Designed to drill into wood, the manual auger is used today to dig the ground. It is a gardening tool similar to a drill with a succession of metal spirals also called gimlets. Unlike motorized models, the manual auger has a crank to activate the rotation and be able to push it deeper into the ground . By this process, it makes it possible to make a hole of relatively small diameter and depth. Although several uses are attributed to it, this device is often used to take a sample of the soil for a laboratory study.
To help you choose the model you need, we conducted a test to determine the best augers currently available on the market. Thus, you will have all the necessary information before making the purchase.
How to choose your manual auger?
To choose the right hand auger for your projects, you will need to take into account many criteria as important as the others.
Auger material
Although there are a few exceptions made of fiberglass, steel is the material most frequently used in the design of this tool, which is used by both DIYers and professionals. An auger made of steel has many advantages. Robustness and durability are the main ones that we could mention. Since its main purpose will be to collide with different elements as solid as each other, it is better to bet on a resistant material such as steel. For those who wish to acquire some in order to dig in the ground, the presence of rocks is not to be ruled out. This is one more reason to choose a manual auger made of steel .
auger size
Depending on the desired use, several auger models are available on the market. With diameters ranging from 9 to more than 20 centimeters, the choice of the size of your auger depends only on the size of the hole or holes you wish to make. The material you want to work with must also fall within your selection criteria. It goes without saying that the auger you need will not be the same size depending on whether you want to drill a few wooden beams or plan to dig a well.
Nature of the work
The manual auger is a type of equipment known for its versatility. One and the same model can serve you for two different uses. This is particularly the case for planting a shrub and installing fence posts. These two operations require the making of a hole of the same diameter at the same depth. On the other hand, you should know that this versatility does not in any way imply the use of the same model for all possible uses. As mentioned earlier, the nature of the work you want to do is one of the most important criteria to consider when choosing your manual auger wisely .
Versatility
Like all products on all markets combined, that of manual augers offers entry-level models with basic functions but also much more elaborate models. In its primary form, the manual auger has two parts : a handle or a crank for an effective grip located on the upper part of the device. The lower part, on the other hand, consists of a cylinder with a pointed end surrounded by an endless screw allowing the soil to be dug. Other models offer additional options, allowing you to dig deeper or even interchange the screws to vary their use.
How to use a hand auger?
Devoid of motors, like portable electric devices, it is necessary to use the strength of your arms to use a manual auger . In order to minimize your physical efforts, it is however necessary to adopt the right posture. Although some models are equipped with non-slip handles, it is strongly recommended to use gloves to protect your hands from the appearance of blisters.
Less tiring than using other manual tools such as a pick or shovel, it goes without saying that help in your work from a friend would not be a bad thing. As the saying goes, alone we go faster but together we go further. Thus, benefiting from additional strength could help you perform your drills in a much more efficient way than when working solo.
What is the advantage of using a manual auger?
Versatility is undoubtedly the main advantage of opting for a manual auger . Whether it is to install your fence posts, posts for your fence or to plant shrubs, the manual auger is the tool you need.
The value for money presented by the different models available on the market, as can be seen from the models tested by the editorial staff mentioned above.
Manual augers do not actually require you to break the bank to have access to a product that allows you to dig efficiently and safely.
Why prefer a manual auger?
Compared to other manual tools for digging holes, the manual auger is a tool designed for specific uses. By choosing to use an appropriate tool for a given task, you get a clean and efficient result. Indeed, digging holes with a shovel in order to plant poles is indeed possible, however the amount of work would be increased tenfold, not to mention increased stress on the back and the injuries you risk.
It would also result in much more time needed to complete your work. In other words, a manual auger allows you to save considerable time with the added bonus of a quality result.
Manual augers, whatever the model, are all the lighter compared to electric and thermal augers . This leads to ease of use as well as exceptional maneuverability.
The uses of a hand auger
Manual auger for drilling
Depending on the type of soil, various augers of different shapes are available. For drilling above the water table, use the large conical auger, the large clay auger and the Riverside auger. Respectively, each of these augers is designed for clay or sandy soil, soil containing sticky clay, and gravel and loamy soil. For drilling below the water table, the small Riverside auger and the impoundment auger are the most suitable.
Manual well auger
The manual auger is designed to carry out manual drilling of wells ranging from 125 to 205 millimeters in diameter. It is an innovative system that allows you to add an extension with the possibility of sliding the cutter along the latter. This will avoid having to remove the extensions each time you go up. A complete kit consisting of a one meter long drill, a drill bit and extensions of different sizes is available to you to enable you to carry out your work as efficiently as possible.
Manual Ice Auger
In order to successfully dig in the ice, the use of a specialized auger for this purpose is necessary. To do this, this type of model is equipped with a particularly resistant blade made of steel and carbon alloy. It should be noted, however, that manual ice augers are quite expensive because of their specific use. Available at a price of around €80, these tools can be purchased from various online stores. Their performances as well as their maneuverability differ however from one manufacturer to another.
Manual planting auger
For small shrub planting jobs or just to mix your soil and optimize the conditions for your plants to grow well, the use of a manual auger is recommended. Models are designed specifically for this vocation. This is particularly the case of the Berger & Schröter manual auger, the technical characteristics of which have been explained in detail previously.
Manual Post Auger
The use of an auger is essential for installing fence posts. To do this, choose an auger that has a screw with a diameter between 12.7 to 15 centimeters capable of making homogeneous cavities 50 centimeters deep.
Manual auger for soil analysis
The analysis of a soil necessarily requires a sampling session beforehand. It is at this stage that the EDELMAN auger comes in, which is the ideal tool for cleaning a hole and extracting residues. This sample taken will then be used in the laboratory to determine the nature and components of the soil concerned.
Manual sand auger
The piston sampler is the ideal type of auger for work on soil that is not very cohesive such as sand. It is also compatible for sampling sediments that contain sand.
The strengths and weaknesses of the hand auger
Versatility is probably one of the most important advantages of the hand auger . Indeed, with one and the same tool, it is commonly possible to carry out two to three types of work. These include setting up stakes and planting shrubs. Thus, by investing in the acquisition of such tools, you ensure the possibility of subsequent reuse for work that you did not initially plan.
Easy to use and very affordable in general, manual augers do however have a major and not insignificant drawback. The need to use physical force in order to turn the screw in the ground generates fatigue which can very quickly be felt without additional help during the work.
Our opinion on the manual auger
Generally designed to be a multifunction and robust tool, the manual auger is an ideal compromise between ease of use and affordable quality . In other words, to redecorate your garden by planting new shrubs and to install your fence, you will only need one piece of equipment. The manual auger is therefore recommended for people who are passionate about DIY and gardening.
Questions to ask about the manual auger
How to do a borehole yourself with a manual auger?
Do-it-yourself drilling is only possible by choosing the right auger for the type of soil you want to work. Then, it is necessary to carry out the good gestures. It is important to hold your tool perpendicular to the ground for best results.
What are the limitations of the manual auger well drilling technique?
Although it is a very practical method, the drilling of wells using a manual auger is limited by the depth that can be reached by the extensions that accompany it. Of course, fatigue is also to be taken into account. Once exhausted by the successions of turn of the handle made, the progression is momentarily interrupted, which represents wasted time.
Is the manual auger effective in the case of hard ground?
Augers exist for each type of soil. For hard ground, it is wise to choose quality models and not the entry-level ones which tend to last less over time because of their fragility. Thus, in the case of hard ground, it is recommended to opt for augers designed for stony ground, such as the Silverline 868696 manual auger.
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