel...

I would add when you stick the new posts in use a Postsaver bituminous wrap. Had to take down a wooden fence well past its sell-by date fitted with these. All the posts were almost as new. Couldn't believe it so for a couple of quid per post I think it is well worth it.

Thebaggers

365 posts

146 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
quotequote all
gfreeman said:
Baggers speaks the gospel...

I would add when you stick the new posts in use a Postsaver bituminous wrap. Had to take down a wooden fence well past its sell-by date fitted with these. All the posts were almost as new. Couldn't believe it so for a couple of quid per post I think it is well worth it.
Very good call. Search postwrap.

fourstardan

Original Poster:

5,426 posts

157 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2022
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Yes, I shall buy post wraps for sure.

The posts/boards arrived, christ they are heavier than I thought I think I might need a hernia op after if I'm doing it alone lol.

SDS chisel is ready and in hand, so once this poxy rain gets going I'll be starting the work. (Won't you dear)