Post hole diggers are tools used to create cylindrical holes in the ground for setting fence posts, sign posts, and structural columns. On a homestead, post hole digging is one of the most frequent excavation tasks due to the extensive fencing required for livestock management, garden protection, and property boundaries. The three categories of post hole diggers are manual tools, powered hand tools, and tractor-mounted hydraulic or PTO-driven augers. [[Fence Building]] and [[Electric Fencing]] rely on properly dug post holes.
The clamshell digger, also called a shovel-type digger, consists of two hinged blades with handles. It is operated by pushing the blades into the ground, spreading the handles to close the blades, and lifting the soil out. Clamshell diggers work well in loam and clay soils but struggle in rocky or root-filled ground. They are best suited for digging 40 to 60 holes per day in average conditions. The digging bar, a solid steel bar with a chisel tip, is used to break up rocks and compacted soil before the clamshell digger can remove the loosened material.
One-person gas-powered or electric augers use a spiral drill bit rotated by a small engine or electric motor. Common bit sizes range from 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) in diameter. Gas-powered augers weigh 12 to 20 kilograms (25 to 45 pounds) and require significant physical effort to operate in tough soil conditions. Two-person augers have handles on both sides, distributing the weight and torque reaction between two operators. Power augers can excavate 80 to 150 holes per day in favorable conditions.
Tractor-mounted post hole diggers attach to the three-point hitch and are driven by the PTO or hydraulic system. They are the most productive option, capable of digging 200 to 400 holes per day. Auger bit sizes range from 15 to 60 centimeters (6 to 24 inches) in diameter and 60 to 120 centimeters (24 to 48 inches) in length. Tractor-mounted diggers handle rocky and root-filled soil more effectively than manual or handheld tools due to the weight and torque of the tractor. [[Tractor Implements]] covers the three-point hitch and PTO systems that power this equipment.