 |
|
07-01-2009, 02:30 PM
|
#1
|
|
Registered User
Trade:
carpenter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 11
|
post hole digging machines
Hi im looking to buy a post hole hydrolic one or two man machine for 10 inch holes for decks in toronto any suggestion??????????????????????????????
|
|
|
Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury
or death. ContractorTalk.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any construction or remodeling task!
Join the #1 Contractor Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
ContractorTalk.com - Are you a Professional Contractor? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's the leading place for contractors to meet online. No homeowners asking DIY questions. Just fellow tradesmen who enjoy talking about their business, their trade, and anything else that comes up. No matter what your trade is you'll find that ContractorTalk.com is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally free!
Join ContractorTalk.com - Click Here
|
|
07-01-2009, 03:25 PM
|
#2
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Remodeling & Decks
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,712
|
Search the term "mini skid".
|
|
|
|
|
07-02-2009, 07:09 PM
|
#3
|
|
Pro
Trade:
carpenter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Kirkfield,Ontario, Canada
Posts: 480
|
The one man units are very difficult to get aligned properly. The two man units are the one to go with if you need one. Get extra teeth and never have your thumbs inside the handle bars. If one of those things hits a big rock or worse, a root, you'll break your thumbs!!
Unless you are doing this all the time, I would sub it out to someone with the auger on a bobcat. That is if there is access. If we only need a few holes we hand dig them.
|
|
|
|
|
07-02-2009, 07:31 PM
|
#4
|
|
Yard Boi
Trade:
Landscaping
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Genesee, ID
Posts: 846
|
Bobcat MT55, it'll do a lot more than dig post holes.
|
|
|
|
|
07-02-2009, 08:03 PM
|
#5
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Custom deck builder
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 2,955
|
We have one... We call him Jed and he digs any size hole, trenches, moves material, and fetches tools... Cant beat them laborers are great.
|
|
|
|
|
07-02-2009, 08:26 PM
|
#6
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Carpentry Contractor
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: California
Posts: 446
|
I have a old 2-man General Auger, it's a piece of crap. The clutch prevents it from digging through anything harder the pudding.
We used to have a great Stihl Auger (it was stolen  ). They were dangerous, because they don't stop for anything. Well, the bit stops, but not the machine head. Kind of like riding a bucking bronco. Unfortunately, Stihl stopped making them. Probably because of law suits.
|
|
|
|
07-02-2009, 08:43 PM
|
#7
|
|
Yard Boi
Trade:
Landscaping
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Genesee, ID
Posts: 846
|
Those Stihl augers are great. I found one at a pawn shop that had a frame attached to it. It slid into the 2 inch receiver of my truck and kept the power head from spinning. Got stolen too. Same guy?
|
|
|
|
|
07-02-2009, 09:32 PM
|
#8
|
|
Deck Designer/Builder
Trade:
Deck Design & Construction
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Whitby, Ontario
Posts: 2,137
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbgcarpentry
Hi im looking to buy a post hole hydrolic one or two man machine for 10 inch holes for decks in toronto any suggestion??????????????????????????????
|
I have a Bobcat MT52. Before I had it I always subcontracted the hole/concrete work out.
The two-man machines do nothing but turn people into helicopter propellers.
As mentioned, you could always hire someone locally.... like me 
__________________
It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear - Norm Peterson
www.decksetc.ca
|
|
|
|
|
07-02-2009, 09:32 PM
|
#9
|
|
Pro
Trade:
General Contractor
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Toronto
Posts: 415
|
get a little beaver auger 8hp its almost like the HD hydraulic auger but more powerful even with less HP or bump it up to 11HP, only problem with them is, the head is quite heavy to move around, but good weight for down pressure, plus you can get different bits for different digs
__________________
Custom Decks
Custom aquarium all salt water
Renovation
next on my list............planting trees for all those material i used
|
|
|
|
|
07-02-2009, 09:56 PM
|
#10
|
|
Capra aegagrus
Trade:
Remodeler
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,789
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DecksEtc
The two-man machines do nothing but turn people into helicopter propellers.
|
I've been on a few of those flights.
Without investing in a real machine, I favor the hydraulically driven head attached to a motor ass'y with a "trailer tongue". That pretty well solves the anti-torque problem. But you still need a fat dude to give it negative vertical encouragement.
|
|
|
|
|
07-02-2009, 10:31 PM
|
#11
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Remodeling & Decks
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,712
|
I did seven holes with my mini skid in 30 minutes today.
I don't think there is a faster/better way to do it.
|
|
|
|
|
07-02-2009, 10:38 PM
|
#12
|
|
Registered User
Trade:
contractor
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 9
|
Just purchase a new mt 55. Never want to use my two man digger again. Saves so much time.
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2009, 10:21 PM
|
#13
|
|
Deck Designer/Builder
Trade:
Deck Design & Construction
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Whitby, Ontario
Posts: 2,137
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Di
I did seven holes with my mini skid in 30 minutes today.
I don't think there is a faster/better way to do it.
|
__________________
It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear - Norm Peterson
www.decksetc.ca
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2009, 10:50 PM
|
#14
|
|
JumboJack for president!
Trade:
Hilti walking billboard
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 621
|
anything but a bobcat with an auger is worthless.
|
|
|
|
|
07-07-2009, 12:21 PM
|
#15
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Outdoor contracting: fences and decks
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,174
|
I took Greg's and Terry's advice and bought a digger. We went a slightly different route and got a Ditchwitch Zahn. The main difference is that unlike a skid steer it is articulated in the middle and can steer without tearing up the grass.
Very happy with it.
By the way, that's not me on the machine.
|
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to Stone Mountain For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
07-07-2009, 12:43 PM
|
#16
|
|
Pro
Trade:
carpentry / fencing / decks
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Savannah, Ga
Posts: 903
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stone Mountain
I took Greg's and Terry's advice and bought a digger. We went a slightly different route and got a Ditchwitch Zahn. The main difference is that unlike a skid steer it is articulated in the middle and can steer without tearing up the grass.
Very happy with it.
By the way, that's not me on the machine.
|
Would you care to share price info for the machine you bought? PM me if you would like. I have been looking around for something similar to your Zahn but have been worried about tearing up HO's grass.
|
|
|
|
|
07-07-2009, 06:41 PM
|
#17
|
|
Pro
Trade:
Remodeling & Decks
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,712
|
I have rubber tracks on mine and if you don't zero-turn, you can't tell the machine was on the lawn more or less. Obviously, if the ground is soggy (ie all of June), there will be some wear.
Generally, our foot traffic is more impactful than the skid though.
|
|
|
|
|
07-07-2009, 07:31 PM
|
#18
|
|
General Contractor
Trade:
Residential & Commercial
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,294
|
Like greg: Rubber tracks and gentle turns.
I always just laid out a path with plywood sheets anyway if the ground is not firm.
Even with no machine and we're walking around a lot or wheelbarrowing a lot.
|
|
|
|
|
07-07-2009, 08:39 PM
|
#19
|
|
Deck Designer/Builder
Trade:
Deck Design & Construction
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Whitby, Ontario
Posts: 2,137
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winchester
Like greg: Rubber tracks and gentle turns.
I always just laid out a path with plywood sheets anyway if the ground is not firm.
Even with no machine and we're walking around a lot or wheelbarrowing a lot.
|
The plywood is a good idea in wet conditions.
I can't speak to Stone's machine but I have rubber tracks like Greg and as long as you don't make quick/sharp turns any damage is minimal.
Like my cousin says "You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet" 
__________________
It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear - Norm Peterson
www.decksetc.ca
|
|
|
|
|
07-07-2009, 11:02 PM
|
#20
|
|
Registered User
Trade:
Architect Builder
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 8
|
Buy a used one from Home Depot
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
 Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
