CC45 Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 Evening all, Got a bit of a challenge to get your brain cells working. Boring holes for some rsj that will hold back some soil & fence. 1m ones can be cleaned out with a rabbiting spade and / or a post hole digger. The borer gets most out but there's always a bit left in that needs cleaning out. The holes are only 12" in diameter so room is limited for working the above tools. Tomorrow we need to go down 1.5m - we arent too sure how we will clean them out - lot of talk of 'hoovers' from the states but very little over here. Suggestions gratefully received. CC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 Longer handles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvinmiddle Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 How wet is the soil? And is it fine or stones? You may be onto something with the vacuum I would try a vacuum cleaner like this - I might do the job, mine is always picking up stones easily. http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb351vac-1400w-20ltr-wet-dry-vacuum-cleaner-240v/56239 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 Hoover ..... and don't tell the missus ..!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 Missus.....and don't tell the hoover! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC45 Posted July 16, 2017 Author Share Posted July 16, 2017 Soil isnt wet but is slightly moist at depth. Not 100% sure a hoover will pick it up?! Cant use longer handles - cant get them far enough apart down the hole. Do you chaps really think a hoover would do it? The other half suggested an equine poo picker would do the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 A cheap wet and dry would do it - serious suction ..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 What you want is a Seymour Post Hole Auger. Up to 8' deep it'll go. Sort of a closeable bucket on the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 (edited) I think the problem here is the "need it now". I spent an hour two hours last night looking into post hole borers when I counted up how many fences I am likely to build, and may turn into one myself. Just saving two men half a day would justify spending £100 or more, and I have 10-20 substantial concrete posts to do in the next 3 weeks. To answer your question, I think you want one of those pairs of grabbers but with a mechanism which prevents you having to open the handles wide. One tip: if it doesn't have them mark 6 inch increments on the handle so you can see the depth with no tape measure. This chap has the type I am talking about, which would need extension handles, and also demonstrates using a wet and dry hoover: I have no idea where to get such at a couple of hours notice. Personally I am thinking about ordering a Boston Post Hole digger (one blade is fixed). F Edited July 17, 2017 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 We just tend to dig deeper than necessary and then it's a brick into the bottom to provide a firm base and in goes the post. I hire the petrol post augers as they do the job much quicker than a person can. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 (edited) 23 minutes ago, PeterW said: We just tend to dig deeper than necessary and then it's a brick into the bottom to provide a firm base and in goes the post. I hire the petrol post augers as they do the job much quicker than a person can. @PeterW Darn. So you haven't got one I can finagle . At a risk of thread diversion, looking into those they seem to be either rather wimpy (ie good soil only, may struggle with packed clay - that has a 52cc motor, £117 inc 3 borer sizes) or of the type that could bodily throw both Popeye and Bluto into a gorse bush 20 feet away when it hit a stone (2 man 190cc Briggs and Stratton motor sold on Ebay last night for £117 but £45 carriage. £550-ish new.). I think Stihl 2 man versions had a reputation for kickback. I don't know enough to take a flyer. If you can guarantee decent ground conditions a buy/sell on the wimpy version would be justified by one day of use. I can't guarantee such conditions. I could not find anything convincingly in between eg something torquey with better dampening. Hire charges per day for Day 1 seem to be 25-35% of new price, which is high enough that it makes me want to buy one instead. Ferdinand Edited July 17, 2017 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 I would want one that is for 2 man use - they should have a torque clutch on them to stop the inevitable wrist break but they are better when they have the wide handles. Its roots and bricks that stop them normally - clay isn't an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 (edited) Here is a Roughneck one of the type I mentioned. Hinged in opposition and good reviews @ £35 from Amazon. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roughneck-68250-Post-Hole-Digger/dp/B003CT4DE0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1500276350&sr=8-6&keywords=post+hole+auger Edited July 17, 2017 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 How about dig a bit deeper with the auger removing most of the spoil. What's left, compact it in situ at the bottom. Just use a post and a sledge hammer to compact the bottom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Punter Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 If you have a fair few holes, use a mini excavator with an auger attachment. A friend who does fencing uses this on bigger jobs. Quick and safe one man sweat free operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvinmiddle Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 You need to hire one of these http://www.brandontoolhire.co.uk/en/landscaping-and-gardening/261-hydraulic-earth-auger.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Temp Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 +1 I hired one of those to put a load of posts in single handed. Just as I was finishing the last few a passing farmer tells me they usually just push them in with a back hoe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 8 minutes ago, Temp said: +1 I hired one of those to put a load of posts in single handed. Just as I was finishing the last few a passing farmer tells me they usually just push them in with a back hoe. Yes, file that in the "101 uses for a digger" file. I pushed several fence posts straight in with the back of the bucket. You need posts cut to a point at the bottom (at least you do in our soil) To make it a 1 man job, get them started with a sledge hammer so they will at least stand up in the right position before going for the digger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 My BiL's tractor with pto auger is good but hit a big root or flint and it'll throw it off. I'll still dig the odd one manually...just to keep my hand in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC45 Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 Tractor mounted borer. Dig deeper than necessary, raise auger, clean. Repeat. Seems to work ok. Hot work today. Thanks for all the suggestions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvinmiddle Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 Just though I'd add to this thread that the idea that is the topic of this thread does work, experience described here on a different thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvincentd Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 I used a 2 man Stihl petrol auger like on this page http://www.sydenhams.co.uk/gardening.aspx which took about 20 seconds per 1 metre hole into chalk (which was already excavated to 1m below where the chalk started). Only 1 hole caused issues but we just put a smaller diameter auger on to create a starter then went back to the correct size. If you're right against a boundary the splayed handles will push you maybe a foot away. The hire price versus man hours...no brainer. For amusement, when i needed a slightly bigger deeper hole I got this; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 Saw an auger on a bobcat at the local tool place yesterday - was something like £55 for the machine plus £35 for the auger for a day which is a no brainier if you have lots to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC45 Posted July 30, 2017 Author Share Posted July 30, 2017 Jobs completed now - all holes dug using an auger. Dig deeper than necessary and then compact the bottom to the desired depth. Worked well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 1, 2017 Share Posted August 1, 2017 On 17/07/2017 at 12:59, ProDave said: Yes, file that in the "101 uses for a digger" file. I pushed several fence posts straight in with the back of the bucket. You need posts cut to a point at the bottom (at least you do in our soil) To make it a 1 man job, get them started with a sledge hammer so they will at least stand up in the right position before going for the digger. Tends not to work that well with concrete posts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now