Anyone used a Petrol Auger / Post hole digger ?

[GSTEEL32]

Has anyone had any experience of these from a DIY point of view ?

I'm thinking about putting some concrete footings down for a new bit of decking.

It'll be built across a slight slope, within spitting distance of a row of old Leylandii which I will be removing, but doubt I'll get all the roots out.

This is why I think petrol is the only option.

Any thoughts ?, thanks in advance.

[Fisty]

We hire them out.

They work well in clean soil but they moment they hit rocks/stones they struggle.
Anything above an 8" bit you would be better of with a hydraulic one.

Also cheap ones don't have a clutch and are great at snapping wrists when they snag.
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[kramdra]

Yes have a cheap one. Massive holes in a couple of seconds, saved a lot of time. My garden is hard clay with lots of bricks and shit buried and plenty of roots. It'll eat through roots no problem. Ive drilled holes next to a massive pine tree and a 2" thick root.

It is difficult to identify which spares will fit as there are many variations of cylinders and pistons on ebay.. but replacement engines are cheap enough. Mine still runs fine after a seized piston.

[MCN]

It's more work but a post hole spade is fun.
And cheap as chips.
Or
£50 A day for a machine is affordable but have all you shit together so it doesn't go to a second day.

Or buy a new one for £100 + odds

https://g.co/kgs/9r2sdg

Probably shite but it will poke a few holes in your garden before it shites-it's-sel'.

They are a great day out as well. 😝

https://www.selfsufficientculture.com/threads/one-man-petrol-auger-vs-manual-post-hole-digger.323/

Last time I used one was for a fence in a field to keep horses. It pished through the soil but big pebbles have to be broken using a pointed steel pole and picked out.
Boulder Clay is a perfict bastirt.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[doggone]

It won't cope well with roots or stones/rubble.
A spit spade make it much easier than a regular spade.

https://www.pmdtimber.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/650x650/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/p/spit.jpg

[UnknownStuntm...]

[Sister Sledge]

How many holes do you need to dig?

Remember that the closer to a house you are, the more chance of hitting rubble from the buildings construction.
Those particular tree roots grow mostly sideways. The majority of roots from one tree are fine but you will have one thick root and a few not so thick - hitty missy if you land on one!

I used to dig holes using a spit. I had the blade as sharp as could be - no softening through using a grinder to sharpen it. I'd sit and file it to keep that sharp edge. If you have a sharp spit it will slice through almost anything.
As a general hint when using any spade (not shovel) keep them razor sharp. That will ensure that effort put into digging is minimised.
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CCM 404 DS

[kramdra]

I did not have the above problems. If you are local I will do the holes for you for beers.

However I did have a shit time removing metal fence post spikes. I bent several lengths of 40mm square x 3mm wall steel tube trying to pull them out. A razor sharp pickaxe is a very useful tool and far more effective than a spade. We dug around them and cut through below the surface, leaving the rest to rot.

[Riejufixing]

[GSTEEL32]

The slope it's being built on backs onto a very small stream at the bottom of the garden, probably 50 - 60 feet at least away from the house.

The ground is soft, so I thought digging concrete footings would protect it from rot and movement. I'm assuming the width of the decking will be at least 25 - 30 feet across by 12 deep.

Thanks.

[Riejufixing]

If the deck is "raised" by 300mm or more you ought to have planning permission.... 12' deep is rather a lot....

If you want to resting the deck on something, why not just dig a trench, concrete, & go on that?

Got a photo? Snap snap, nudge nudge, wink wink?