A post hole digger refers to any tool used to dig holes into the ground for the purpose of erecting fences, signposts, etc.
Nowadays, more farmers have switched to tractor-mounted post hole diggers. The post hole digger is usually mounted to a tractor and has the following basic components:
- An auger for boring in the ground,
- A boom that attaches to the auger,
- A yoke that supports the boom, and
- A Power Take-Off (PTO) shaft that attaches to the tractor’s PTO for power.
The shaft attaches to the tractor via the 3-point connection standard on a Category 1 or 2 system. These models are designed for tractors of any size, ranging from sub-compact to high-horsepower tractors.
How does the post hole digger work?
One of the advantages of using a tractor-mounted post hole digger is the relative ease of moving to the job location and the ensuing digging spots by the tractor. The 3-point connection allows for the correct vertical placement of the post hole digger. Some models also have a positioning handle attachment that enables the operator to move the auger’s tip directly from the tractor seat, which allows for better accuracy and safety.
Once the auger is placed in the proper position, the power from the tractor’s PTO is delivered to the gearbox on the post hole digger. In turn, the post hole digger supplies the power to the auger that will perform the boring in the ground.
There are also down pressure kits, which are optional accessories that can be added to the tractor for use in heavy-duty boring or digging jobs or drilling into rocky or compacted soils. Down pressure kits require using hydraulics from the tractor to apply up to 500 lbs. of extra downward pressure on the 3-point hitch arms.
Down pressure kits usually contain hydraulic cylinders, hoses, and other hardware to mount to the tractor. If you’re considering adding down pressure kits to your tractor, first find out whether your tractor has the available hydraulics to support these accessories and if the tractor can support the additional structural pressure generated by these kits.
So, how many post holes can a post hole digger make in a day?
What is the average time to dig a post hole? It totally depends on the “dig” conditions. The time interval for digging a hole has a lot to do with ground conditions as well as the prevailing weather or seasonal conditions. These factors can impact how fast the post hole digger can complete a hole.
Take this example – if the job is done in the spring when the ground is still soft from the winter but not wet, it should only take 5 to 10 minutes per hole. If the farmers wait until the summer and the ground has become very hard and compacted, it could take up to 20 to 30 minutes per hole.
In a commercial operation where you have a person on the tractor and two people moving the posts, they can probably do 40 to 50 posts in an eight-hour workday.
For the individual with one person on the tractor and another moving the posts, it is estimated that they would be lucky to get 15 to 20 post holes done in an eight-hour day. Both of these situations would be in normal or good soil conditions (not too soft, not too hard or compacted, and only a few rocks, clods, big clods, frozen ground, etc.).
Introducing the Shaver post-hole diggers
Solex Corporation is one of the most trusted distributors of agricultural, landscape, and light construction equipment manufactured by American and foreign companies, including the US-based Shaver Manufacturing.
Shaver is one of the top manufacturers of professional-grade post hole diggers, which allow the operator to dig holes to their required or desired depth and diameter quickly and efficiently. They are engineered to give heavy-duty digging power even in the toughest conditions
The company offers PTO and hydraulic models
PTO-powered post hole diggers
Shaver offers augers of varying sizes, ranging from 4 to 30 inches in diameter. The augers come in a standard length of 42 inches. They are available in semi-double flight and double flight. Shaver offers bolt-on auger extensions of various lengths – 9 to 14 inches – for digging deeper holes.
- Orchard Augers – features:
- Ideal for nurseries and orchards
- Standard diameters: 16, 18, 24, and 30 inches.
- Standard length: 30 inches
- The point is made of austempered ductile iron for excellent wear resistance.
- The cutting teeth are made from forged steel and are bolted on for easy replacement when worn
- Rock Augers – features
- Designed for extremely rugged conditions. Great for loose rock, solid rock, dirt, and clay.
- Standard diameters which range from 4 ½ to 30 inches.
- Replaceable carbide bullet teeth.
- A 3/4-inch-thick double flight boring head.
- A 3/8-inch-thick flighting with Rockwell 65 hardfacing.
- Can be used with any Shaver post hole digger model, depending on the size
- Down Pressure Kit
- It provides heavier-duty digging power. It supplies an additional 500 lbs. of downward force on the unit. The unit easily attaches to both PTO and hydraulic diggers and is powered using the hydraulics from your tractor or skid steer loader, so it doesn’t interfere with the digger’s regular operation. Choose this option if you’re working in compact, rocky, or semi-frozen ground.
The PTO-powered post hole diggers are available in four models:
- Model 301H has bolted-on and forged-steel cutting teeth, replaceable on 6”, 9”, 12”, and 14” augers.
- Model 601H has bolted-on and forged-steel cutting teeth, replaceable on 6” to 24” augers.
- Model 101 has bolted-on and forged-steel cutting teeth, replaceable on 6” and 9” augers.
- Model 901 has bolted-on and forged-steel cutting teeth, replaceable on 6” to 30” augers.
Hydraulic-powered post hole diggers
Shaver also offers hydraulically poweredpost hole diggers. Each post hole digger has augers of various sizes (from 4 to 30 inches in diameter). The augers are available in a standard length of 42 inches and are also available in semi-double flight and double flight. Additionally, Shaver offers bolt-on auger extensions of various lengths – 9 to 14 inches – when added depth is needed.
- Orchard Augers – features
- Ideal for nurseries and orchards
- Standard diameters: 16, 18, 24, and 30 inches.
- Standard length: 30 inches
- The point is made of austempered ductile iron for excellent wear resistance.
- The cutting teeth are made from forged steel and are bolted on for easy replacement when worn
- Rock Augers – features
- Designed for use in extremely rugged conditions like loose rock, solid rock, dirt, and clay.
- Standard diameters which range from 4 ½ to 30 inches.
- Replaceable carbide bullet teeth.
- A 3/4-inch-thick double flight boring head.
- A 3/8-inch-thick flighting with Rockwell 65 hardfacing.
- Can be added to any Shaver post hole digger model, depending on the size
- Down Pressure Kit
- It provides heavier-duty digging power and supplies an additional 500 lbs. of downward force on the unit. It easily attaches to both PTO and hydraulic diggers. It is powered using the hydraulics from your tractor or skid steer loader, so it doesn’t interfere with the digger’s regular operation. Choose this option if you’re working in compact, rocky, or semi-frozen ground.
The hydraulic post hole diggers are available in four models:
- Model 510 – 700 foot pounds of torque and a 5-10 gpm hydraulic requirement.
- Model 1020 – 1,000 foot pounds of torque and a 10-20 gpm hydraulic requirement.
Post hole diggers have indeed come a long way. Thanks to the combination of technology and human ingenuity, those who are involved in farming and construction will benefit from the speed and efficiency of machine-driven post hole diggers.