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c/fence-erectorsholly709holly7092d agoRising Star

TIL a cheap post hole digger from Harbor Freight cost me a full day on a job in Springfield.

The handle snapped clean off after about 15 holes on a basic cedar fence line. Had to send my guy to get a new one while I stood around, which killed our schedule. I'm out about $120 for the lost time, not even counting the tool cost. Anyone have a solid brand for a manual digger that can take some clay soil?
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3 Comments
alice_allen5
Oh man, that's the classic Harbor Freight tax right there. You saved twenty bucks on the tool just to lose a whole day's pay. Clay soil laughs at those bargain bin handles. Should've just used a spoon, might have been slower but at least it wouldn't have snapped.
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rileyd43
rileyd432d ago
Harbor Freight is fine for stuff you use once a year. For daily work, it's a total gamble. That clay soil will destroy cheap tools every time. I've had a Jackson digger for three seasons now and it's a tank. The extra cost up front saves you from exactly this kind of day. Never had a handle even feel loose.
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maxl93
maxl932d ago
Yeah, but I gotta push back a little on the idea that Harbor Freight is only for once-a-year stuff. I've got their fiberglass handle digging bar that I've used almost daily for two years in rocky ground, and it's held up fine. It's more about picking the right specific tool from them. Some are junk, but some are shockingly solid. You're totally right, @rileyd43, that their super cheap wood-handle stuff would snap in clay in a heartbeat. But dismissing everything they sell feels off when a few gems slip through.
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