Digging holes in roots

[baconbarm]

Just after suggestions fellas.
Got approx 120 steel posts for railings to fit.
A lot of it is next to brambles , bushes etc so I know I'm gonna get a lot of trouble with roots.
Normally I just tough it out and rip through with blood sweat and elbow grease ..but there's too many holes this time to be spending ages on each hole.

Any specific gear or methods out there to make my life easier? cheers

 

[Wendelspanswick]

What size posts?
I fitted estate type railings made from 40 x 12 mm flat bar and because it was summer and the ground was rock hard I used an SDS drill and a 30mm masonary bit to drill into the ground and then hammered the posts in.

 

[Shedendman]

Been there
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/52cc-Petr...-Borer-Ground-Drill-with-3-Bits-/262719926631

Your best option
In fact check your local tool hire shop

 

[baconbarm]

What size posts?
I fitted estate type railings made from 40 x 12 mm flat bar and because it was summer and the ground was rock hard I used an SDS drill and a 30mm masonary bit to drill into the ground and then hammered the posts in.

There the green mesh type railings that come in a kit. think kid there 60mm or thereabouts

 

[baconbarm]

Been there
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/52cc-Petr...-Borer-Ground-Drill-with-3-Bits-/262719926631

Your best option
In fact check your local tool hire shop

Was looking in to an auger type set up. have you tried them on smallish roots? did it fare well ?

 

[bletchmonster]

An old axe head, weld the heel onto a 5' length of sturdy steel pipe, is very good for chopping down though roots

 

[Shedendman]

Was looking in to an auger type set up. have you tried them on smallish roots? did it fare well ?

Trust me,hire one for the day and you'll do more than 120 posts,in fact if your not carefull the thing will pop out in OZ

 

[brightspark]

but will it cut through root

Trust me,hire one for the day and you'll do more than 120 posts,in fact if your not carefull the thing will pop out in OZ

and if its powerfull enough take u round with it when it snags a big root

 

[Shedendman]

^^^^^^^^
Yer deffo have a helping hand,trick is when you get just before your depth start lifting otherwise you might up in the hole with it,but will say so much quicker than messing about digging and chopping

 

[66-V8]

 

[Shedendman]

PMSL,see you have to lift out before it bites

 

[wyn]

An auger on a mini digger

 

[Deltic]

Big crowbar with a point on the end speeds things up.

 

[Deltic]

oh wait. 120! Maybe time to get a mini digger and auger as suggested above.

 

[Shox Dr]

An auger on a mini digger

He's not wrong.
I've used a petrol hand held auger, great if you are in good soil. You need to pull them out frequently, to clear the auger, and unless you bore lower than required you'll have some spoil to clear by other means. But...even with two of us on it they are far from funny if you hit something. [and neither of us can be called small]

 

[brightspark]

An auger on a mini digger

great if u can factor the price in on the job and make it pay

 

[baconbarm]

Il get the hand held auger as suggested for the sake of hundred odd quid. if it's not suitable regarding the roots it will still come in handy for future jobs .

The mini digger idea may be a bit brutal for the site, there's a lot of small plants bushes lawns etc that would get ruined to get to the area

 

[GW8IZR]

I hire one in from time to time, Last time was 15 quid for two days. The cheap ebay ones are only just ok ish.. if you are lucky .. I saw one twist the shaft of the auger like a bit of rope.

Then you have to store the thing somewhere ... and then they are typical Chinese engines that take a lifetime to start next time you need it.

 

[Mee]

An auger on a mini digger

We normally hire one in for such jobs and they are a godsend, you need to factor it into the price but they aren't as expensive as you think when you factor in the manhours in digging holes by hand, or the cost of an buying a petrol auger, you can save days of digging. With the mini digger you can often reach over flower beds and not touch the plants.

 

[Ton-up]

Amazes me how you can buy one of them for £115!! I've used them a few times and they do grab on roots so hopefully they are not too big. Do not go in too far before removing and clearing hole if digging roots. A sharp 2 handle post spade will be a neccesity too!