Vent: Rented a power auger and it was way worse than hand digging

I had to set 12 posts for a backyard job last week and thought I'd be smart with a power auger from Home Depot. Hit a patch of clay and rocks around 2 feet down and that thing just stopped dead, kept kicking back at me. Ended up finishing the last 6 holes with a manual post hole digger and it was actually faster cause I could feel where the rocks were. Anybody else have better luck with old school tools when the ground gets tough?

2 comments

2 Comments

emmajackson29d ago

Oh man, that auger kicking back is the worst feeling, like the ground is personally mad at you for trying to cheat. I've been there with rocky clay soil in my own yard and it's like the auger just gives up and tries to break your wrists instead. The manual post hole digger definitely wins for feeling where the trouble spots are, you can work around rocks instead of fighting them. Plus there's something satisfying about finishing with your own muscle power after the machine fails you. Sounds like you saved yourself a ton of frustration by switching, even if it took a bit longer.

nancy_miller29d ago

Wait, @emmajackson, you actually stuck with the manual digger after all that?