Bought a $40 auger from harbor freight, snapped the handle 20 minutes into digging post holes for a pergola.

Had to drive 45 minutes to return it and rent a real one from sunbelt, which chewed through the rest of the holes in under an hour, so has anyone else found a cheap auger that actually holds up or is renting always the move?

2 comments

2 Comments

alice_wilson734d ago

You ever try to dig a hole in rocky soil with one of those? I did once near a retaining wall, hit a buried root that yanked the auger sideways and it spun me around like a top. Ended up with dirt in my hair and a twisted wrist. Renting is the move unless you're digging in potting mix.

noahhall4d ago

That thing about getting spun around by a buried root really hits home. I borrowed a neighbor's cheap auger once and hit a big rock, the whole thing twisted so hard I thought I was gonna break my wrist. Your mileage may vary, but I've never found a cheap one that doesn't have some kind of problem. I'm curious, did you try sharpening the blades on that rental before you used it? I've heard that makes a huge difference even on the big name ones. Just wondering if that extra step was worth it or if they're just built that much better from the get go.