Hello everyone, I am currently digging holes to set fence posts in concrete. So far, it has taken me about 7 hours for 12 holes. These are only about 30cm (12 inches) deep with a diameter of approximately 20cm (8 inches). I still need to dig around 25 more holes. The soil is very clayey and rocky. I removed the top 10cm (4 inches) of topsoil with a spade and then used a hammer and chisel to finish the rest. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could make this easier? I am hesitant to use an earth auger because I’m worried it might damage the bit due to the stones and rocks.
If the hole is smaller (narrower) than the tool (the spade) is wide, of course it takes a long time. 😀 (Sorry, couldn’t resist).
Did you dig it out with a tablespoon?
Spade, shovel, pickaxe, and rotary hammer with a chisel for the “rock” – and off you go.
Make proper holes (diameter/depth), then you'll finish faster.
Did you dig it out with a tablespoon?
Spade, shovel, pickaxe, and rotary hammer with a chisel for the “rock” – and off you go.
Make proper holes (diameter/depth), then you'll finish faster.
S
Stefan2.8416 Mar 2022 08:49I made the hole about a spade's width. Admittedly, that might be too narrow to work properly. Eventually, even a pickaxe won’t help anymore. I will definitely make it wider... If it gets a bit narrower toward the bottom, that shouldn’t be a problem.
driver55 schrieb:
Rotary hammer with chisel for the "rock" and off you go.
Make proper holes (diameter/depth), then you'll finish faster. Chisel with a sharp "s," not like the engineer. "If you brake a lot, you’re driving in too high a gear" applies here too: excavating just the right size instead of oversizing saves unnecessary effort later when compacting. The best hole is a fitting one, not an oversized, stretched-out one.
Stefan2.84 schrieb:
If it tapers a bit narrower at the bottom, that shouldn’t be a problem. Not a problem right now, but wider at the base would be more favorable.
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S
Stefan2.8417 Mar 2022 08:58I have now ordered an MWS garden auger, hoping it will at least make the work a bit easier.
Stefan2.84 schrieb:
I have now ordered an MWS garden auger, hoping it will at least make the work a bit easier.Please feel free to share your experience once you have used it...
G
Gecko192717 Mar 2022 22:27Last week, I drilled 20 holes through gravel and clay using the Fiskars Quikdrill.
Thicker stones need to be loosened with a steel rod and removed by hand. In soil without stones, you can drill a 60cm (24 inch) deep hole with a diameter of 15cm (6 inches) in about 5 minutes. With a thick gravel layer, it can take 20 to 30 minutes per hole.
For a 60cm (24 inch) deep round hole with a 15cm (6 inch) diameter, a 30kg (66 lb) bag of screed concrete is sufficient. You can also widen the finished hole with the steel rod or re-drill it with a 20cm (8 inch) attachment for the Quikdrill.
I was also considering buying the MWS at first since it looks very robust. The advantage of Fiskars is that it is lighter and the drill attachments can be swapped out; they come in 10cm (4 inch), 15cm (6 inch), and 20cm (8 inch) sizes.
Thicker stones need to be loosened with a steel rod and removed by hand. In soil without stones, you can drill a 60cm (24 inch) deep hole with a diameter of 15cm (6 inches) in about 5 minutes. With a thick gravel layer, it can take 20 to 30 minutes per hole.
For a 60cm (24 inch) deep round hole with a 15cm (6 inch) diameter, a 30kg (66 lb) bag of screed concrete is sufficient. You can also widen the finished hole with the steel rod or re-drill it with a 20cm (8 inch) attachment for the Quikdrill.
I was also considering buying the MWS at first since it looks very robust. The advantage of Fiskars is that it is lighter and the drill attachments can be swapped out; they come in 10cm (4 inch), 15cm (6 inch), and 20cm (8 inch) sizes.
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