The top 3 recommendations and buying guides

Note: A distinction is made between hydraulic and Hand auger. Since hydraulic attachments are normally only in demand in agriculture and forestry, in this guide we concentrate entirely on hand auger for hobby gardeners.

Our recommendations

The hand auger from Fiskars deserves first place in our comparative test based on the experiences of buyers for several reasons of the device on Amazon: Many reviewers describe it as light and handy, which is why it is also well used by women could. In addition, the Earth auger as high-quality, stable and “clear”: The markings of the dimensions on the drill provide information about how deep the drilled hole is.

The Güde model has similar properties to our comparison winner - but it weighs over a kilogram more. Otherwise, customers at Amazon are very satisfied with the device. In some cases it should even cope with stony soils - but only if the stones are small. The assembly also seems to go smoothly, as most of the reviewers say.

The Draper fence post drill is defined by most buyers as a "great drill" that allows the setting of Point foundations are intended to make point foundations immensely easier - even in difficult subsoils with smaller roots, stones or Clay. Only the unfortunately missing coating and the shortness of the handle are criticized by some customers.

Purchase criteria

drive

Manually: Hobby gardeners use the mostly T-shaped handle to turn the manual auger with their hands. Of course, this requires a lot of physical strength. The pros include the simple, low-risk application with good handling, the high flexibility as well as the simple cleaning and the low purchase price. Manual auger bits are very effective in soft ground. They are recommended for occasional and small holes. For stony ground, you should use a motorized auger.

engine: With the motorized hand auger, the hobby gardener only has the task of holding the device in an upright position - the screw itself is driven by the motor. In this regard, it is important to differentiate between electric and gasoline auger:

• Electric earth auger: often requires a longer power line. However, there are no emissions that are harmful to the environment or health, as well as the sometimes tedious starting of the engine.
• Gasoline auger: is more powerful and more flexible to use. Disadvantages are the exhaust gases, the more complicated switching on and the immense volume during operation.

In any case, motorized auger requires less effort from the hobby gardener. They can also cope with harder floors.

Drilling depth

Depending on whether you want to use smaller plants or larger plants, lower posts or longer stakes, the rods and the thread of the auger should be shorter or longer.

Guide value: Generally, earth drills are at least one meter long. At this average length, you can drill holes about 40 to 50 centimeters deep. There are also attachments for auger bits that allow an extension so that holes up to 2.5 meters deep can be realized.

Drilling diameter

Hand drills are available with different thread sizes. Note: The diameter of the thread corresponds to the diameter of the drilled hole. Again, it depends on what you want to aim for. If you want to use small plants or slim posts, a smaller diameter is sufficient, while larger plants and sturdy posts require a wide thread.

Guide value: As a rule, the thread diameter is between 70 and 200 millimeters.

Pilot drill

The so-called pilot drill denotes a very small "additional thread" that is attached in front of the core thread of the auger and makes it easier for you to start drilling. Not a must, but a pleasant extra.

Handle material

wood: A wood auger handle is elegant and traditional, but unfortunately also requires more care and is less stable.

Metal / steel: A metal or steel handle can withstand the highest loads, but can rust.

plastic: Depending on the specific material, a plastic handle is at risk of breaking. With glass fiber reinforced handles, however, you are on the safe side.

frequently asked Questions

What is an auger?

An earth drill is a threaded screw that is used both in private gardens and in professional agriculture. It can be used to drill holes in the ground. The earth drill is always in demand when

• Saplings planted,
• Fence posts set or
• Well systems set up

should be. You can also use an auger if you want to drain the lawn when it is waterlogged.

The hand auger available for hobby gardeners consists of two parts: a long drill rod with handle and a large screw for drilling. The drill thread ends in a small point with which you stick the auger into the ground.

How does an auger work?

The auger works on the principle of the Archimedean screw, which comes from ancient times and was intended to optimize the transport of water. This is still one of the main areas of application for the screwing principle today.

Translated to the earth auger, it can be described as follows: The screw rotates along a central axis. In theory it is enclosed by an outer tube - in the practice of the hand auger, the outer layers of the earth take on this role. When the hobby gardener turns the screw forward with his or her muscular strength or with motor assistance, the latter collects the earth on the thread blades. With each rotation, the drill moves the matter further upwards.

Note: The Archimedean screw is subject to the laws of gravity. Thus it only works in a vertical orientation (not in a horizontal one) and can be rotated from top to bottom, but not from bottom to top.

Which brands offer good auger bits?

Numerous well-known brands manufacture solid auger bits for hobby gardeners. Here are some popular manufacturers at a glance:

• Stihl
• Fuxtec
• Fiskars
• Atika
• Zipper
• Güde
• Scheppach
• Dolmar
• Husqvarna
• Vida XL
• Arebos
• Jansen
• Lumag

Where is the best place to buy an auger?

You can find classic manual auger bits in every hardware store - such as OBI, toom, Bauhaus, Hagebaumarkt, Hornbach or Globus. However, you can enjoy the largest selection at Amazon.

Can I build an auger myself?

Yes, with the right utensils, technical know-how, craftsmanship and good instructions, you can also build an auger yourself. This video gives you tips on how to do this: