Two-Person Earth Augers

[Future Puller]

I was wondering if any body has had any luck with these two-person earth augers (post hole diggers) and if so which brand you all think is best. We where planning on using it to dig holes for some fence posts where I just dont really want to take the tractor. Thanks!

 

[Tom in TN]

Future,

I rented one a long time ago to build a rail fence around a parking lot at a church. I have no idea what the brand was. Another guy and I dug about 40 post holes. The digger worked well, but I can tell you that I was dead tired when we were done. The digging unit is heavy. The power unit is heavy. It's hard work lifting the auger out of the hole.

All in all, I felt that it was a successful job, just a lot of hard work.

Good luck,

Tom in TN

 

[OliverGuy]

If possible, rent or borrow a hydraulic one on a skid steer or miniskid steer like a toro dingo. Your back will thank you. I learned the hard way.

 

[Anonymous-0]

if you are in stoney rocky soil be prepared to HANG off a merry- go -round

 

[brokenot]

I've used a couple of different brands of the two-man augers, and while they do the job, I'd have to agree that a mini-skidsteer like the Toro Dingo is the way to go.

You'll more than make up for the higher rental cost by getting done in less time, and you won't be worn out either.

One thing nobody considers when choosing between the two, is that the two-man augers are simply a gearbox that's driven via a belt and centrifugal clutch. There's no way to reverse the rotation of the auger bit, so if you get it stuck, (and you will), you'll need to disconnect the bit from the power unit and use a big pipe wrench to unscrew the stuck bit from the ground.

Not only does a Dingo completely isolate your body from the twisting and lifting chores, but if the bit hangs up on something, you flip the hydraulic control into reverse and the bit unscrews itself.

Once someone tries a Dingo, we can't ever rent 'em a two-man unit again.

 

[buickanddeere]

Costs less than a day's pass at an amusement park and provides a much more exciting ride.

 

[MarkB_MI]

The Little Beaver is a ONE-MAN auger that works. You get what you pay for.
Little Beaver earth auger

 

[Gun guru]

I built a back deck in the summer of 2005.

I hired a guy with a skidsteer to come over and power auger 9 holes, cost me $150. Well worth it.

If you are young and built like Hercules, then go for it. I rented a 2 man unit like you are asking about a few years ago. BIL helped me dig 5 holes, manageable but a PITA. I agree that the power auger is still better then the clam shell post hole digger.

 

[Suffolk1]

Have used the hydraulic one man Little Beaver auger. Was very handy to use and reasonably handy to transport/pull around to hole locations. With the engine and hyd pump NOT mounted on the drive head, it is much lighter to lift the auger unit around and position where desired. The torque tube takes away some of the potential for getting "thrashed around" when drilling in stiff, dense, or rocky soils. It also had a power reverse which comes in very handy to "screw" the auger out of the ground if it penetrated to fast. As with all augers without some sort of down pressure, drilling in stiff, dense, or rocky soils is difficult- and more so with increasing auger diameter. We had augers varying from 4 to 12 inches diameter. The large one was used in planting small trees. I built a special drive head so I could twist in helical earth anchors and that system worked like a hot knife through butter.

 

[RayP(MI)]

Well, they CALL them 2 person, but they're not. FOUR person would be a far more accurate description. They're a man killer fer sure. You're lifting them from ground level to over your head. If that screw catches something, be sure you're in for a ride. I rented one for a small polebarn job. The guy who helped me, and I both went out afterward and bought 3pt PTO hole diggers shortly afterward.

 

[IOWA NORTHEAST]

My brother has one, but he borrows my one man. Cordination is a real problem with two men. I can dig 20 nine inch holes around three and a half ft without setting it down.

If you go bigger around then go to the two man, and don't fight with it, let it dig with its own weight, and clean it out a couple times. I'm 61, and don't claim to be a man, probably not the babe magnet type if I was to admit to it. Learning not to fight with something is a trick, but usualy managable.

They are no different than a shovel or a hand post hole digger, they have to be sharp, and clean -- no rust. That all puts resistance on the dirt coming out of the hole. No flat spots on the cutting edge allowed either. Some timews weeds will wrap on the cutting edge if everything is just right...another no no.

Rocks are the big deal, then like others have said, use a skid loader. You mentioned it is on a steep hilside or something to that effect.

Another place for a skid is if the holes must be deeper than four foot, tree roots, or real deep weeds.

At the rate for the prices just quoted, You could very easy justify a new one man digger for two hundred twenty five dollars.

 

[OliverGuy]

You're exactly right on the dingo. I can even run
a 30" bit around here all the way til the
powerhead is at grade. I laughed when I demo'd
it, but then bought it after I used it.

 

[2x4]

Stihl makes the best I ever used. Just use 2 BIG young guys or 4 normal men & a lot of caution.

 

[bc]

I've got a 2 man General 330 with 5 horse B&S engine and gear reduction drive. My wife can't handle her half. I'm trying to figure out how I can hang it from the loader and operate it by myself. I can barely lift it by myself.

 

[RobMD]

Dug one hole with an older (and a lot heavier) digger, hit old buried steel fence post, two men laying on ground, handlebars go spinning, attempt to shut off, hand gets big bruise by flying handlebar, "F**kin' thing!!"

...AND sold!!! To number 365 at the local consignment auction.

New Bush Hog 3 point hitch post hole digger, 300 holes and counting, no fallen men yet.

 

[36 Coupe]

Fellow got a bad back injury from a hand held digger.Tractor digger is dangerous for some people.A woman was killed by one several years ago here.One poster said he got on top of the frame to increase digging speed.I use a 4 buck steel post in rocky ground.My digger is PTO powered.

 

[36 Coupe]

My wife has been with me for 53 years.I would not risk getting her hurt on a damn post hole digger.

 

[PJH]

We had one at work with bent handles. I always said that there was a laborer somewhere with ribs to match the bent handles.

There should be a centrifical(SP?) switch to kill a runaway, like on a trowelling machine, but I never was around a digger with such safety features. I never had one totally get away, but several times came very close.

Man killers.

 

[Jim In NY]

Best one I have ever used (and I own one) is the GROUNDHOG machine. It is a one man outfit that comes in either hydraulic geared or manual geared box. Great unit and great people (family owned and run) to deal with for advice and quick parts response. My outfit is an older one and I have used it exstensivly and mostly in upstate NY soils which for the most part are glacier till and round rock profiles. Have to dig them out with a long bar when they are trouble but the ubit loosens most of them up anyways. So, that's expected with all diggers, even the large ones ! The GROUNDHOG Business is located in California -- i believe Sacramento _ but a search will uncover the actual address in CA. My unit comes with different size augers and extension as well as digger point for various soil types. I have had my digger for 7 years and purchased it used and wouldn't part with it as it is a real one man digger and safe to use. Hope this helps. Jim