The auger is a very handy tool that can be used by everyone from homeowners to professional landscapers and renovation crews. Anyone who needs a quick and efficient way to dig holes for poles or landscaping.
With the auger, this work can be done in a very short time and without much effort.
The Best Professional Earth Augers
EARTHQUAKE Powerhead 43 CC with 8 inches Auger Bit
4,9 Rating
With the E43 earth auger and included 8-inch auger bit you can drill deep into the earth in just seconds. Engineered to be reliable and long-lasting. This auger is lightweight yet built with heavy-duty construction using steel handlebars. The transmission features ball bearings and alloy gears built to withstand the challenges of digging in the dirt. The earth auger features anti-vibration foam-grip handles, with an easy-to-grip fingertip throttle control. The included 8” auger is constructed of durable steel, heavy-duty welds, and a powder coat finish.
How To Use Earth Augers?
How To Choose Earth Augers?
Buying guide for Earth Augers
In this review and guide, you will find information on some of the best earth drills you can find.
There are quite a few manufacturers of earth drills in today’s home improvement market, and prices vary greatly depending on the model and design. Purely in terms of price, augers vary in models that are available starting at $250 and can go up to nearly $330 each.
The Best Earth Augers
All our reviews are based exclusively on expert judgments or practical experience with most of the earth augers we have tested. We strive to make our guide as independent and as detailed as possible.
Reviews Earth Augers
ECO LLC 52cc Earth Auger
Easy to handle
ECO LLC One-Man 52CC Gasoline Auger with 2 Auger Bits gives you plenty of power to efficiently dig and bore through holes for decks, fence posts, tree planting, and more. Different size auger bits meet your different hole dig requirements. This earth auger features a powerful 2-stroke 52cc gasoline engine enabling drilling of multiple holes in quick succession.
ECO LLC 63CC Earth Auger Drill (with 6″ & 10″ & 12” Bits)
Powerful gasoline auger
ECO LLC One-Man 63CC Gasoline Auger with 3 Auger Bits gives you plenty of power to efficiently dig and bore through holes for decks, fence posts, tree planting, and more. Different size auger bits meet your different hole dig requirements. This earth auger features a powerful 2-stroke 63cc gasoline engine enabling drilling of multiple holes in quick succession.
SuperHandy Cordless Earth Auger
- Max Speed (Revolution Per Minute): 325 RP/Ms.
- Horse Power / Torque / Max Wattage: 2.02 HP / 60 Nm (Newton Meter) / 1425W.
- Starting / Running Wattage Loaded: 150W / 100W.
4,8 Rating
Universal earth auger
This Super Handy All-Electric 48V Auger includes a: 2Ah Li-Ion Battery, Charger & 6″ x 30′ Steel Auger. Earth Augers can be used for: digging post holes, bedding plants, bulbs, seedlings, fertilizing shrubs, water aeration, or even heavy-duty weed & root removal/management.
What are the types of earth augers?
Earth drills are actively used in gardening or your own garden. They allow quick and easy digging holes that can be used for laying water pipes. Today on the market there is a wide range of earth augers with different types of engines:
- Manual auger.
Many hand augers are very inexpensive. When choosing a hand auger, you should pay special attention to the processing and powder coating of the material. It is suitable only for uncomplicated or small holes in the ground. With this garden tool, you can drill holes with a diameter of 2.0 to 12 inches. This is a soil auger that requires physical strength and is only suitable for loose soil. This model is recommended only if you want to use it to dig small holes. Compared to other versions, this tool does not allow you to replace the drill head. - Gasoline-powered auger.
Powerful gasoline augers are very popular and convince with their first-class performance. Produced by many manufacturers in different price ranges. Usually equipped with a reliable and powerful two-stroke engine and weighing up to 22 lb. These units have profiled, comfortable handles including locks, solid gears, and infinitely variable speed control. They guarantee safe and easy operation. The comfortable handles provide a secure grip while drilling. The advanced pump allows for quick and easy starting. With a convenient mixing cylinder, a simple fuel mixture can be used in various mixing ratios. These drills are ideal for drilling work in the garden. Powerful tools save not only muscle power but also working time. They are quite easy to use and ideal for heavy soils. - Electrically driven auger.
If you have an electrical outlet in proximity to your allotment or can use a cable drum, electrically powered auger attachments are ideal. Most units operate at 1000 to 1200 watts. They require a standard 220-volt outlet. Although an electric auger is not as powerful as a gasoline-powered model, it can easily be used to drill planting holes and dig a few holes for a new fence.
What should you look for when buying an earth auger?
When buying should pay attention to the following:
- Drive type.
As already mentioned, the earth drill comes in manual, electric, and gasoline versions. Depending on the nature of the soil and the purpose of use, the devices are more or less powerful. Gasoline models are recommended for universal use. They are strong enough to overcome difficult soil conditions and are ideal for installing fence posts. - Weight.
If you need to drill holes in the garden for a long period of time, the weight of the earth auger plays an important role. While a handheld soil auger weighs between 3 and 5 pounds, gasoline-powered ones weigh an average of 22 pounds.
On the other hand, you’ll have to put in a lot more effort with a manual auger, while the motorized models will drill a hole in the ground by themselves. - Speed.
The speed of many devices is infinitely adjustable. This is especially useful when there is an optional quick-locking mechanism for quick and easy auger changes. One advantage is that no additional tools are needed for the modification. - Performance.
A good motor-driven screw should have high performance. When you buy a screw, it should always be suitable for the work to be done. One of the most popular models is the air-cooled two-stroke engine with 3 hp. - Built-in baffle.
Another positive feature is the built-in vibration damper. This makes working with the device much more comfortable. - High-pressure pump.
A good unit is also equipped with a booster pump and an air flap lever. This allows the device to start without any problems. - Brake.
The device must be usually equipped with a high-quality brake that stops the drill within a few seconds if it gets stuck. The jammed drill should always be removed from the hole counterclockwise. This works only on the equipment with a gasoline engine. - The diameter of the drill bit.
You should also pay attention to the diameter of the drill bit. This will tell you how big or wide the hole will be in the future. You should also consider how long the spiral of the drill should be. This will help you determine how deep you can drill with this model. If the drilling depth is not enough, it is possible to use a drill rod extension.
When buying an auger, you should always make sure that the auger has a protective or control seal.
How does earth augers work?
When using an earth drill with gasoline or electric motor, the drill pipe rotates automatically. Just like with a conventional drill, you can drill holes in the ground without much effort. In contrast to hand-operated drill bits, motorized drill bits can be used with various drill rods of different diameters.
The auger works as a kind of rotary cutter. The drill bit first loosens the soil. The cutting blades of the spindle then plunge into the soil and lift the excess soil upward. When the spindle has completely disappeared into the soil, you can also pull up the entire drill bit and pull out the rest of the soil. If you need to drill even deeper holes, you can not avoid the gasoline drill. There are special drill rod extensions for these augers.
FAQ about the earth augers
- What is an auger?
An earth drill is a tool used for digging holes in the ground. This drill drills round holes relatively easily and with little effort, and has the advantage that various jobs can be done relatively easily. The auger is often used when you need holes for a garden fence.
- What diameter does an auger need?
As with many other tools, there are many designs of augers in terms of size. The size is primarily based on the diameter specification. The diameter of the auger required depends primarily on the task and the desired result.
- How does the screw work?
The augers work either from a motor (for example, with a drill) or by hand. The first option is, of course, easier, and the work involved is completed in a very short time. Drills are usually started with push-button control, and the electric versions also offer some useful additional functions.
- How to drill a well with an earth drill?
Drilling a well is an extremely responsible and rewarding activity for gardeners. With the help of an auger, this work can be done relatively quickly and easily. You can find detailed instructions on how to drill a well on the Internet or ask a professional.
- How to assemble an auger?
Installation of an earth auger is relatively simple and can be roughly compared to the installation of a drill bit in a drill press. The drill itself should be threaded into the chuck, and you can basically start drilling. However, manufacturers always include in the packaging material operating instructions, where you can find additional information on how to start.
- How does the hand drill work?
The hand drill is driven by muscle power. The drill has a device on which you can place both hands and start the drilling process with a swiveling motion. However, keep in mind that large holes with a handheld auger require a lot of force. However, compared to other models, hand augers are also a cheaper option.
- Where does the earth auger come from?
The auger is actually derived from a normal drill. Since holes need to be drilled in more than just concrete or wood, the famous and popular auger was invented.
- Why do I need an auger in my garden?
If you are lucky enough to have your own garden, you surely need to do all kinds of gardening. You always need to drill holes in the ground, and an auger can make this job easier and faster. Whether it’s drilling wells or holes for installing a garden fence, an auger is a basic piece of equipment for any garden owner.
- What are augers used for?
Earth augers are the perfect aid for installing fence posts. It doesn’t matter whether you want to pre-drill a narrow hole for a wooden post or need to make a sufficiently deep and wide hole for the foundation. Even stony ground is no problem for a sufficiently powerful machine. Particularly advantageous is the use of an earth drill for the foundation sink of sheds or garden sheds. In this regard, earth augers machines are very practical garden tools that reliably help with various tasks. Also, these machines are very low maintenance and have a long service life. They are designed for professional use in gardening and forestry, and less suitable for amateur gardeners. Nevertheless, these hydraulic drills make it very easy to drill deep and large holes in hard soils.
- Can an auger dig roots?
Using an earth drill is very beneficial if you want to plant larger plants in hard soil. If you use a drill with an electric motor, you can easily dig through old roots with it.
Conclusion about the earth augers
You can buy on the market various devices that differ in price, material, and size. Simple drills are operated manually. Other devices are equipped with a mechanical drive. Which model you choose should depend primarily on the work to be done.
Choice of auger teeth for drilling
The part of the earth’s crust that is within the limits of human construction activity and consists of rocks is summarized by the name soil. Drilling is the breaking down of the soil in the face with a drill bit and transporting the broken rock with an auger to the surface of the hole.
Let’s talk a little bit about the structure of a drilling tool. The element that does most of the destroying work is called the drill. The drill has teeth, or cutters, whichever suits you best. The teeth are placed in their respective holders (pockets, holders). In the bottom center part of the auger is the drill bit, which provides the primary direction of the auger and the entire auger column by creating a guide hole from cutting into the ground.
The result of the variety of soil types has been a variety of drill types, differing not only in design, but also in cutting elements.
The lightest soils are drilled with conventional teeth, which are called “For Light Soils”. Such soils can be peat and plant layer without roots, dry sands (not quicksands), sandy loam, weak chalk. Of wet soils – only silt and silty soils.
Next, the real all-rounders – abrasive drilling teeth – come into play. They are flat, so they enter and cut into the ground perfectly, but they are also reinforced with tungsten tips that protect the teeth from wear and tear for many meters of drilled holes.
There are some soils that can also take abrasive, and so-called rock teeth, which are round shaped and also reinforced with tungsten tips. The round shape helps crumble harder and tougher rocks. The ability to use one or the other tooth depends on various factors, including drilling diameter and depth, wetness, and time of year. Therefore, in some cases, the selection is made empirically.
List of transitional soils – fine pebbles, frozen silt and peat, clayey sandstone, limestone and dolomite (not dense), dense magnesite, porous limestone and tuff, medium-hard coal. Shales: clayey, sandy-clayey, carbonaceous, siltstones, strongly weathered ores.
Difficult for drilling soils – gravelly and rubbly, frozen: coarse sand, gravel, silt, sandy clays, sandstones strengthened with lime cement, siltstones, mudstones. argillite-like clays, very dense, conglomerate of sedimentary rocks on sandy-clay or other porous cement, limestone, anhydrite very dense, pebbles of eruptive and metamorphic rocks (river), small crushed stone without boulders.
Soils are more complicated and not always drillable by standard methods: conglomerates with pebbles (up to 50%) of erupted rocks on sandy-clay cement, conglomerates of sedimentary rocks on siliceous cement, quartz sandstones, dolomites dense, siliceous, feldspar sandstones, limestones, porous weathered opoki, hard coal, anthracite, clay shales, loose ores.
There are other drillable rocks, but working with them requires an experienced approach.
Augers for power drills: selection and improvement
As a working tool on hand-held drilling rigs – power drills are used augers or, as they are more correctly called, auger drills with a flange (spiral). With the help of this flange, the waste soil, destroyed by the tool, is brought to the surface when performing excavation work.
Another type of working tool for gasoline drills are core drilling tools. But due to the imperfect design, such tools for handheld power drills are rarely used.
Depending on the type of soil and the season of use, different types of cutting blades are installed on the augers to facilitate drilling under different conditions. The auger drilling method when using a power auger, is designed for development of soft soils of 1, 2, 3 categories and partially soils of category 4 (depending on conditions of development and the power auger used).
General recommendations on the choice of an auger for the power drill
In order to buy a quality working tool for your power auger, you should pay attention not only to the price.
When choosing an auger, one should take into account such parameters as
- engine power of the power drill;
- torque;
- connecting dimensions of the auger landing;
- the shape of the shank;
- diameter and other dimensions of the drilling part.
Be sure to pay attention to the purpose of the auger, for what types of soil it is designed. It is quite natural that an auger designed for winter fishing is able to pass only ice, it cannot be used for any type of ground.
Earth Augers Price:
Earth Augers Under 300$
- ECO LLC 52cc Earth Auger
- EARTHQUAKE Powerhead 43 CC with 8 inches Auger Bit
Earth Augers Under 400$
- ECO LLC 63CC Earth Auger Drill (with 6″ & 10″ & 12” Bits)
- SuperHandy Cordless Earth Auger