Post Hole Pincer: What the professionals say. Helpful Tips

As a gardener, there are a lot of times when you require digging. Sometimes, you want to plant a sapling; other times, a young plant needs to be moved, or you want to aerate the soil. You can use a garden fork or a shovel for many of these jobs. However, sometimes it is necessary to dig a narrow and precise hole, which is challenging with these tools. This is where a Post Hole Pincer comes in handy.

Post Hole Pincer:

A post hole pincer is a tool designed to dig deep, narrow holes fast and effectively. It is used for diverse agricultural, landscaping, and other practical tasks. A post hole pincher is mainly used for digging fence post holes and smaller plants where shovels and heavier equipment is not a good option.

In this article, I will further explain what a post-hole pincer is and where it is used. I will also delve into different post-hole diggers and fencing types and how you can use these tools for fence posts. I will also touch on some frequently asked questions and explain how garden professionals view them.

What is a post hole pincer used for, and how does it work?

A post-hole pincer, also known as a post hole digger, is a tool that has two articulated, shovel-like blades that form a partially hollow cylinder approximately a foot long and a few inches wide. It also has two long handles that may be used to either open or close the blades.

The device makes holes in the ground, typically a few inches wide, for general reasons like planting saplings or installing fences and signposts. The tool is used by jabbing it into the ground when the blades are open. After that, the handles are used to close the blades, grabbing the soil between them. The soil is then spread out to the side when the tool has been removed. The process is repeated until the hole is deep enough.

A post-hole digger’s hole is almost the right size for shrubs in one-gallon pots. To ensure that the shrub will fit tightly in the hole, you stab the post-hole digger into the earth a few times and firmly press the additional soil into the hole’s perimeter. Post-hole diggers are great for tight locations where you don’t want to damage existing plants. If you’re going to plant many daffodils in a perennial bed, you may use a post-hole digger and put two or three bulbs in each hole.

Do post hole pincers work?

Generally, post-hole pincers work great. For fence posts, these tools are the way to go. They also come in handy whenever small saplings need to be planted or potted. It is a very handy tool and a great addition to the gardener’s inventory.

What is the best tool for digging post holes?

There are different ways to dig a post hole. Great options include a soil drill, spades, shovels, and specialized tractors with an earth auger attached. However, it isn’t easy to match the dependability of a post-hole digger when it comes to digging post holes for fence posts or similar.

Qualities that make a great pole hole digger are the components’ robustness, the tool’s strength, and the construction that can make symmetrical holes and endure numerous demanding tasks. Post hole diggers come in various models, including gas, electric, and manual versions.

Types of post hole diggers

• Manual: Manual post hole diggers are the original tools designed to carve out holes for post placement. They are operated by humans and make holes by combining the user’s quick movement with the sharp blades at the end. These frequently have steel or wood handles or have an inlay with a fiberglass core. They are also known as post-hole pincers.
• Electric Powered: From a manual option, an electric digger can be a useful advance. Rather than two opposed blades operated solely by human force, these typically consist of a corkscrew post hole auger that powers through the earth. An electric model can do the task more quickly and with less effort, but it often needs an extension cable. There are also cordless models that use batteries.
• Gas Powered: In terms of the extra boost they offer, gas-powered diggers are identical to electric ones. These have comparable limits and work quite similar to electric models. The advantage is that they can run as long as you add gas but require considerably more maintenance than electric models.

What is the diameter of a post hole digger?

The diameter of a post-hole digger can be defined as the size of the hole that it can dig. The diameters of these tools vary from very small, 2-3 inches, to 10-12 inches.

Fence post

A fence post is the part of a fence that is driven into the ground, either with or without concrete. They are utilized to support various fence types, including timber fences, metal fences, and more.

A wide range of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, and concrete, can be used to create fence posts. Metal is the most popular due to its high strength and durability. Depending on the location, you see more and more metal being used.

Like wood fence posts, concrete fence posts have the advantage of being frost-proof. In cold and wet areas, wood and wooden posts won’t fare well since they will rot in contact with the earth. Hardwood poles will survive much longer, but they are considerably more expensive.

How big a hole do you need for a 4×4 post?

As a general rule of thumb, your post hole should have a diameter that is three times larger than your post. Your post hole must be 12 inches in diameter for a four-inch square or round post.

Is an 8-inch hole big enough for a fence post?

According to the earlier rule, where the hole diameter should be 3 times larger than the post, an 8-inch hole is big enough for a small 2.5×2.5 post. Any post with a diameter greater than this is less suitable for a hole this size.

What size post should I use for a 6-foot fence?

Generally, fence posts should be two feet longer than the height of your fence, including any gravel boards you may use. This means that an 8-foot fence post is needed for a 6-foot fence.

How deep should a 7-foot fence post be?

Generally, the depth of the post’s hole should be 1/3 to 1/2 of the post’s actual above-ground height. For example, the appropriate depth for six-foot-tall fence posts is around three feet. This means a 7-foot fence post should be at least 3 feet deep.

Is 2 feet deep enough for a fence post?

The depth of a fence post hole should be 1/3 to 1/2 of the post’s actual above-ground height. This means that a 2 feet-deep hole is fine for a post having an above-ground height of 4 to 6 feet. I would not recommend a higher above-ground pole height.

What is a good distance between fence posts?

The optimal distance between fence posts is influenced by various elements, including the topography, animals that can come near the fence, and the kind of fencing.

The strength of your fence will be compromised if they are too far apart, and it will use too much material if they are too close together. Generally, fence post spacing is 6 to 8 feet. I recommend 6 feet or even smaller if the fence needs to protect against strong animals and 8 to 10 feet if the circumstances allow it.

• T-post fence spacing: It refers to the distance between T posts. Typically, 3 feet or 4 feet is generally sufficient. However, it is not limited to these values. Depending on what is required for proper fencing, the spacing can be 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet, 8 feet, or even 10 feet. In general, the farther apart T-posts are spaced, the more prone they are to collapse in a storm, strong winds, or due to other hazards.
• High tensile steel fencing: High tensile field fencing comes in various styles with variable post-spacings. For instance, the distance is up to 16.5 feet for field fences made of high tensile wire, 8 feet for field fences made of low carbon wire, 12 to 15 feet for barbed wire, and up to 30 feet for smooth high tensile wire, combined with strong posts.
• Wooden Fence: It is one of the most frequent fencing types. You can use a post spacing of 4 to 5 feet for a basic board or picket fence. Or a distance between 5 and 8 feet for individual fence boards.

What is the average distance between fence posts?

The US’s norm for fence post spacing is 10 feet apart along a property line and 6.5 feet inside a property. The standard measurement in the United Kingdom is six feet. However, the style of the fence and the materials used will also affect these numbers.

The average distance between fence posts is thought to be around 7 feet. But it is important to understand that the average distance is not very valuable for your particular situation. The best distance for each location depends on various factors like the type of fence, the post material, the used fence, environmental factors, and things like the type of animals.