A Guide to the Manual Posthole Digger

A manual posthole digger is also known as a clam shell digger.  It's a tool used for small digging projects (as opposed to power augers used for bigger, deeper holes).  The manual posthole digger or clamshell digger as some call it is a tool that works fine for small jobs.  Indeed, what a hand earth auger is compared to large mechanical augers, the manual posthole digger is to power models.  A posthole digger should not be mistaken for a post pounder, which is often used along with the digger, but to force the pole into the hole once the hole is dug. A typical manual posthole digger has a handle as long as six-feet long.  This allows for greater depth than smaller models with five foot handles.  The digger's handles are usually made of hard wood and are covered in a clear varnish.  This clear coating is not merely aesthetic; it also allows the buyer to see the wood's condition beneath it.  That's important since some not-so-reputable companies paint the handles to hide the inferior wood beneath.  The tool's handles are normally rounded at the top.  This makes it easier to use.  On the bottom, though, the ends are square, because this gives added strength. The blades of a good digger are precision molded and hardened.  They're sharpened and then covered by a shield that protects them when they're being sharped; the shield also keeps the digger sharp and ready for use.  The blades on the digger have been sized to cut a specific sized hole--perhaps six inches.  If you used a shovel to dig the hole, you'd have to dig a hole with a much wider diameter. That's one of the main benefits of the posthole digger--the narrowness of the holes it digs. Please note, though, that the tool works best in softer soils, such as clay.  If you try to dig in gravel with it, you'll have a bit of a difficult time, unless the stones are quite small. The pivot pin on the digger is usually made of 3/4" steel.  It's designed to be strong enough that it lasts for many years.  You as the user, though, also play a role in its longevity: Make sure you keep it clean and coated with oil to keep it from rusting. Prior to using your posthole digger, remember to keep safety foremost in your mind.  This means you should make sure that there are no electrical, cable, water or gas lines or pipes that you might strike.  It also means that you should practice proper hand safety by wearing gloves.  And don't forget the goggles to guard your eyes.     Once all of your preparations are made, mark the spot where you'll be digging.  Then, as you hold the handles together, raise the digger as high as possible, slamming it down to drive it into the ground.  Now pull the handles apart and lift the tool.  Your hole has now been started.  Move the digger away and remove the dirt between the blades by pulling the handles from each other.  Continue in this manner until your hole is your desired depth. If you have a major digging project that will involve several holes or digging in hard ground, consider a power earth auger rather than the manual digger.  But remember, regardless of which you buy, buy only from trusted manufacturers.  SpeedCo, for instance, has a good reputation.  For many people, when they think of SpeedCo , tractors are what they first think of, but their augers and posthole diggers are equally trustworthy.     If you do get the power auger, remember that you'll definitely need a second person to help you with it.  That's another of the benefits of the manual posthole digger:  It can easily be used as a one-man operation.