Job sites rarely see tools more simple than an earth auger. A hole digging power head provides the mechanical function and attaches to the auger itself, which drills and burrows into the ground. They're built simple because there’s no reason to make them complex. Whether the job is construction, landscaping, fence installation or a homeowner project, earth augers do one thing and one thing really well: dig holes. Although the equipment and its function are not complicated, not everyone will achieve the same level of success with a hole digger. Here are some basic hints, along with a list of mistakes to avoid, to ensure safety and maximize productivity on the job.Ready to dig?
Prior to use, an operator should examine the auger’s common wear parts, such as the screw bit and teeth. The screw bit is the very tip of the auger. If it is extremely worn the auger will not bore straight as it digs. Augers can dig aggressively when their teeth are in good shape. If not, the auger flighting must pick up the slack and absorb unnecessary wear. Worn teeth can also decrease digging capacity and force the auger to become stuck in the ground. Poor screw bits or teeth might cause equipment damage or create safety concerns. Failing to address these issues will severely limit equipment performance. If the auger being used is an attachment, double check the power source (usually a skid-steer, backhoe loader or mini-excavator) to ensure that all hydraulic oil flow and pressure settings are correct. Also, make sure that the power source’s controls are working properly.
Take time to read the operator’s manual. This task may seem unnecessary to experienced operators but it’s still an important step, particularly if it has been a while since the operator has used a hole digger, or if the equipment works a little differently than augers used in the past. Manufacturers cover in their manuals just about everything about safe and efficient operation.
When the equipment is ready and the operator is confident about using it, consideration turns next to job site location and conditions. Digging projects could be delayed if the auger happens to strike an underground utility line. Before you dig always call an underground locating service to identify the whereabouts of buried lines.
Even if a job site is free of buried cable and utility lines, there still may be natural obstructions like rocks or tree roots. Dense varieties of soil like soft shale, hardpan and caliche could also present an obstacle or necessitate additional power to dig the hole. Always know the limitations of your equipment. Stubbornly attempting to force an earth auger through tough soil classifications is not the way to get the job done. Grass and other overgrowth could also hamper an auger’s digging ability by clogging the auger blade and screw bit, and therefore should be removed to increase efficiency and overall productivity.
Normal use for a hole digger is on level ground. Other digging terrains can be dangerous and should be avoided. If a hole must be dug on a slope, be extremely careful to keep proper balance at all times. Likewise, when using an auger attachment in such a situation, make sure the power source has adequate footing and stability. Use outriggers or other stabilizers when available.
Proper Start-up
Once all the job site parameters have been established, it’s time to get digging. Pay attention to the operating instructions for starting the hole digger’s engine. The machine is designed to keep the operator away from the engine exhaust muffler. With an improper operating position, the operator runs the risk of serious injury from coming into contact with the hot surface of the muffler or from inhaling high levels of carbon monoxide.
Allow the engine to properly warm up to the point where it will operate without the engine choke. Keep in mind that in cold weather, initial starting may require more pulls. Once running, if the hole digger or an individual component or accessory does not appear to be functioning properly, stop immediately and correct the problem before resuming work.
Normal operating procedure for a hand held hole digger is to dig with the engine going at full speed. This allows the unit’s centrifugal clutch to become more firmly engaged, thus transmitting more usable power to the auger. When using a hole digging attachment, proper auger RPM will vary, but generally the operator should feed the auger as fast as soil conditions will allow.
Kickback
When working in areas with rocks or other obstructions that could be struck by a hand held auger, the operator should be prepared for the occurrence of kickback force. If kickback is anticipated, the hole digger should be operated at less than full speed to ensure a more rapid release of the centrifugal clutch when an obstruction is encountered.
The operator can minimize the effects of kickback through proper body positioning. Keep the left side of the equipment handle as close as possible to your left hip and leg area. Your upper arms should be kept close to the body to maximize mechanical leverage. Keep your back vertical by bending your legs as needed while digging, and position the left foot ahead of the right foot at a comfortable distance.
Experienced operators who understand kickback sometimes choose to absorb its effects while attempting to use the auger blade to “chip” their way around or through an obstruction. This technique usually involves holding up on the operator handle and establishing a minimum feed rate for the auger. Often the nature and size of a buried object will simply prevent the auger from passing by or going through it, forcing workers to find a more suitable tool to remove it. The main point is that kickback is manageable when proper operating position is maintained, but is equally challenging if the operator is not prepared for it.
Operators would be well advised to wear gloves while running a hole digger and should always keep a firm and steady grip on the handles. This helps to reduce fatigue, as well as increase productivity. If the operator ever realizes that he is in the process of losing full control of the hole digger for any reason, he should push himself free and clear from the handles.
In the Hole
Ideally, the operator will always enjoy a smooth digging experience, but, over time, the art of digging a hole has produced a fair share of poor ideas that continue to persist. One example is the misconception that the best way to attack a large-diameter hole is to start by digging an initial hole with a smaller “pilot” auger, and then follow by using a larger auger to ream the hole to the desired size.
In actuality, this method will not allow the auger screw bit to produce sufficient directional stability for the larger diameter auger during this reaming process. In addition to being ineffective, this procedure could result in equipment damage or even injury.
As a general rule, pressing down on the operator handles is not required to initiate or sustain the digging process. In lower density (soft digging) soils, it may be necessary to hold up on the handle to reduce the digging rate of the auger. In higher density (hard digging) soils, the operator might need to press down on the handles to establish acceptable digging rates. Operators should make judgments based on their individual levels of experience to prevent the auger from burying itself in the hole, which is typically the outcome when allowing the auger to feed at an excessive rate.
When finished with a hole, operators must choose how to remove the auger. To minimize the amount of loose soil that remains in the bottom of the hole, the operator should stop the auger’s rotation before removing it. On the other hand, the auger will retract with less effort if allowed to rotate at a slow speed -- but more soil will be left behind. Ultimately, the method of choice for obtaining the cleanest, most usable hole for any soil condition is yet another aspect of hole digging that relies primarily on experience.
Occasionally operators will wind up stopping the engine while the auger rests in a partially or completely dug hole. Only a skilled operator should attempt to restart the engine while the auger remains in the hole. The more accepted procedure is to first remove the unit from the hole, and then return it to the hole with the engine running only at idle speed. One exception for this is during the utilization of auger extensions.
Extensions are often called upon when standard-length augers are insufficient. Using extensions is a vastly superior alternative to feeble attempts of some to force a standard auger to drill down to extreme depths. This error in judgment usually ends with an auger buried in the ground. The mistake is commonly multiplied when operators try to back the auger out with pipe wrenches. When this exercise proves unsuccessful, some try yanking the auger out with a backhoe or skid steer, which almost always results in the auger becoming bent and broken.
All that hassle can be avoided by using proper full-flighted auger extensions. In this instance, the operator should dig to the approximate full depth of the auger. After disconnecting the auger from the hole digger -- and after disconnecting the spark plug wire to prevent accidental engine starting -- an extension is added to the auger and then secured to the hole digger.
With the auger placed back in the hole, the engine is restarted and digging resumed to the desired depth. One word of caution with extensions: No more than one non-flighted auger extension should ever be used at a time, as this type of extension is not equipped with auger flighting to effectively elevate loose soil from the hole.
Between Holes
When moving from a completed hole to the next spot to dig, stop the engine to protect against injury. If the hole digger needs to be temporarily stored on the site, there are three options for doing so. The first is to leave the hole digger connected to the auger and simply dig it into a shallow hole. The second is to disconnect the auger and store the hole digger in a level configuration. The third and final option is to place the hole digger on the ground, while the auger remains attached, with the engine spark plug facing upward to minimize the potential for crankcase oil hydro-locking the piston.
Dig No Further
It’s worth reiterating that no amount of operational advice can really substitute for actual experience. Hole-digging professionals develop a natural feel for their craft over time. But new equipment innovations are constantly hitting the market, which means it’s always a good idea to peruse the manual or call the manufacturer for operating tips from time to time. With the right combination of experience, common sense and occasional re-education, auger operators can continue to hone their hole-digging skills to get the most out of their equipment on the job.
Source: Arborage
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