What Is a Skid Steer Auger Attachment?
A skid steer auger or -skid steer post hole digger- is an attachment that uses your skid steers auxiliary hydraulic power to “auger” or dig holes in the earth.
Like many other skid steer attachments, a skid steer auger turns hydraulic power into high torque rotational force. The rotational force turns an auger with specially designed cutting teeth. The teeth loosen the earth beneath it, so the “auger flight” can move the earth upwards and out of the hole it is digging.
This is one of themost popular skid steer attachments, with its popularity only growing through the last few years.
How do I choose The Right Auger Bit and Drive?
Firstly, ensure that your skid steer auger attachment is compatible with your skid steers auger drive unit.
Auger drives will come with several different sizes of final drives. Most common for skid steers is 2” hex, 2 1/2” hex, and 2 9/16” Round. The auger you select to use with your drive must have the same size biton it to be compatible.
The size of the skid steer auger bit on the drive unit is usually a matter of how much torque the auger drive has. The higher the torque, the larger the diameter of the final drive.
High torque drive units must be paired with heavier-built augers. Likewise, a drive unit with less torque will struggle to work efficiently with too large of an auger.
With that said, you should also know that it is possible to purchase adapters to use different sized augers with your auger drive. This can be useful for usingmini skid steer augers on a full-size skid steer or vice versa.
What Is The “Flight” on a Skid Steer Auger?
The flight on an auger is the spiralling ribbon that is welded onto the augers shaft that lifts the augured material out of the hole.
Knowing the weakest point on any of your skid steer attachments is essential when shopping around. On an auger, this is the weld connecting the flight to the augers shaft. A weak weld in this area will result in premature failure of the auger.
As an additional note, skid steer augers are engineered with single or double flights. A single flight is all that is needed to manage loose soil.
How Long is a Skid Steer Auger?
Most skid steer augers are built to be 48" in length, but will have varying diameters depending on the customers needs.
There are exceptions to this. For example, Star Industries sells a 30" t-post auger which increases the speed and efficiency of drilling t-posts.
How Deep Can a Skid Steer Auger Dig?
There are accessories available to allow your machine to dig deeper than the standard 48". For example, various lengths of auger extensions are available. Anauger extension mounts directly to your auger drive and adds anywhere from 24" to 72" of depth.
What Types Of Augers Are Available?
Augers are often built to serve specific purposes. Popular categories are regular dirt augers for post holes,heavy duty rock augers, and even heavy duty skid steer stump grinders.
Auger bits will have different styles and arrangements of teeth to perform different functions. This is largely what makes a standard auger different than a rock auger.
The diameter of augers are variable so be sure to buy one that will work for your application.
How Much Does a Skid Steer Auger Cost?
Pricing of a new drive is around $3500. Bit prices vary considerably more, between $200 and $2000. It can range from $300 to $780 per piece.
The price of a shaft extension ranges from $200 to $600 depending on the length.
Be sure to buy equipment that works great with your Bobcat. Talk to your dealer, ensure you are happy with the service, and buy a great product from reputable brands such as Star Industries and Blue Diamond.
What Are Skid Steer Augers Used for Most Commonly?
- Fence Installation: Skid steer augers are used daily for digging fence post holes. Residential, commercial, or agricultural fencing projects, all can be knocked out with a skid steer auger attachment.
- Foundation Excavation: Skid steer augers are used in foundation pier or footing installation. They can easily penetrate all soil types, including clay, gravel, and rocky terrain.
- Tree Planting: Planting a tree may seem easy but repeating the task for several trees can prove to take up a lot of time. Skid steer augers can dig a hole to the perfect depth in less than a minute and be off to the next tree site.
- Utility Pole Installation: Utility poles get their strength and resilience from having a large portion of the pole in the ground. Augers for skid steers allow you to dig the hole quickly and efficiently
- Landscaping and Ground Preparation: Various landscaping tasks, including installing bollards, signage, and outdoor lighting fixtures are made easy with a skid auger. Irrigation systems are another common use case.
Not sure what auger will fit your skid steer or other auger question? Give us a call today!
