Hydraulic auger vs. 3-point PTO post-hole digger

[urbancase]

Those Chinese hydraulic augers usually sell for less than $500. I’ve heard decent reports about them. The auger themselves though from what I’ve seen don’t look like they would hold up, not a very good non-replaceable cutting edge and the flighting seems light gauge. Easy enough to drill a few holes and mount a decent replaceable cutting edge. Don’t know what to do about the light gauge flighting, but replacement augers aren’t that expensive.

Might be able when time comes to take mounting end off old one and mount to new auger.

 

[m16ty]

Might be able when time comes to take mounting end off old one and mount to new auger.

Yeah, when I built the hydraulic auger mentioned in my post above, it only had a 9" auger. 9" is about useless for everything but the smallest post. I bought a 3-point auger at auction for $100 that had a busted gearbox but it came with a 12" and 24" auger. Had to re-fab a coupler to fit my gearbox, but it was easy as finding a piece of pipe that slipped over the gearbox output shaft, weld it to the new auger, and drill a thru hole for a bolt.

 

[Texasmark]

For those who've used both, which setup do you prefer for digging fence post holes? I'm curious how hydraulic skid steer augers compare to the old 3-point PTO diggers, especially in hard ground. Is the hydraulic one easier to control, or is a PTO auger still the way to go for regular farm work?

I came across this skid steer auger kit with three bit sizes and wondered what people here have found works better.

I always use the tractor 3 pt auger because I have one. The pipeline guys that put a line through my property used the skid steer with an auger to set fence posts......not considering the cost of a skid steer, that did a much better job.

 

[BobnUt]

I have a Danuser unit with 12" auger mostly for planting, but I will have to
replace 8' fence around 1 acre garden next year.
Not as fast as a pto but who wants to hit a rock at full speed !
We have a LOT of cobble 1 foot down, so I bought their 4" Wobble auger
in hopes that it will create a hole to drive in drill pipe or t-posts.
Haven't had time to give it a go yet, but in theory ........

 

[Destroked 450]

Those Chinese hydraulic augers usually sell for less than $500. I’ve heard decent reports about them. The auger themselves though from what I’ve seen don’t look like they would hold up, not a very good non-replaceable cutting edge and the flighting seems light gauge. Easy enough to drill a few holes and mount a decent replaceable cutting edge. Don’t know what to do about the light gauge flighting, but replacement augers aren’t that expensive.

I looked at some of the cheaper off shore augers but for one I thought would handle our rocky Ky ground we were up to models costing $1200+
I ran across a used Ironworks heavy drive head with 2” hex drive, it came with 12” and 18” Pengo Aggressor augers for $1800. I purchased a 2” puff auger for installing T post in rocky areas I can’t drill for post, I’d like to have a 12” rock bit but $1200 for one bit doesn’t fit the budget

 

[TomA in CA]

I bought a 1 ton mini excavator from Amazon. I bought the hydraulic auger too but haven't used it yet. It sure is great for digging ditches.

 

[buickanddeere]

Those Chinese hydraulic augers usually sell for less than $500. I’ve heard decent reports about them. The auger themselves though from what I’ve seen don’t look like they would hold up, not a very good non-replaceable cutting edge and the flighting seems light gauge. Easy enough to drill a few holes and mount a decent replaceable cutting edge. Don’t know what to do about the light gauge flighting, but replacement augers aren’t that expensive.

The factory 12" auger on the PHD purchased at YTC folded the leading edges like a cheap suit . Purchased a HD Danuser 12" rock auger that cost almost as much as the entire TSC PHD. Favorably impressed with it's performance and durability.

 

[m16ty]

The factory 12" auger on the PHD purchased at YTC folded the leading edges like a cheap suit . Purchased a HD Danuser 12" rock auger that cost almost as much as the entire TSC PHD. Favorably impressed with it's performance and durability.

We don’t have to normally use rock augers around here in western middle TN.

 

[Tony in SD]

For those who've used both, which setup do you prefer for digging fence post holes? I'm curious how hydraulic skid steer augers compare to the old 3-point PTO diggers, especially in hard ground. Is the hydraulic one easier to control, or is a PTO auger still the way to go for regular farm work?

I came across this skid steer auger kit with three bit sizes and wondered what people here have found works better.

I have commented on this before. I have used both. Skid steer wins by far. First the work is right in front of you And can adjust plumb as you drill, you have down presser, and you can reverse the auger if you hit a rock. None of those attributes are available on a 3pt pto phd.

 

[stoughtonfarmboy]

I borrowed a friend's skidsteer auger and used it on my JD5065E front end loader. I have a SSQA to JDQA adapter plate. Worked fine in nice soil in South Central Wisconsin. Only encountered a few small rocks. Didn't need to worry about down pressure. It readily screwed into the ground. Had to resist it burying itself.

Ken

 

[Texasmark]

I have commented on this before. I have used both. Skid steer wins by far. First the work is right in front of you And can adjust plumb as you drill, you have down presser, and you can reverse the auger if you hit a rock. None of those attributes are available on a 3pt pto phd.

"First the work is right in front of you"........Amen! The older I get the more this is the way to go....problem is that other than FEL work I have to make do with things behind me.