Post hole digger: Difference between revisions
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There are also [[auger (drill)|auger]] type post hole diggers. These are generally easier to use, and they can be used to a much greater depth, as the hole can be dug as deep as the entire length of the shaft. More importantly, they form a much neater hole, with a well-defined circumference. However, the very fact that the person doing the digging is [[guarantee]]d a perfect hole with an auger post hole digger is also its greatest weakness: any given auger style post hole digger can only dig one size hole—a hole with the same diameter as the auger's screw. |
There are also [[auger (drill)|auger]] type post hole diggers. These are generally easier to use, and they can be used to a much greater depth, as the hole can be dug as deep as the entire length of the shaft. More importantly, they form a much neater hole, with a well-defined circumference. However, the very fact that the person doing the digging is [[guarantee]]d a perfect hole with an auger post hole digger is also its greatest weakness: any given auger style post hole digger can only dig one size hole—a hole with the same diameter as the auger's screw. |
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== History and |
== History and patent info == |
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Reports of the creation of the first post hole digger/auger can be dated back to 250 B.C in Greece to remove water from large ships. However, it wasn’t until the |
Reports of the creation of the first post hole digger/auger can be dated back to 250 B.C in Greece to remove water from large ships. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that the first patents were being created and factories began to produce these manual diggers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A brief history of the Manual Post Hole Auger|url=https://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk/manual-post-hole-augers/a-brief-history-of-the-manual-post-hole-auger|access-date=2020-09-15|website=Wonkee Donkee Tools|language=en-GB}}</ref> The first patent was developed by a man named Mead M. Hubby of Maysfield, Texas on November 2, 1880.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hubby|first=Mead M.|date=1880-11-02|title=Post-Hole Auger|url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth170060/m1/1/|access-date=2020-09-15|website=The Portal to Texas History|language=English}}</ref> This design was made to be used in any soil type by twisting a screw-like blade into to ground to remove dirt and have a uniform hole. The next major patent was filed by Jacob H. Lawry of Lenior City, Tennessee on April 7, 1908.<ref>{{Cite patent|title=Post-hole digger.|gdate=1907-06-11|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US884177A/en}}</ref> His design incorporated the traditional clam-shell diggers bolted together and attached to wooden handles to create an easier way to penetrate the ground and remove dirt to create a neat and uniform hole. |
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Modern post hole diggers/augers can be power by gas or electric motors. The post hole diggers/augers are either hand-driven or attached to machines like tractors or skid steers. These attachments reduce the time it takes to dig post holes. Kansas prairie farmers<ref>{{Cite web|title=Posthole Digger - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society|url=https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/posthole-digger/10310|access-date=2020-09-15|website=www.kshs.org}}</ref> claim that the new digger only takes them a minute to dig two and a half foot hole. |
Modern post hole diggers/augers can be power by gas or electric motors. The post hole diggers/augers are either hand-driven or attached to machines like tractors or skid steers. These attachments reduce the time it takes to dig post holes. Kansas prairie farmers<ref>{{Cite web|title=Posthole Digger - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society|url=https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/posthole-digger/10310|access-date=2020-09-15|website=www.kshs.org}}</ref> claim that the new digger only takes them a minute to dig two and a half foot hole. |
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== Materials and |
== Materials and uses == |
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There are two types of post hole diggers, a clam-shell post hole digger, and the auger style post hole digger. Both styles use metal for the head of the tool and bolts that hold it together. Often the shovel-like head of the clam-shell diggers is sharpened at the end to penetrate the dirt and cut a hole that is round and even. The Auger style post hole diggers have metal screw-like heads that cut into the dirt and a shaft that goes up to a wooden handle for turning manually<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-28|title=History of Post Hole Diggers - Who Invented the Post Hole Auger?|url=https://augerauthority.com/history-of-post-hole-diggers/|access-date=2020-09-15|website=Auger Authority|language=en-US}}</ref>. They may also have a steel plate for attaching to a tractors PTO shaft or with a skid steer being attached with pins and hydraulic lines. |
There are two types of post hole diggers, a clam-shell post hole digger, and the auger style post hole digger. Both styles use metal for the head of the tool and bolts that hold it together. Often the shovel-like head of the clam-shell diggers is sharpened at the end to penetrate the dirt and cut a hole that is round and even. The Auger style post hole diggers have metal screw-like heads that cut into the dirt and a shaft that goes up to a wooden handle for turning manually<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-28|title=History of Post Hole Diggers - Who Invented the Post Hole Auger?|url=https://augerauthority.com/history-of-post-hole-diggers/|access-date=2020-09-15|website=Auger Authority|language=en-US}}</ref>. They may also have a steel plate for attaching to a tractors PTO shaft or with a skid steer being attached with pins and hydraulic lines. |
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==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 04:01, 21 September 2020
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A post hole digger is a tool with two handles and clam-type blades used to dig narrow holes to install posts, such as for fences and signs.
There are different kinds of post hole diggers. A post hole pincer (pictured) is jabbed into the ground in the open position until the blades are buried. At that point the handles are pulled apart to close the tool and grab the chunk of soil loosened. They are then pulled out of the ground with the chunk of soil. The process is repeated until the hole is deep enough, or until the hole is so deep and narrow that the handles can no longer be pulled apart fully. This is one of the weaknesses of this kind of post hole digger.
There are also auger type post hole diggers. These are generally easier to use, and they can be used to a much greater depth, as the hole can be dug as deep as the entire length of the shaft. More importantly, they form a much neater hole, with a well-defined circumference. However, the very fact that the person doing the digging is guaranteed a perfect hole with an auger post hole digger is also its greatest weakness: any given auger style post hole digger can only dig one size hole—a hole with the same diameter as the auger's screw.
History and patent info
Reports of the creation of the first post hole digger/auger can be dated back to 250 B.C in Greece to remove water from large ships. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that the first patents were being created and factories began to produce these manual diggers.[1] The first patent was developed by a man named Mead M. Hubby of Maysfield, Texas on November 2, 1880.[2] This design was made to be used in any soil type by twisting a screw-like blade into to ground to remove dirt and have a uniform hole. The next major patent was filed by Jacob H. Lawry of Lenior City, Tennessee on April 7, 1908.[3] His design incorporated the traditional clam-shell diggers bolted together and attached to wooden handles to create an easier way to penetrate the ground and remove dirt to create a neat and uniform hole.
Modern post hole diggers/augers can be power by gas or electric motors. The post hole diggers/augers are either hand-driven or attached to machines like tractors or skid steers. These attachments reduce the time it takes to dig post holes. Kansas prairie farmers[4] claim that the new digger only takes them a minute to dig two and a half foot hole.
Materials and uses
There are two types of post hole diggers, a clam-shell post hole digger, and the auger style post hole digger. Both styles use metal for the head of the tool and bolts that hold it together. Often the shovel-like head of the clam-shell diggers is sharpened at the end to penetrate the dirt and cut a hole that is round and even. The Auger style post hole diggers have metal screw-like heads that cut into the dirt and a shaft that goes up to a wooden handle for turning manually[5]. They may also have a steel plate for attaching to a tractors PTO shaft or with a skid steer being attached with pins and hydraulic lines.
References
- ^ "A brief history of the Manual Post Hole Auger". Wonkee Donkee Tools. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
- ^ Hubby, Mead M. (1880-11-02). "Post-Hole Auger". The Portal to Texas History. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
- ^ [1], "Post-hole digger.", issued 1907-06-11
- ^ "Posthole Digger - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
- ^ "History of Post Hole Diggers - Who Invented the Post Hole Auger?". Auger Authority. 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
External links
Media related to Post hole diggers at Wikimedia Commons
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