Best way to dig post holes in our rocky soil? (Bangor: rental, Home Depot)

[inthetrees]

Digging with just a shovel or post hole digger seems borderline impossible.
I think I need to either get a pick axe or a digger bar? Would renting a Gas Auger be more efficient/how does the augers handle the rocks??

Need to dig out holes for about a dozen posts. Trying to go 3.5-4' if possible, but 3' will work too.

[kevin5098]

If it's anything like our soil the gas auger won't work any better. I can usually set T-Posts by adjusting whre they are placed a bit. I hd to set some 4 Inch cedar posts in quickcrete for one fence when I couldn't sink them deep enough. You may need a rock drill to break them up.

[Submariner]

I use a backhoe.

You never can tell when that rock poking up may turn out to be the size of a VW.

[inthetrees]

Originally Posted by kevin5098

If it's anything like our soil the gas auger won't work any better. I can usually set T-Posts by adjusting whre they are placed a bit. I hd to set some 4 Inch cedar posts in quickcrete for one fence when I couldn't sink them deep enough. You may need a rock drill to break them up.

Hmm... this is great info, but not what I wanted to hear. I think with the ways the glaciers left the state years ago they left most of the soil like this. Least those of us that are too far from the coast.

Originally Posted by Submariner

I use a backhoe.

You never can tell when that rock poking up may turn out to be the size of a VW.

I appreciate the feedback, but that is just not possible (financially).... either is concrete in the holes. This fence needs to be easily removable. At the same time durable enough to withstand the crazy Maine winds we get with storms all year long. This is why I wanted to bury it 4' if possible. Going to be 8' tall.

Also, how does one use a backhoe to dig post holes? Clear the whole area, then set the post and refill it?

[kevin5098]

You might consider renting a rock drill. Probably cheaper than renting a backhoe.

[slyfox2]

Explosives work well. And its lots of fun too. Of course, getting the substance is a lot harder than talking about it. You have to have a license for that, something I don't have, of course.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I built a pole barn with 14 utility poles set 4 or 5 feet in the ground. It took less than 5 hours to set all 14 poles with a back hoe. Then I made them all true and back filled them. Before I put the roof trusses up on my 24 x 40 foot barn I checked corner to corner. the difference was 3/8 of an inch. Close enough.

[kellysmith]

Home Depot rents a towable post hole auger that would be my choice. A regular post hole auger that looks like an ice auger would give you quite a thrashing in rocky soil. The towable one is heavier with most of the weight in the chassis and engine. It will still bark at the rocks, but will kick them out of the way if you are talking rocks 6 inches in diameter and smaller. Obviously any rock bigger than that will stop you. "Google Home Depot rental towable auger" Most Rental shops will have something similar.

[inthetrees]

Originally Posted by kellysmith

Home Depot rents a towable post hole auger that would be my choice. A regular post hole auger that looks like an ice auger would give you quite a thrashing in rocky soil. The towable one is heavier with most of the weight in the chassis and engine. It will still bark at the rocks, but will kick them out of the way if you are talking rocks 6 inches in diameter and smaller. Obviously any rock bigger than that will stop you. "Google Home Depot rental towable auger" Most Rental shops will have something similar.

Thanks! looks like this or something like this.

Ground Hog

Unfortunately doesn't seem my two "local" HD's carry this type of tool. However I will call around other tool rental centers. This seems dramatically safer than the hand held augers, even the 2 person ones.
And good for my bad back as well....

[kellysmith]

Not sure how close you are to Bangor, but United Rental appears to have a towable auger. Probably spendy, but it will do the job. Some Rental shops also have a Bobcat with auger attachment. That would definitely be spendy and you would need to pay for delivery and pickup.