Just realized I was wrong about using a regular drill for post hole augers.

Had a rental job in Springfield last week where I tried to save time and used my heavy duty cordless drill with a 4-inch auger bit. The drill motor burned out after the third hole in some really hard clay. I had to run to the supply house and rent a proper two-man gas auger to finish the job, which cost me an extra $75 for the day. What do you guys use for small jobs when you don't want to drag out the big equipment?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_william2mo ago

Man that Springfield clay is no joke, I've been there. Burned up a decent drill on a fence job last year in similar dirt. Susan649 has a point about the harbor freight route for corded tools, you just have to accept they're basically disposable. For anything more than a couple holes in soft ground now I just bite the bullet and use the proper auger, the hassle isn't worth it. Learned that lesson the expensive way too lol.

susan6492mo ago

Grab a cheap corded drill from harbor freight for that stuff. Burn through three of them before you hit the cost of one burned out pro tool.

patricia5582mo ago

Springfield clay is basically concrete, so I get it. But honestly, the_william, burning out three drills sounds like a lot of bad luck (or maybe just really stubborn dirt). I've used my old corded Milwaukee for a dozen holes before it quit, and it was already on its last legs.