Dig fence post tool

How deep to dig the hole? There is only one hard-and-fast rule when you're digging a fence posthole: Dig a hole for the post that is half as deep as the fence is high. Why use concrete? Concrete makes a wooden post rot faster. The wood will rot sooner or later and you will have to dig out the concrete when you replace the post.

I want to dig a hole 18 feet deep and 4 feet in diameter. What is the quickest way to do that? Get an excavator.

The cave-in protectors that keep people from getting buried alive only are about 8' deep or so. An excavator is both faster and much safer for the depth you're after. Not Helpful 6 Helpful The hole for my 8 foot fence post is 3 feet deep.

Do I fill it with concrete up to ground level? You should fill it up to a point just below ground level and cover it with earth. Ideally also make sure the top of the concrete slopes away from the post so water doesn't pool against the wood. Not Helpful 5 Helpful 9. What if I have a pole in the ground, can I use the same hole for the same type of pole?

If there's a pole in the hole you won't be able to fit another pole in that hole. Take out the old pole and put a new pole in. And recement. Not Helpful 6 Helpful 8. The frost level is about 16 inches. You will want to go minimum 6 inches below the frost level. Not Helpful 17 Helpful Unless your water table is very high or you hit a water pipe, you shouldn't hit water. Otherwise, you'll have to make a big hole because it'll cave in constantly.

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 6. If I want to dig the holes before putting in the posts, must I cover the holes to protect against rain? Your best bet would be to set the posts as soon as possible. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1. Use a SDS hammer drill with a chisel on it to gradually break up the concrete. You could also just dig the concrete lump out and replace with new concrete when you put the post back.

Not Helpful 20 Helpful A minimum of 4'. This would leave you with 12' above ground. Ideally, it would be 5' or 6' deep, which would leave you with ' respectively.

Not Helpful 9 Helpful 8. Between 4 and 5 feet deep for a 4x4 post. And at least 12 inches in diameter. Not Helpful 4 Helpful 3. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Use dry sand or set posts in concrete for a good, solid post. Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0. You may need to use a jackhammer to break up very large rocks when digging post holes. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0.

The photos show the typical old fashioned post hole diggers, there are new, composite handled, ergonomically designed diggers available, but for the price, standard hole-diggers are hard to beat. If your soil is sandy, you might want to carefully enlarge only the very bottom of the hole, making it bigger than the shaft of the hole, before you fill with concrete.

This larger bulb at the bottom will help keep the pole from coming up out of the hole when tension is applied to chain link fencing. All new post hole diggers need a good sharp edge, just like your lawn mower blades. If not, you either need a longer chain, or you need to adjust the length of the one you have by moving the slip hook to another link. Now, wrap the tail of the chain around the nose of the high lift jack. Then, use the grab hook to latch the chain to itself and lock it around the high-lift jack.

Use one hand to keep the jack upright and stable, and the other hand to operate the lever. If it leans too far forward, you might need to reset it, adjust your jack a bit, and try again — potentially from a different angle. In most cases the post will pop right out. This will allow the post to be extracted quite a bit easier. Another benefit of this method is that you will have a nice sized pre-dug whole when you are ready to pour concrete for the new fence post. As opposed to manual diggers, an automatic digger may come with interchangeable 4, 6, 8, or inches auger blades, so you will have a lot of digging versatility.

If you are considering a gas-powered auger, the diameter or spread of the drill bit is very important as it will determine the final size of the hole. The diameter size of the bit will range from inches, but this will also depend on the diameter of the poles or posts that you want to insert into the ground. Even though automatic diggers are built for hard work, most models are quite lightweight which makes them easy to maneuver and you can carry one around your property or garden.

Automatic post hole diggers are designed to be operated by one person, but you may need an extra person to control the machine in very challenging terrain. Gas-powered diggers also emit fumes and can be noisy, so you may need to wear face protection. As automatic augers have a lot of power and may cause vibrations, they should have strong and sturdy handles that provide a good firm grip. If you are going to be working for long periods, consider the Hiltex Electric Earth Auger which has anti-vibration foam grip handles that are designed to reduce fatigue.

If you have small to medium-duty digging jobs to do in soft loamy soil or clay-based earth, the True Temper Post Hole Digger is a great choice. This post hole digger has 2 durable, weather-resistant fiberglass handles.

These longer inches handles are designed to reduce strain on your back and increase that much-needed leverage that is required in tough outdoor conditions.

Cushion end grips also provide extra comfort while you work. The built-in ruler on the handle helps you to measure the correct depth every time. If you need a manually operated post hole digger that can churn through clay-based soil, the AMES Post Hole Digger will do all the hard work for you. Ideal for medium-duty tasks, this post hole digger can be used to dig deep holes for mailboxes, fences, and in-ground support for decks. For maximum soil penetration in tough soil conditions, the durable tempered steel head has a wide 6.

The strong extra-long inches hardwood handles have comfortable oversized cushion grips and a measurement scale helps you to maintain an accurate depth. Whatever type of outdoor project you have planned, you will complete it with minimal effort. Just like its name, the Seymour Structron Hercules Post Hole Digger is strong and sturdy and as it is built for maximum strength and durability, this powerful post hole digging tool is a great choice for all types of home-based, industrial and commercial applications.

Whether you have a lot of fence posts to erect on your property, need to re-organize your garden, or you need a solid digger for a construction site, The Seymour Structron Hercules post hole heavy-duty digger is an excellent choice.

The metal blades are very sharp and will not have any trouble penetrating into clay-based or rocky soil. Powerful, durable, and comfortable, the XtremepowerUS Electric Post Hole Digger will help you to dig multiple holes in challenging soil conditions.

The 4 x Sprayed with black paint, the auger resists rust and corrosion to ensure durable, long-lasting performance. Whether you need to install fence posts, plant trees, repair a lawn or create a hole in the ice for fishing, this dynamo is efficient at digging holes between feet deep depending on the soil conditions. Drilling through the soil can be time-consuming and take a toll on your hands. However, not when you use the XtremepowerUS. Featuring an ergonomic design, the one-man post digger features 2 anti-skid, vibration-proof handle grips for much-needed comfort, maximum leverage, and stability while you work.

The digger is quite lightweight and very easy to start which also saves on back strain. To keep you safe, the powerhead is equipped with a safety lock function that prevents any accidental triggering for added security. For incredibly efficient and precise drilling of holes for fences or trees in tough soil, the heavy-duty robust 43cc 2-cycle gas-powered engine delivers a super-fast RPM.