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 In this video from This Old House, two guys walk
through a couple of types of shovels that could be needed for your
project along with a couple other specialty tools.
How to Choose
and Use Shovels and Other Digging Tools | This Old House
The take away from this video is the same as you will find in many
product guide videos, sometimes it is better to shell out the extra
dough for a top quality product.
First, let’s say if you are not a lawn person and you don’t plan to
dig a Koi pond in the near future, then maybe you don’t need to be
too particular. A spear-head shovel with a nice turned lip for
applying pressure with your foot and a wooden handle isn’t going to
cost an arm and a leg, and it will probably get the small jobs done.
Cautions for using a wood handle shove. – the handles are breakable.
Start with a shallow dig so that you don’t bend the handle when
prying upward.
If you have a large project, then you may want to choose one of the
more durable fiberglass handled shovels. Another take away from this
video, those heavy duty shovels are also heavy weight. So when you
go to buy a shovel, don’t just look, pick it up, handle it and pay
attention to how heavy it feels in your hand. You want to focus your
energy on digging the hole, not lifting your shovel.
Finally, something that we don’t often think about, if you want to
dig a large hole, for that Koi pond for example, outline your area,
but do not start digging on the outside edge. The job will be easier
and less taxing on your muscles and your shovel if you start with a
small hole in the middle of the area, then work your way out,
slicing soil from the edges of the original hole to expand its size.
In your yard, you may one day decide you need to put up a fence.
While hiring the work done is easier, it is also more expensive
because you are paying for labor. If you have time and energy and
the desire, then taking on a fence as a DIY can be very satisfying.
But, it can also be a big chore without the right digging tools. The
first video we’re going to share is a ‘how to’ presentation to walk
you through the use of a spade and a manual post hole digger for
your project.
Post hole
digging
The take away we got from this was that with a spade, which has a
longer shovel head, don’t start by pushing the shovel all the way
into the ground, go only about half the length of the blade to avoid
breaking your handle. The next thing we noted was, wear the right
footwear. Because you are using the ball of your foot to apply
pressure to the spade, wear a shoe or boot with a stiffer sole. A
flexible tennis shoe sole will increase the risk of injury to your
foot. The manual post hole digger is really
kind of fun to use once you get the hang of it. But, it also
requires a lot of upper body strength and vigorous use of your arms.
While that might be fine for a smaller project, if you have a large
number of holes to dig, you might want to consider using a fence
post auger.
Fence Post
Augur | TRC Show and Tell
For large projects there are a couple of advantages to using an
auger. The most obvious advantage is speed. In the video the
narrator said he dug a two feet deep hole in less than a minute.
Additionally, when you look at his finished product it has a nice
roundness with clean interior edges. The tool looks like it would be
enjoyable to use, but it is also going to use a lot of upper body
strength arm function.
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Note that as you auger down, you will be pulling the
auger back out of the hole packed with soil. So, while you may start
with something that is relatively light weight and easy to handle,
bringing the auger back out of the hole is going to be heavier and
require more lifting power on your part.
If you have a very large job ahead of you, then it might be wise to
consider an electric auger. They work on the same concept as the
manual digger and you will still need to lift them out from time to
time to dispose of the soil. The advantage of this auger though is
that you keep the power on as you lift, and as the auger comes up it
throws the soil to the edge, so you’re not going to have to clean
the auger and you won’t be lifting the entire weight of the earth on
the bit. The machine actually helps you with this.
Electric earth
auger post hole digger Honda EU 2000 generator
The drawback to this particular model is that it is electric, which
means you need a power source. The machine operates with an
extension cord, so if you have easy access to outlets no problem. If
not, then you can rent an electric generator.
Another take away we got from this video. The narrator chose to buy
a larger auger, obviously so he could dig a larger hole, and he
struggled with that. So while he did eventually get the job done, it
was a struggle because perhaps he had an accessory that was too
large for the tool.
While he was impressed with the end result, we were concerned for
all the struggle he went through to get it started.
9 Best Post
Hole Diggers 2018
If you choose to buy, this video gives you a very fast review of a
number of post hole diggers as well as augers. You might note that
the number one choice in this video is a fuel powered auger. There
are definitely advantages to fuel power. No need for extension cords
or generators comes to mind right away. The weight of the machine
and the cost are the first concerns.
So when it comes to digging a post hole, what tool should you use?
Should you buy one or maybe check with a local rental such as
Chicago Street Rentals in Lincoln? The job you have in front of you,
your budget, and the question of how often after this project will
you ever use a post hole digger, again, are questions to consider
when making that decision.
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