The best auger for fence posts will not only do these jobs fast and easily but also save you money on repairs and replacements.
However, with such a diverse range of models and brands on the market, it’s easy to become perplexed when deciding which earth auger to buy. With this article, you will be able to find your most suitable one.
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Top 5 Best Auger For Fence Posts on the Market 2022
In-depth 5 Top Rated Auger For Fence Posts Reviews
#1. XtremepowerUS 4” Auger Bits – Best Budget
- HP: 1.6
- Walt: 1200
- RPM speed: 200
- Bit size: 4”
If you are on a tight budget, the XtremepowerUS Post Hole Digger is the one for you. It is budget-friendly yet capable of handling a wide range of excavating tasks.
This auger for fence posts is quite strong when it is equipped with a 1200-watt, 10.9-amp motor. It also includes a 4-inch auger that measures 28 inches long and can be extended using an extension cord. This makes it perfect for projects with small holes.
This fence post auger is also user-friendly when it is outfitted with ergonomic throttle control that can prevent skid and reduce the levels of vibration.
For added protection, the powerhead has a safety lock feature that prevents accidental triggering.
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#2. PROYAMA Gas Post Hole Digger – Best for Heavy Duty
- HP: 2.4
- Walt: 1300
- Bit size: 4″, 6″ and 8″
- RPM speed: 180
For a project that requires a heavy-duty post hole digger, consider this PROYAMA auger. The powerful two-stroke motor drives the auger into hard and tough soil, which makes it ideal for large fence holes than many other gas-powered diggers on the market.
With a 2.4HP 1300W, 2-cycle 51.7cc engine, it generates more power while emitting less fuel gas when in use. As a result, not only does it save you money, but it also has a low environmental impact. Moreover, this auger for fence posts is compatible with bits of 4″, 6″, or 8″. So, it can drill holes of different diameters.
For your safety, the Proyama earth digger is equipped with a handle for reducing vibration and comes with a protection package including free ear defenders, gloves, glasses.
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#3. Southland SEA438 One Man Earth Auger – Best for Rocky Soil
Specs:
- RPM speed: 316
- Bit size: 8″
- Engine: 43CC
If you are looking for an auger for not only fence posts but also other projects around your house, the Southland SEA438 would be a versatile choice. This model has all the nifty features that enable it to efficiently work on different kinds of soils.
The 43cc engine is the first notable feature of this gas-powered post-hole digger. The engine spins at a rate of 316 RPMs, allowing the user to easily and efficiently drill post holes.
In addition, without an extension (which can be purchased separately), the Southland SEA438, 2 cycle gas equipped with an 8-inch auger can drill holes up to 2.5 feet deep.
Another highlight is the manual recoil that starts the fuel delivery system easily. The butterfly handles are wide and easily detachable to achieve better balance and storage. Referring to the storage, the fuel tank is designed with translucent color. So, you can easily keep track of the fuel levels.
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#4. SuperHandy All Electric 48V Auger – Best for Battery Capacity
- Walt: 1425W
- RPM speed: 325 RPMs
- Bit size: 6″ x 30″
If you want a fence post auger that is small and compact in size, easy to handle, this is the most suitable for you. With total assembled dimensions of 30″ x 6.7″ x 6.7″, the weight of 31 pounds, and no wire, this auger allows you to move around easily.
Despite its small size, the tool has a powerful engine that can achieve impressive speeds, up to 320 spins per minute. You are wondering whether the battery capacity is high enough for you to complete your project? Well, the motor of this auger runs on a 2 Amp Hour Lithium-ion battery which allows you to dig up to 30 holes per charge.
If you want to use it for a larger project, a 4 Amp-hour battery is available for you to purchase separately.
What makes this auger truly special is its reverse torque control which helps you eject the device easily when it gets stuck. It would be hard for you to find this exceptional feature on other models on the market.
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Read more: Different between T Post & U Post
#5. EARTHQUAKE E43 Auger Bit – Best for Durability
- Engine: 43CC
- RPM speed: 125 RMP
- Bit size: 6”, 8”
The Earthquake fence auger will give you a feeling of piercing deep into tightly packed soil as if cutting a piece of cake with a hot knife. The auger features a powerful 43cc engine and an 8-inch bit that enable it to go through an array of soil types with ease.
This fence post auger also brings you great comforts during operation. It is thanks to the shock-absorbing foam grips on the handle and the anti-slip design, you’ll never suffer operational problems.
Moreover, with a total length of 36 inches, this Earthquake auger allows you to stand to drill while starting.
What’s more, its durability is also exceptional when the auger is made of durable steel, heavy-duty welds, and coated with a high-quality finish. The auger for fence posts is also integrated with an air filter to keep dirt, dust, and other debris out of the engine, boosting its productivity and lifespan.
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FAQs about Auger for Fence Posts
1. What size auger for fence posts?
This depends on the size of the posts that you are planning to install. For example, for a 4×4 inch post, you should take an 8-inch auger. Remember that if you are going to pour concrete around the post, you should use a bigger auger to dig a bigger hole.
Small posts that do not require to have concrete poured around them will work with the 4-inch auger.
Also, 12-inch augers will work for all post sizes, except for the smallest ones. The extra space will let you move the post and choose the most precise placement.
2. What is the fastest way to dig a post hole?
There is no doubt that using a gas-powered auger is the quickest and easiest method to drill post holes. All you need to do is to fill the gas tank, place the auger steadily on the ground, turn it on, hold on tight, then watch the earth pouring out of the hole.
That’s being said, you can dig a post hole manually using manual digging tools.
3. How wide should fence post holes be?
The diameter of a hole should be 3 times larger than the fence posts’ width. For example, if you have a 4-inch wide post, then the hole for it should be 12 inches wide.
Also, the fence holes’ depth should be ⅓ to ½ the height of the posts above the ground. For example, the fence’s height is 6 feet, then it would require at least a 2-feet deep hole to stand stably.
4. Can one person operate a two-man auger?
I do not recommend you to run a two-man auger on your own. Two-man augers are usually designed to deal with heavy-duty tasks like drilling through solid and thick land with a lot of rocks and tree roots. Therefore, they are often too heavy and vibrate too intensely for only a man to handle.
In addition, many of the two-man augers do not have the reverse function in their system. This means that after drilling, you will have to pull the auger manually from the hole. This task will take a lot of effort as the auger itself is really heavy and the soil in the hole will also make it harder to pull the auger out unless you are exceptionally strong.
5. What’s the difference between a one-man auger and a two-man auger?
The major difference is already in their names. One-man augers are designed for only one user at a time, while two-man augers are suitable for two users.
One-man augers
One-man augers are made of lighter parts and the holes that they dig are often smaller in diameter comparing to two-man augers. Also, they are equipped with one small handlebar, which is more suitable for one person.
The engine of a one-man auger is usually 35-50cc, ideal for small and medium-duty tasks. In addition, it also has the reverse function to automatically pull itself out of the hole.
Two-man augers
Two-man augers are equipped with 2 handlebars, one for each user. Their engines are 160cc or more, ideal for more heavy-duty tasks, thus they tend to be heavier than one-man ones.
However, many of them are not equipped with the reverse function, so you and your partner will have to pull them out manually.
My top pick
Personally, I think the XtremepowerUS would be the best auger for the fence posts in this case. This model comes with a reasonable price while it can handle a variety of projects.
Besides, using this model, you do not have to go through the hassle of buying and mixing fuel like a gas-powered auger. For battery models, it would be costly when you have to replace the battery and your working process would be interrupted when it runs out of electricity.