Fence posts - Digging holes

[Bob_A]

I've got 33 metres of fencing to do meaning I have to dig 17 holes for concrete fence posts.
I'll be doing this in dribs and drabs over a long period of time.
So what's the best way for a diyer to dig the holes.
I don't want to buy expensive tools for a one off job and this job could stretch over a couple of months so hiring tools isn't going to be economical.

I don't need tools to last me like a pro would do so what about these?
http://www.toolstation.com/shop....3

http://www.toolstation.com/shop....5

Also how do you use one of these.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods....er-17lb

[lutonlagerlout]

fail fail and semi fail in the wrong hands bob
i use a long spade like
this
TBH 17 holes is a good days work for 1 man if the ground is not bad
cheers LLL

[Dave_L]

I'd probably use a combination of items 2 & 3

Item 3 to loosen any hard material and item 2 to excavate.

[Dave_L]

fail fail and semi fail in the wrong hands bob
i use a long spade like
this
TBH 17 holes is a good days work for 1 man if the ground is not bad
cheers LLL

A grafter!!!!!!!

[local patios and driveway]

i have 15 petrol augers, all in differing states. each one needs a new pull cord starter thingy. it bolts on and is probably easily available. you could buy one from me with a 100mm auger bit and a 200mm auger bit. i use one myself and they drill a post hole in 30 seconds. yours for 100 quid, repair it, use it, and stick it on ebay for 150 when you are finished.

Dan

[Stuarty]

We used to do massive amounts of fencing, only ever need 2 tools, a 6 foot long seriously heavy spade, some folk round here call it a dive / dibe like this http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=176842 and a pinch bar with a point and a chisel again around 6 foot long. Plenty weight in both but when your 2 foot into the ground and bashing through concrete, tar and the usual hard stuff lightweight gear doesnt cut it.

For us we get around 15 posts in from a half cube of 1/3/6 semidry and well podged in. Or whatever the fancy name is for it now lol. 17 holes should be dug and posts in and still have a bit of time to waste in a shift

[lutonlagerlout]

i have 15 petrol augers, all in differing states. each one needs a new pull cord starter thingy. it bolts on and is probably easily available. you could buy one from me with a 100mm auger bit and a 200mm auger bit. i use one myself and they drill a post hole in 30 seconds. yours for 100 quid, repair it, use it, and stick it on ebay for 150 when you are finished.

Dan

i used a stihl petrol auger on my own fence
not for the faint hearted
LLL

[Dave_L]

If they get hooked up onto a root/stone/rock etc to they spin you round like a washing line?????

[Stuarty]

Ive seen a couple of lads, built like whippets mind you, getting thrown about a bit. Ive used them and to be honest I dont like them. I knew some daftys on youtube would post something lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRTB5YQTalw

[Mikey_C]

What you digging into bob i.e. whats you soil like. "they say" augers can get 'diverted' if you hit biggish stones and in soft soil (sandy loam) can break up the ground around the hole.

a ladies shovel (smaller head) can be useful.

my fence was put by a nice man who charged me the same as it would have cost to buy the materials, which was a bit of no brainer. he used something similar to your item three and 60+ bloke called bob to operate it.

to the best of my knowledge the only problem with a slightly bigger hole is more that more concrete is required to hold it, as diyer this may influence what and how you do it.

[Bob_A]

What you digging into bob.........

On average the first 9inches is usually good quality top soil, then I hit stiff orangey/brown clay.
Just to make sure that nothing goes smoothly I usually come across a few big stones as well.

Reason I mentioned the manual earth auger is that I've used one before. It wasn't easy as I had to keep on stopping to dislodge the odd stone and root which was veeeerrryyy time consuming, made you shoulders ache but the hole it made was very clean. This meant it wasn't too expensive to use postcrete

I still can't work out what you meant to to do with this.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods....r-17lb#
I just can't work it out.
Looks like a large cocktail stirrer to me
The picture isn't very good. Is it just like a chisel at the end, if so then it's not really a post hole digger as its described is it?

[GB_Groundworks]

I use 2 and 3 3 goes every where with me but a good graft spade is what you need with 2 or 3. Cut and loosen with graft, bar for any solid bits. Clean out with clappers.

Got augers on 3 ton and 3cx can't beat them in tough ground, good ground 350kg post knocker just smash the posts in better than concreting them.

On gag work we don't concrete post just backfill we good compress able fill and wail on it with the other end of the bar shown as 3. Just as good as concrete and doesn't kill the post like concrete does

My fencing kit, with the solid steel 20lb cocktail stirrer.

You smash the shit out of bricks or roots or rocks. Anyone on here will know then pain of a good wrist shudderer when you slam your graft into a brick etc. Those bars you can fire down and saves your wrist as there some slip and a lot more weight than a spade. I dig with mine then clean out with clappers then the other end is for compacting the soil back rd the post when you're done.





Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1300053070

[Mikey_C]

what posts you putting in bob wooden or concrete? never had bag of postcrete when the fella was doing mine. and I wouldn't use it ordinary crete and if you require it to go off quick add a bit of frost proffer (accelerator) or mix one bag of postcrete of several posts.

[GB_Groundworks]

Post creates great can get it for about 1.20 a bag from local agricultural supplier stick some water in hole tip bag in podge it a bit and done hehe

[Stuarty]

We only use postcrete on smaller jobs, ie, less than half a cube's worth. 900 and 1200 high fences are melled in, apart from any load bearing posts, ie curves, strainers etc, for 1.8 stuff its always creted in. Always uses semi dry and give the crete a good bashing in with a legnth of 2x2