Ryobi 40V HP Earth Auger Followup

I have bored post holes for a grape trellis and to frame bird cloth over our berry patch. At 17 holes and counting it seemed a good time for a follow up of the original review when there was still snow on the ground.
We also got an aftermarket 12 inch bit and extension set so we could bore below frost depth for our area so included those in this review.
The Ryobi 40V Earth Auger still cranks out all the torque I can handle, and maybe a little more. And I still prefer battery power versus gas for my occasional usage. I simply can't dig the clay ground here by hand and a larger machine would be far too expensive for my use. I dig too few holes at a time to justify repeated rental expense.
The right tool for you really depends on how many holes you dig, how many you dig at a time, how often you dig, and the ground you need to dig.

[@Reloadeez]

I like to a run a 4 or 6 inch bit down all the way before using the 10 or 12 inch bit, it makes it easier for the large bit.

[@HalDIY]

Thanks! I definitely have to try that the next time I need some holes.

[@ГорГор-и5х]

Понимающий редуктор нужен

[@kdegraa]

Are you pushing down on the auger as it digs? From another video on this machine the creator said he had difficulty with roots and rocks till he stopped pushing down. He said the auger works through roots and rocks without pushing. I just bought one of these machines and tested it out. The soil at my place is black top soil with clay & shale below. I bought the machine to dig holes for tree planting so don’t have to dig too deep. Mine came with a 200mm bit, battery and charger. This is what I wanted as I have no Ryobi tools or batteries beside this one. In Australia they are labelled 36v here.

[@HalDIY]

In dry clay with the aftermarket 300 mm (12 inch) bit I have to lean full weight to get it to cut because of it's single flute and two straight cutting blades. It cuts well without weight if there is a little moisture in the ground. The 200 mm (8 inch) bit that comes with the auger cuts without leaning on it unless I have to get it to clip out a rock. The combination of serrated and straight blades and dual flute makes a huge difference. I've cut deep holes for posts (1 meter +) and much less for trees. Now that I have the auger it seems a lot of problems need holes as the answer.

[@jeromedenis4754]

Nice job on the video. IMO; no fluff is the right way to present a video and you did that. I just purchased one but have yet to use the Ryobi Earth Auger.

[@HalDIY]

It has crazy strong torque.

[@ГорГор-и5х]

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[@HalDIY]

Thanks! Very impressive job.

[@warningthechurch5394]

You need to buy the aftermarket 4 inch bit and the 6 inch bit. Drill the 4 inch hole first. Change the bit to the 6 inch. Drill the 6 inch hole. Then switch out to the 8 inch bit and it’ll go in easily.

[@HalDIY]

I thought about trying to 'pilot' the 8 inch and follow with the 12 but never tried it. Thanks for the suggestion, I have a few more holes to bore. I did discover that slate filled ground is worse than clay. All the flat chunks just lay in the bottom of the hole and bounce the bit off. We had to keep reaching down the hole to grab the slate bits out, took way way longer than expected and wore four of us out.

[@warningthechurch5394]

@@HalDIY I have the same auger and I just bought the 4 inch and the 6 inch bit aftermarket. Going to be putting in some fence posts next week and I expect that starting out with a 4 inch followed by the 6 inch followed by the 8 inch is going to make things go very well. Well wishes to you and make you get it all completed just the way you want God bless you

[@andresamplonius315]

@@HalDIY A steel bar (barreta) could be of use to break up the slate pieces

[@Jaspel]

@@warningthechurch5394 Did it help to step the diamater?

[@HalDIY]

I ran out of holes to dig before I tried stepping the diameters. Somehow I think more projects needing holes may happen this summer.

[@leroyharder4491]

Having used a hand auger in hard pan, I found it useful to add water to the hole and let it sit for a bit. If doing a bunch of holes, just move from one to the other and let the water work to soften it up.

[@HalDIY]

Thanks! Adding water and letting it work in really helps.

[@ГорГор-и5х]

Надо понижающий редуктор добавить! !

[@HalDIY]

It does have a low speed but I think a reduction gear would give it more torque than I could hold. Perhaps I should try to clamp it to my tractor.

[@JoseRodriguez-mo3sx]

Where can I purchase that extension attachment at?

[@HalDIY]

I found it on Amazon but later saw it went unavailable. Just make sure you get a 3/4 drive to match the augur. 3/4 inch is typically an ice augur size and earth auger is larger. If you try a larger size drive on the bit it will leave too large a gap between the drive of the augur and the bit and your cross pin will bend and be extremely hard and aggravating to try to get apart. Even with the same drive size the torque on this Ryobi is so high I have deformed extension cross pins and I still have one I haven't gotten apart. Cheap accessories really are not the answer for strong tools.

[@kimchee94112]

Does the motor reverse for backing out?

[@HalDIY]

Yes it does. The power switch has a High, Low, and Reverse setting. Just flip the switch, hang on, and hit the trigger. Having a reverse was a big reason I chose this auger.

[@GregO-uj8jt]

I thought you were going to strike oil.

[@HalDIY]

40 inches doesn't sound deep until you try to haul a full auger out of it.

[@johnbailey9682]

I cannot believe how many people don’t know how to use a auger .

[@farmeromni4005]

Best tool I've ever purchased

[@HalDIY]

Thanks! It is still a workout, but way way better than manual digging.

[@dsan2910]

Thank you for this

[@HalDIY]

My pleasure!

[@mr.breadNwater]

Thanks for sharing. I just ordered the Ryobi 40v brushless auger. Going to get the 3pack of extensions also. One thing that concerns me is the weight is nearly double of the cheaper gas powered augers.

[@HalDIY]

Yes, plenty of weight and add the dirt on the auger to that when you have to haul it out of the ground every several inches. Still, it is relatively quiet and for my occasional use I like not having fuel engine maintenance to keep up.

[@gary4645]

Beats the heck out of a set of post hole diggers..

[@HalDIY]

Yeah, I have a set of clam shells along with a digging/tamping iron. Made me want an auger.

[@gcodered]

Where did you buy the extension and what was the cost? Is it 3/4 inch ?

[@HalDIY]

I got a Biltek 12 inch 3/4 shaft auger for $65 and a TCBWFY 3-pack auger extension for $32 on Amazon Smile. I use smile.Amazon because Amazon donates 1/2% to a charity of my choice. The auger has paint inside the 3/4 mating end that causes a tight fit so I recommend sanding that out to make changing easier. The auger and extension set both included the cross pins.

[@gcodered]

@@HalDIY Thanks, I will be ordering the extension.

[@HalDIY]

Glad I could help!

[@euphoricmonk]

@@HalDIY That Biltek 12 inch 3/4 shaft auger is $100 now damn inflation got us..

[@HalDIY]

@@euphoricmonk Owww! That bites the wallet a bit.

[@peterides9568]

That looks better than the manual post hole digger I have been using...

[@HalDIY]

Yes indeed! My manual digger is a driving reason I got the auger!

[@oscarsaravia36]

Can you keep adding extensions if you want to go deeper?

[@HalDIY]

You could but there may be some issues. Each connection is another place for potential failure and leaving a bit deep in the ground. The longer it is the heavier and longer you have to lift to pull the dirt out of the hole. Depending on the stability of your dirt there is some risk of the hole closing in and trapping your bit. I found 40 inches down was about all I could handle.

[@lucianobianca1433]

Hi. For the extension shaft, can you use any extension or is it specific?

[@HalDIY]

Must be 3/4 inch but is generic in that size. I just picked one off Amazon.

[@Trucker-Belly]

Would a Milwaukee Super Hawg be able to do this with an 8” earth auger bit? Would it need like a 4” first followed up by the 8”?

[@HalDIY]

For shallow holes like garden planting I think you would be ok. For deeper holes and larger diameters there is a huge amount of torque going back through those bearings and I don't think the Super Hawg is built to take that kind of load. Even the four inch going deep is going to be a really high load. Soft dirt might be a lot easier. Still, the Hawg is made for high speed bits in wood rather than low speed dirt work.

[@Trucker-Belly]

@@HalDIY thanks for your response. There are two hawg drills. The Hawg and the Super Hawg. The SH has low and high speed and loads of torque. Ive seen a Ryobi 40v battery auger do it so maybe there is a chance! If not then Im digging by hand and Ill have a better mud mixer than my rotohammer is doing. 🤣

[@HalDIY]

Yes, that Super Hawg is quite a beast and capable of 4 inch holes through railroad ties and that is probably tougher than most dirt. Certainly looks like it is worth a try and I think you are right to start with a 4 inch 'pilot' and then attempt the 8 inch. Good luck! It has to beat hand digging!

[@Trucker-Belly]

@@HalDIY it worked! Besides the huge boulders it went pretty smooth. I bent the aluminum handle with my leg and hit my knee with the 12ah battery and had to lay down for a few mins but it has the power for sure.

[@johnbailey9682]

After drilling a foot or so you could have filled the hole a few times through the day . The next day you would have been surprised a lot easier .

[@HalDIY]

That's a great idea! I'll try that next time I'm drilling in the dry.

[@isackhernandez3691]

Im confused

[@HalDIY]

John is suggesting pouring water in the hole and letting it soften the clay before doing the next drilling.

[@maggarlion]

@@HalDIY Oh okay that make sense.

[@andresamplonius315]

I have always used that trick when digging, one filling up normally suffices

[@johnlariccia4721]

What extension pole did you use? Thanks

[@UpInYourFeelings]

Read through the comments of other people that have already asked that. Your answer is there.

[@HalDIY]

XtremepowerUS 81105 3PC Post Hole Digger Auger Extension w/3 Sizes 20" 12" 8" Auger Digging Drill on Amazon. They appear to be back in stock.

[@BilltheTulaneGuy]

Just got mine due to a few back issues. Will be digging large 3-5 gallon plant holes in red clay soil.

[@HalDIY]

Congratulations! Just do please be careful of your back as electric has more torque as it slows down. You might consider someone to help. My wife has helped me sometimes and it does make a difference. Clay seems to be dry hard and impenetrable, or miserably sticky and heavy. Good luck with your plantings!!

[@BilltheTulaneGuy]

Used the Gator to get there and my Wife assisted. From unboxing the 8 nuts and bolts(tools included)to assembling and walking to the site…then making 5 holes for 4 fruit trees(changed my mind about 1 spot)…planted the trees and began re-charging the battery all within 1 hour. An evolution from the eternal post hole digger. Pure utility.

[@KevinSmith-jt8fr]

Awesome review

[@HalDIY]

Thanks!

[@Vaessen13]

Could you drill a shallow well of 25ft with this? How did you extend the length of auger? How many extensions could you put on?

[@HalDIY]

I don't think you would want to go more than about five feet maximum depth. The deeper you go the more risk of the hole collapsing on the bit and the greater risk you run into rock the bit cannot penetrate. Also consider you must lift the bit, auger, and dirt up out of the hole every few inches of drilling and that was about all the weight I could manage even at 40 inches. To go much deeper you may need some kind of lift or hoist to help raise that weight and that adds risk of lifting so hard it could break the handles. You would probably also need to install well casing to prevent the well collapsing. I bought a 3/4 inch extension auger off Amazon but that one doesn't show up any more. It was apparently made of mild steel and I found the lynch pins pounding the alignment holes out of round making it hard to get apart and back together to change lengths. I also note the 3/4 inch is more typical of ice augers for fishing than ground augers which are more commonly 20mm on the small augers. I don't see a limit on how many extensions can be use but each one brings an additional lunch pin that might fail.

[@mediumsizedm]

This tool sucks. Too hard on the body for what little it does. I will pass.

[@HalDIY]

It is absolutely a wrestling match even when the ground has some moisture. It would have been a lot easier to rent a skid steer with post hole auger.

[@isackhernandez3691]

Would it be easier to make a 8inch pilot hole and then the 12 inch?

[@HalDIY]

That is something I want to try when I get back to boring holes for the next grape trellis.

[@isackhernandez3691]

Where can I purchase the 12 inch auger

[@HalDIY]

@@isackhernandez3691 I got a Biltek 12 inch 3/4 shaft auger from smile.amazon.com.

[@Jaspel]

Did that help?

[@HalDIY]

It got wet before I did the 2nd grape trellis so I just stuck in the 12 inch and it dug fine. I do have to try that stepping sometime, I'm intrigued by the idea.

[@fenceman53]

Buy the Makita

[@HalDIY]

Makita drill was my first 18V tool some years ago. Still have and use it even though the new brushless tools are more powerful.

[@eugeneross3606]

@@HalDIY is there not a big difference in price?

[@HalDIY]

Brushless does add a bit to the cost, but the power jumps quite a bit. I haven't compared brand prices, everything changes too fast anymore. And it doesn't look like Home Depot carries Makita 18V anymore but in Ryobi today I see the regular 1/2 drill w/2 batteries and charger is $79 and the brushless equivalent (as far as I can tell) is $89 and includes a bag. That seems a small difference.

[@theoldtimelinexxx453]

Ordered on today...gunna try it in rocky top Tennessee ...fingers crossed

[@HalDIY]

Best of luck to you! It has lots of torque.