The auger on my post hole digger snapped right in half this morning

Was digging holes for a new privacy fence in my backyard when the auger blade just gave up and split clean down the middle after hitting a buried rock. Has anyone else had a drill attachment fail like that mid job or was I just unlucky?

3 comments

3 Comments

laurac961mo ago

Maybe the auger had a hairline crack from before that just waited for the perfect moment to let go. I've seen that happen with drill bits and stuff at work, where a tiny flaw you can't even see gives out under pressure. Those buried rocks can be sneaky too, they'll twist the blade just right and snap something that should have held. Could be worth checking the rest of your digger over real close for any other thin spots before you go back at it.

oliver_morgan1mo ago

Wait, you actually SAW a drill bit snap from a hairline crack before?

chen.casey26d ago

Ha yeah no kidding! I actually watched a masonry bit explode in slow motion once because of a tiny crack I didn't even notice. It was like a magic trick where the bit just turned into confetti mid-spin. Pretty sure the crack was from that time I tried to drill into a brick that had a hidden steel rebar inside. Now I always inspect my bits with a magnifying glass before every job, call me paranoid but it saves a headache and a trip to the hardware store!