Why nobody talks about digging post holes with a shovel instead of an auger

Been putting up fence for about 6 years now and always used a gas auger for post holes. Last week I had a job in rocky soil near Austin where the auger kept jamming on rocks. Got frustrated after 3 hours and tried an old school digging bar and shovel combo. Turns out I got 8 holes done in the same time with way less hassle. The auger would bind up and I'd waste 20 minutes clearing it. Anyone else had better luck with hand tools in tough ground?

3 comments

3 Comments

ryan_hart3814d ago

Did you try using a digging bar in that Texas caliche? I had a buddy who swore by a San Angelo bar for breaking up the hardpan before he even touched a shovel. For me, it's always been the opposite. I keep a shovel and a pry bar in the truck for the first few holes just to feel out the ground. If I hit a layer of roots or clay, I know right away the auger is just going to spin and smoke.

flores.mark14d agoMost Upvoted

San Angelo bar" is actually just a brand name, not a different tool - it's the same type of digging bar you're describing.

sandragrant14d ago

Used to be the other way for me. I'd drag the auger out first thing and fight with it for an hour before giving up. But after a job in West Texas where the caliche was like concrete, I switched to a digging bar and never looked back. That rocky soil you're talking about is exactly where hand tools shine. The auger just bogs down on everything and you spend more time unjamming it than digging. Now I grab the shovel and bar for the first few test holes every time.