Digging holes by hand

[kx-91]

Can anyone recommend a good tool for digging holes for girders and cubical post?seen different types of post hole spades and something called shov- holer,just have a spade at the moment
Thanks

 

[marcot]

I find any Eastern European does a decent job ....

 

[Lincs Lass]

I use these ,,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spear-Jac...hash=item563eec6f2a:m:mMSFwxZ-2J48ontssQjgY_g

 

[RWG Contracts]

as @Lincs Lass says them grabby things are good. i usually hire a stihl hole borer though if I've a few to do, get a big two man one and you can do a 12" hole

 

[Dry Rot]

PTO mounted post hole borer.

BUT I also have a set of tools rescued from the GPO that they used for digging holes for telegraph poles. Absolutely brilliant! With them, I can dig a straight sided hole about a foot in diameter deeper than the borer or anything you will dig with other tools. I put in all my strainers with this tool until I got the auger a couple of years ago. Still use the hand tools near under ground cables and pipes.

The kit consists of a long narrow spade with an 8' handle, a long 'spoon' for removing soil, and a long steel rammer of similar length.

 

[Lincs Lass]

The grabby things work well in loose or damp soil but if its dry or stoney or any roots they are useless ,,saying that I wouldnt be without them ,,saves alot of bending

 

[Post Driver]

The important question is what's your ground like?

Easy going, then shoveholers and borers will be fine.

Bit of stone or heavier ground then you will want a long handled graft/fencing spade to loosen thing up to remove with shoveholers or spoon.

Proper hard going then you make your own tools such as pick axe head welded to scaffold pipe

 

[milkloss]

Strainrite do some good tools, can't remember who the importer is though

http://www.strainrite.co.nz/Category/34-post-hole-tools.aspx

 

[kneedeep]

I use these ,,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spear-Jac...hash=item563eec6f2a:m:mMSFwxZ-2J48ontssQjgY_g

Where's the engine?
Or do you plug it in to something? ?

 

[Lincs Lass]

Hasnt got and no you dont ,,sadly they involve shire horse shoulders and lots of shreadies for your breakfast

 

[Magnificent Earwig]

The important question is what's your ground like?

Easy going, then shoveholers and borers will be fine.

Bit of stone or heavier ground then you will want a long handled graft/fencing spade to loosen thing up to remove with shoveholers or spoon.

Proper hard going then you make your own tools such as pick axe head welded to scaffold pipe

Welded a 6ft scaffold pipe onto a narrow trenching spade end, makes digging holes a lot easier, my brother (a landscaper) offer borrows it, how he bent the pipe I will never know. But I like the idea of the pick axe head

 

[Grassman]

Surprising B&B do a very heavy duty one for about £25.
It's something I try to avoid using but it is very good.
http://www.diy.com/departments/verve-post-hole-digger/38721_BQ.prd?_requestid=6108431#

 

[Courier]

The important question is what's your ground like?
Proper hard going then you make your own tools such as pick axe head welded to scaffold pipe

A solid buckrake tine is effective for breaking up hard ground

 

[Nearly]

@davedb should go into production on these.....Love the design whoever did it.

 

[davedb]

@davedb should go into production on these.....Love the design whoever did it.View attachment 257296

Me I was using one of them hand shoveholer things and though this needs putting on the digger so a few nights in the workshop and that was born

 

[davedb]

Few more pictures

 

[kx-91]

great idea! @davedb, would something similar work if the furthest away spade was fixed? Just thought they'd be less moving parts so easier to build

 

[davedb]

great idea! @davedb, would something similar work if the furthest away spade was fixed? Just thought they'd be less moving parts so easier to build

Yea it probably would but you'd still need a similar linkage and ram inside to work it otherwise your ram would be on the side of your hole all the time

 

[agrotron]

Few more pictures View attachment 257298View attachment 257300

Looks good. What size digger is it on? How deep will it dig? Could do with one on but only got a 1.5 ton digger, Wouk it be big enough?

 

[davedb]

Looks good. What size digger is it on? How deep will it dig? Could do with one on but only got a 1.5 ton digger, Wouk it be big enough?

It's on a 5tonner wouldn't want it on slot less as you won't push it in hard ground, the buckets are the wrong shape really it was the front of a old sheer grab as that was the only curved thing I could find it really would be better if it was shaped like a clam shovel it's only mk1 version it will dig a 14 by 12 inch square hole 4 ft deep without putting the quick hitch in the ground