Trenching with 40V Ryobi Auger - Go Rent a Trencher

[@HayMap]

You actually gave me a great idea while looking at trenchers here on KZbin. I am installing an irrigation system and instead of using a mini-ex to dig sprinkler valve boxes I can use my 30" tree auger for the valve boxes instead of bringing a mini-ex in. Just saved me some work!! Love the internet! 😁

[@quantumphaser]

2 days is really not bad for a project like that. I like the innovative thinking.

[@moretoliving2236]

Thank you for posting. I know it is not the right tool for the job but honestly... renting a trencher would cost a ton, be one time use (while fast) and then its gone back to wherever rented from. Knowing that an auger can have more than 1 purpose use is pretty freaking awesome if you ask me that and the fact that you have a tool for planting, putting in posts and all the other things for a little over what you would have paid for a trench digger rental.

[@jeffcramer6722]

A trencher from home depot is less than $100 a day, about $60 for 4 hours. Hardly "a ton"

[@TexasLocalProduce]

I prefer the opening & overall condition of the trench with an Auger. The Trencher I rented @ Hm Depot let all the soil cave in the skinny opening. Also Trencher only worked in forward, so when I wanted to go back & get a better opening I had to wait until I was @ my end point.

[@meoff7602]

​@@TexasLocalProduceTrencher I rented worked great. Even had a place to stand. Machine did all the work. Don't know why you would need to go backwards. As far as soil going back in. Well that's just poor soil quality. I suggest fertilizer.

[@mr.c6674]

@jeffcramer6722 , depends on location. Around my area it's $250 for 4 hours, $290 for a full day (was the same in 2020, as it is now in 2024). I don't have a way to transport it, so that's another $250. That means $500 minimum. People think their surroundings is everyone's surroundings. It's NOT!

[@bloajmj2680]

8 inch wide trench is huge for a tiny wire. as an optional accessory a 4 inch auger bit is , lighter , quicker cutting, can rack back and forth bit without catching super hard. and 4 inch trenching shovel to match. Thanks for the hard work and posting.

[@mojorizn72]

Some ideas are better left on paper. Live and learn. At least you manned up and gave it a shot! Kudos

[@JustineDodd]

Oh my goodness - I have had a terrible solar install - the guy - Birks - left the conduit containing 3.3kW of power above ground (illegal - should be 60cm deep). I finally had the court case and am now waiting for the refund he has to pay me, and now I'm making what he did legally safe, and I have to trench 60cm deep for about 8-10m. I've been dreading it, thinking i would be digging it by hand, but I already have this tool! Thank you so much for this video - I'm going to do exactly what you did to dig the trench, then have the professionals come in and finish the job putting the conduit and cable where it legally should have been in the first place

[@Smokeythewelder]

In the quest to save work we often, in hind-site, have to ask ourselves ‘what was I thinking? Thanks for sharing.

[@baldymtngrizz2527]

Dang, I rented a 4 inch by 24 inch deep trencher with tracks. Did 475 feet and it took right at 2 hours to complete. Price was 165 bucks for 4 hour rental.

[@sunnyhillfarm]

Smart! I wish I had a do over.

[@COSMACELF1802]

Thanks for the post and lessons learned. I had to do a 20' trench to connect to the septic pipe, did it by hand, took 10 hours spread over 5 days. In mechanics, you quickly learn the value of using the right tool... I'm not sure why it didn't carry over to trenching.

[@nominalvelocity]

Might be a good solution for someplace you can't get a trencher, or a shorter distance, but my back aches enough just watching you.

[@Pvmanne]

this looks like torture

[@smert_rashistskiy_pederacii]

I wonder if it would be possible to continue trenching with the tool, after digging all those holes with it, if it had an extra bit with serrated edges? Then, perhaps, as a special drill, it was possible to connect those holes, if the soil allows it.

[@kdegraa]

We bought one of these to dig holes for tree planting. The auger works great for this task. For trench digging I’m not so sure but the auger would better than just hand tools.

[@Apocolokintosis]

I had to pull drinking water from a well to my house, and I used this exact solution. I ate some smoked bacon and drank a shot of brandy for my energy 😊, then ,I stretched a string marking the path, and after I marked over the string with an eco-friendly spray paint. Using a 100 mm auger, I drilled down to a depth of 800 mm (below frost line) over a distance of 12 m for a 32 mm diameter PEHD water pipe. I used a 2-stroke, 4.5 horsepower engine-powered Earth auger. Unfortunately I didn't occur to film all this process.

[@nopriors]

What was the Brandy make?

[@itsumonihon]

I know this is an old video but hopefully you're still responding to comments. May I ask why you didn't try "slant drilling", where you just angle the auger and drill into the earth diagonally? you could use a $10 extension bit to regain any reach lost to the angle. the weight of the auger will automatically make it bite into the earth and bring it up as you work the trench. this results in a cleanly excavated trench with no sections of earth between holes to dig out later. Just my thoughts, I haven't done this yet but am considering it after confirming in someone's youtube short that it works at least in some soil types.

[@sunnyhillfarm]

I still needed to pull the dirt out when I angled The auger and the dirt fell in the trench. It felt like it took the same amount of time either way. You are right though, it probably would have saved time. I probably wanted to put that heavy auger down and have a break from it too. :)

[@agavebob3462]

Dam, that RYOBI battery looks like it can take a beating !

[@slipspectrum9253]

Short trenches are a breeze with an auger, 75 ft would suck without the right setup. But still beats killing your back digging by hand. You needed a gas powered auger which is way faster than that, plus no battery swaps. You also need an outrigger “torque reducer”, which takes the torque off of you and lets the auger do the work.

[@EverydayKindaGuy]

The best laid plans of mice and men.

[@peanutman6593]

I feel for you, at least you are young and strong enough but you learned a valuable lesson. Never dig trench with auger. Make sure you rent a Ditch Witch, you could have dug that trench in 10 minutes.

[@user-ty2uz4gb7v]

I'm just surprised that a battery version exists for a power requirement tool like this

[@khinekhine613]

Thanks for showing all the hard work. I think 2 ppl handleing the machine is better.

[@sunnyhillfarm]

Thanks 👍

[@beemercycle]

Thanks for sharing what you learned!

[@deltasquared7777]

any reason you didn't use the auger at an angle to connect the holes??--it works fine for this

[@sunnyhillfarm]

The thin wall of dirt was easy enough to pull out with the posthole digger. It seemed a little more work to run the auger and then pull the loose dirt out with the posthole digger, but I definitely could be wrong.... (I could have just been happy to stop using the auger)

[@deltasquared7777]

@@sunnyhillfarm I have used a hand held battery auger many times for short trenching and can assure you that using the auger at an angle is infinitely easier and faster than using the post hole digger between holes then shoveling out the loose dirt.

[@jeffharro1]

Thanks for posting this I was wondering if I can do this and that it was possible and it totally is!

[@russellborrego1689]

You did a good job. It's a great example for a lot of folks who have smaller jobs or ones where a trencher just isn't possible. NOT being critical, but your wife is doing her back a much bigger favor than you are doing yours when she's using her legs to lift the auger out of the hole. Understand, I'm not trying to come off as a know-it-all. I have herniated, shrinking, and compressed discs... With some fantastic arthritis to boot, and I still only remember to lift with my legs half the time at best.

[@sunnyhillfarm]

My Physical Therapist wife loves your comment! :)

[@Bry-t6k]

Simple but genius

[@racoonman100]

Hello there from Perth Western Australia! What was the trench for?

[@sunnyhillfarm]

Electric wire for the garage.

[@racoonman100]

@@sunnyhillfarm wouldn’t you have to install that in pvc conduit to protect it under ground? I’m an electrician here in Perth and you have to install it underground with conduit and it has to be 600mm deep.

[@sunnyhillfarm]

@@racoonman100 Same here or we can use UF-B wire. I can't remember if it's code here in South Carolina or not (I've moved around too much) but I pour some quick set dry concrete above the wire as a warning for potential future diggers

[@jaderulz2000]

Mini excavator would have saved you a lot of back pain

[@mitomendez3943]

This video is perfect I'm planning to do the same thing but you inspire me to make a wheel barrel contraction to lift and drop the auger

[@sunnyhillfarm]

Good idea. My back got so sore.

[@GG-zj7gk]

If you do can you share pictures to see set up

[@Tim_Gravy]

I used a dump cart... worked perfect, can run auger on high speed. 1500lb dumpcart/wagon, mounted it with some heavy zip ties on 2x4 frame. Loaded cart with bags of dirt for weight... done. No back issues.

[@garagekeys]

Your wife is a good worker

[@PNWLiving1725]

But would have been better. I had to dig a line before with a pic and skinny shovel, it sucked. I would take this over anything.

[@mts7274]

The dude worked so hard, he sounded absolutely lifeless during the video narration. 😂

[@markhill4419]

lol thx bud i almost did same thing , whew miss that one , sit it work

[@Fredricksaviour]

is the auger an electric one ?

[@sunnyhillfarm]

yes

[@Fredricksaviour]

@@sunnyhillfarm what would be the cost ?

[@sunnyhillfarm]

@@Fredricksaviour www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-40V-HP-Brushless-Cordless-Earth-Auger-with-8-in-Bit-with-4-0-Ah-Battery-and-Charger-RY40710/314127852?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&&mtc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D28I-028_037_OUTDR_PW_ACC-BI-RYOBI_2574-NA-SMART-NA-NA-MK680142200-NA-NBR-2574-CON-NA-FY23_Always_On&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D28I-028_037_OUTDR_PW_ACC-BI-RYOBI_2574-NA-SMART-NA-NA-MK680142200-NA-NBR-2574-CON-NA-FY23_Always_On-71700000090270341-58700007653762461-92700076869820040&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8NilBhDOARIsAHzpbLBOFhnkGV0qLehu_qabeud6Lg2ulefKEmY5zOILZur6eW9zVFvEp0gaAmbgEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[@chrismoore9997]

Nice that your woman was out there to help you. One problem you have is that slow speed of that battery tool. You need a gas tool, more power.

[@sunnyhillfarm]

I use it on low speed. On high speed if it catches something it has torque to bruise me real good.

[@jonathansimmonds5784]

I wonder how many fractured wrists there are out there from when one of those hits a stone or a root and stops dead but the motor keeps going at full revs cos that can happen on these cheap throttle mechanisms....

[@carlosfrcahe]

which model is it?

[@MrBagley55]

They only make one

[@TruthSeekerAi]

the 40 volt model they also make a 18 volt 1 that works with the standard ryobi 18v batteries

[@coldzero1214]

Is your dirt made of concrete? Something’s definitely not right. Ego auger digs 2 ft in about 10 seconds

[@sunnyhillfarm]

@@coldzero1214 Dense clay. I have it on low too so I don't hurt myself when it catches.

[@ericpeck3180]

A shovel and a pick and a young fit guy...no problem

[@ButeSound]

Augur at an angle might have been a lttle better

[@josephcarino5829]

For the price of that you could have rented a mini excavator and been done in 30 minutes

[@sunnyhillfarm]

Yes, a trencher would have been even cheaper. But I already owned the post hole digger for putting up fences.

[@josephcarino5829]

@@sunnyhillfarm I bought one too, I need to drill 4 holes for a set of steps.I hope it works

[@zakkori]

I think if you opted for a a gas powered tool it would've been a lot easier.

[@BigSkyJason]

Because you'd have less torque and it'd be louder?

[@russellborrego1689]

@@BigSkyJason and heavier

[@EpicGamer-wj9cc]

@@BigSkyJason it would be twice as fast goof

[@tty3146]

How long would it take to trench 11-12 ft long x 1 ft deep?

[@sunnyhillfarm]

2-3 hours for me, depending on soil and rocks

[@BrayanDaGlockShootin]

My trencher would do this in 1H

[@scrubsz]

Honestly, I have to give you credit. got the job done in a ghetto kinda way....

[@fraudsarentfriends4717]

A battery operated auger? You must have the softest soil on the planet.Batteries are for regular use tools. How often do you use an auger? The KZbin battery scam is strong with you.

[@sunnyhillfarm]

Disagree. Gas would be for regular use tools, unless you love cleaning carburetors. Try a good battery auger, it has the power to knock you on your butt. More torque then any one or two person gas auger I've used. Best part is, it starts every time. I'll be done with the job while you still mess around mixing 2-stroke gas and figuring out which port needs to be cleaned out.

[@J-Justice666]

Cool video, now "let's switch over to real time and watch how long it really took." NOPE. Skip.

[@notneeded1]

WTF did you do? It would have been easier to just use a shovel. SMDH

[@bearlaceration8971]

Would of taken me 2 hours with my k8 mini-x

[@kdegraa]

How much does it cost to buy a mini excavator?

[@user-rh9mh5kh3p]

Why the hell would you buy a battery powered auger yikes

[@sunnyhillfarm]

Always starts & Torque.

[@gabrielalvarado1504]

Don’t be hard headed to watch some reviews and comparisons it’s actually pretty powerful.