digging in clay

[yankeepac]

Have been having a terrible time digging post holes with my post hole digger. It works great when in the dirt, but when it hits clay (north Carolina has lots of it), it quickly bottoms out, and isn't able to screw in further. I have had to dig by hand most of them, and the back is getting pretty tired. any ideas?

 

[Tooljunkie]

Did this with a gas auger years ago, hardpan it what sone call it. Auger would stop, and when lifting it out of hole it would be hot. Look down and see your reflection in what looked like a ceramic bowl..

Pour in a couple quarts of water, let it soak in and try augering again.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You can get a down pressure kit to help break the barrier.

 

[Tooljunkie]

If its hydraulic type, mounting it to front end loader solves the downpressure problem too.

 

[skeets]

Ok let me try this again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZlJYKC5HWw&feature=player_embedded#t=3

 

[yankeepac]

I love the everything attachments video's Especially peanut, does what he wants to, not what he is told to do.
looking at their augers, it appears the tips are a lot more aggressive. More cork screw in shape. Is this something that is replaceable? Is it a standard size? where would I get this. My auger I believe is a land pride. Made for John Deere.

 

[MadMax31]

I have 16 acres of shale, not land. My gas powered 6" is mostly a drill bit I attack at varying angles with. Pick-ax and shovel share the work. I had a neighbor blast 24" holes for my Porch sonotubes. 70hp skidsteer was nearly spinning around the auger bit. It had aggressive teeth down on the point and he was grinding those things into nubs after 3rd hole. Ive never personally dug deeper than 16" trench on my land. I dig as deep as I can for Norway Spruce root-balls and berm dirt around them...

 

[ShaunRH]

The fill with water overnight usually worked for us. If you're rushed, you can use digger poles and sledgehammers. If you're really, really rushed, ammonium nitrate fertilizer and diesel fuel...