That $20 harbor freight post hole digger snapped on me yesterday

I was digging holes for a fence in my backyard in Tulsa and about 4 feet down the handle just cracked clean in half. It was only my third hole and I wasn't even hitting rocks or anything. I ended up driving to Home Depot and buying a $60 Dewalt one with a fiberglass handle. That cheap one lasted maybe 20 minutes total. Has anyone else had luck with those budget tools or am I just asking for trouble?

2 comments

2 Comments

parkerk566d ago

Ha! Man, I feel your pain. I snapped a cheap shovel handle once trying to dig a hole for a mailbox post and it basically turned into a weird, splintery flag. Four feet down in Tulsa dirt with no rocks? That thing must have been made of toothpicks and hope. I've learned the hard way that "budget" usually just means "brittle" when it comes to digging tools. Hope the Dewalt one treats you better, or at least lets you get past hole number three without a trip to the hardware store.

betty_park626d agoMost Upvoted

Nah, I gotta call you out on this one. That whole "budget means brittle" thing is just a cop out for bad technique. I've dug a lot of holes with those dollar store specials and they hold up fine if you know how to use them. Sounds like you were twisting and prying instead of just pushing straight down. A shovel is not a crowbar.