Earthmoving tasks, including drilling holes, are a part of nearly every commercial construction project. In fact, earthmoving can account for 20% of the total cost of a project. That’s why it’s important to streamline operations while still working safely and producing quality results.
If a project requires any sort of drilling or hole digging, you can lose precious hours if you don’t have the right equipment. For these projects, you need an auger.
What is an auger? These pieces of equipment make it easy to create precise post holes, take soil samples for testing or bore through materials without clogging the hole. In this article, you’ll learn all about the many auger uses for construction so you can make informed decisions when choosing your equipment.
What Is an Auger?
An auger is a tool used to make holes or move materials with small particulates, like grain. Much like a traditional drill bit, augers feature a central shaft (or stem) with a pointed tip and a sharp blade (or flights) wrapped around it like a corkscrew. The corkscrew bores into the ground while lifting material out of the hole at the same time. Augers can either be standalone pieces of equipment or attachments for other machines, like excavators and skid steers.
What Are the Benefits of Using an Auger?
It’s much faster and less labor-intensive to dig holes or sample soil with a powered machine rather than manual tools like shovels or post-hole diggers. With this piece of equipment, you can:
- Increase Hole Stability: Augers excavate as they drill which means that the hole is much less likely to collapse. The holes will be more stable and less clogged than if they were dug by other tools.
- Drill Deeper and Through Tough Material: The bits can be several feet long, allowing you to dig deeper than you could with manual tools. Some augers have an extremely sharp blade, allowing you to bore through ice and rocky soil.
- Streamline Tasks: Some versions have a hollow stem, allowing concrete to be pumped into the hole as the auger is removed. This makes the process of digging post holes and adding footers for structural supports and foundations much quicker. Specialty augers, like grain augers, allow you to move grain up an incline and into a silo with ease.
- Drill More Consistent Holes Safely: Augers don’t require a lot of pressure to dig holes. This makes it easier for crews to quickly drill a lot of clean, high-quality holes.
What Is an Auger Used For? 3 Types of Augers for Construction
Augers come in many types and sizes, allowing them to be used for everything from home gardening and ice fishing to environmental science and large-scale construction projects.
For construction and construction-related tasks, however, there are three main types to consider. These augers are designed to tackle commercial tasks, such as taking samples for environmental testing, digging post holes, and other earth-boring tasks.
Type 1: One-Person Earth Augers
One-person augers are gas-powered, towable machines that remove the torque from the operator. This helps reduce operator fatigue, allowing a single team member to take on the same drilling situations as a two-person auger.
Type 2: Two-Person Earth Augers
Earth augers are the most common type of auger, as they are used to dig holes in the soil. They lift dirt and rocks up out of the hole as they drill downward.
Many commercial jobs rent a two-person auger to dig post holes or drill through tough soil. Powered by gas engines, the top has handles for each operator to hold. The operators stand on either side of the machine to keep torque under control so the hole will be straight.
Type 3: Auger Attachments for Skid steers and Excavators
Within the earth auger category are auger attachments for skid steers and excavators. These attachments allow construction crews to streamline their equipment lineup and drill large or deep holes. These attachments are often more powerful than smaller augers, allowing crews to break through tree roots, rocky soil and frozen ground.
How to Use an Auger: Frequently Asked Questions
Augers vs. Drills: What’s the Difference?
Augers are similar to drills in that they both drill into soil and loose rock. But augers are different. The biggest difference is the shape of the bit and blade.
An auger has a wider blade surrounding the shaft. This allows the bit to efficiently remove material from the hole. Augers also require less pressure than drills to cut into soil, creating a smoother, deeper hole with less effort.
Traditional drill bits feature a spiral that’s cut into the shaft. This design may allow the hole to clog up with debris, making traditional drill bits better for shallow work rather than deeper holes.
How Important Is the Right Auger Bit?
The auger bit determines what materials you can drill through and how big the hole will be. For example, using an earth auger bit on solid rock can ruin the auger, crack the rock or burn out the motor. Similarly, if you use an auger bit that’s not the right length or diameter for the hole you need, then you’ll end up doing costly rework.
3 Traits of the Right Auger Bit:
- Blade Type: Make sure the blade is designed to cut through the material you’ll be drilling.
- Length: The bit’s length should be equal to the depth of the hole you’re drilling.
- Diameter: The diameter of the bit tells you how wide the hole will be. For post holes, the bit diameter should be bigger than the width of the post, allowing you to create room for the concrete footer or fill dirt.
How Deep Can You Drill with an Auger?
One- and two-person augers generally allow you to drill up to 3 or 4 feet deep. Auger attachments for heavy equipment and specialized augers allow you to go deeper.
What Materials Can You Safely Drill Through with an Auger?
The type of materials you can drill through depends on the type of tool you’re using. Earth augers can drill through most soil, snow or frozen ground, tree roots, and rocky areas. However, they may struggle with layers of rock and thick clay.
To find out what materials are safe for your auger, review the manuals for both the machine and the auger bit. If you’re renting an auger, ask your rental provider for equipment operation and safety training.
Helpful Safety Resources:
- Learn about the hazards of auger drilling and OSHA safety standards
- NASD Auger Safety Tips
- 10 Effective Heavy Equipment Safety Tips
How Do You Care for an Auger After Use?
Augers require the same kind of care and maintenance of any motorized equipment. Check your auger’s manual for best practices specific to your auger and follow all recommended safety steps.
- Turn off the auger and wait for the bit to stop rotating before clearing debris from the bit.
- Clean and dry the bit’s blade and shaft to prevent rusting and keep the blade sharp.
- Check and change oil and fluids as needed.
- Secure the auger to prevent damage during storage and transport.
Find Quality Augers and Earthmoving Equipment at Herc Rentals
Whether you are building a new fence, a new building or installing utility lines, using an auger will make the job easier and streamline operations. At Herc Rentals, we have a fleet of meticulously maintained augers and auger attachments for your earthmoving needs.
By renting an auger or auger attachment from Herc Rentals, you get the versatility and benefits of the latest technology without the large upfront costs and fleet-management hassles of equipment ownership.
We also understand that while every project is different, you always need a safe and efficient work site. Our team is ready to help you find the right equipment solutions for your project needs.
Explore our wide selection of earthmoving equipment and attachments or call 888-777-2700 to get started today.
