To choose the best auger rental, you'll first want to determine the size of the holes that will be dug, the type of soil in which the holes will be placed, and the kind of post material which will be used. Choosing the right piece of equipment to complete any hole digging job can greatly expedite the time required to complete the process. Renting hole digging machinery can also save a great deal of money compared with the expense of purchasing the equipment.
An auger is a piece of construction equipment that is used to dig holes. This type of machinery may be either operated by hand or be powered remotely. Most augers feature a spiral metal coil that winds around a central digging pole. The machine digs downward into the dirt and carries it up, out of the hole. This type of equipment is beneficial in alleviating the strain and difficulty associated with digging holes manually.
Projects that require multiple holes to be dug or deep holes to be placed in hard ground may require an auger rental. Larger, more efficient augers, which usually are gasoline powered and attach to tractors for easy mobility, can often be rented at prices lower than the total cost of purchasing a small electric unit. When renting an auger, size typically dictates the expense — larger augers cost more than smaller units. An auger rental typically is available at half-day use rates, however, which can help save money.
To determine the type of auger rental needed for a particular project, first gauge the size of the hole that will be required. This is generally decided by the type of construction being performed. Fencing posts and building foundations often list the hole size needed to fit the material used in construction. Do not attempt to estimate the size of the hole necessary, as this could weaken the overall structural integrity of the fence or building or lead to more work to correct an inaccurately dug hole.
It also is important to test the durability of the soil in which the holes will be dug. It is generally a good idea to first dig pilot holes with a shovel or hand spade as location markers for the auger prior to renting the equipment. This preparation will also indicate the level of difficulty the machine will encounter when digging the post holes. Extremely dense, hard-packed soil will create a high level of resistance against the digging equipment. Large, gasoline-powered machines may be necessary for this type of soil.
Finally, decide what size drill bits will be necessary before renting the auger. Bits may be rented in sizes ranging between 4 and 12 inches in diameter (between 10.2 and 30.5 centimeters). Larger drill bits tend to make the machinery more difficult to control. The size choice typically depends upon the project. For example, 6-inch (about 15.2-cm) bits are usually appropriate for digging holes for steel posts, while 8-inch (about 20.3-cm) bits may be more appropriate for digging wood post holes. Concrete foundations, on the other hand, generally require 12-inch (about 30.5-cm) bits.