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Not One Red Cent

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In the July issue of Wood News Online in "Putzing With Wood" I mentioned needing to make a stand for my post hole drilling attachment, and that I would be more comfortable making it out of wood. Well, I finally got around to it the other day, and here is what it looks like…

Figure 4 - Five wheels support the weight of the post hole digging attachment and make it mobile for easier storage between uses.

Please don't laugh. It works, and it didn't cost me one red cent. I designed it on the fly meaning no drawings, just "mental doodles" and drifting thoughts while doing something else.

Figure 5 - The tractor is backed up to the stand from this direction. The front vertical auger support folds down to get the unit in position, then folds up and locks in place to hold the digger upright.

The stand was built in my driveway using just a portable circular saw, a speed square, and a cordless drill/driver. The 2 X 6 lumber was all leftover bits and pieces from other projects. The casters were salvaged from an old lumber cart I disassembled and discarded almost ten years ago. The hinge was from a door I replaced and the two screen door latches were found in a "miscellaneous hardware" bin. The whole thing was assembled with #9 X 3" long Torx head construction screws.

To dismount and store the post hole attachment, the front vertical support is unlatched and folds down. Then I back the tractor in, centering the auger tip above the cross support and between the fixed uprights. A "conical" hole to guide the auger tip was made by starting with a 1-3/4" forstner bit and drilling about 1/8" deep, then gradually reducing the bit size and drilling with each another eighth-inch. Once in place, I use the tractor's hydraulics to lower the auger until the weight of the post hole digger is supported by the stand. Then I fold up the front vertical support post, latch it in place, and disconnect the digger from the tractor's three-point hitch. What was previously a two-person job can now be done alone, without help. Rolling the post hole digging attachment out of the way and storing it is easy. Of course it needs to be painted, but who has time for that with all my other projects?

Figure 6 - An old door hinge allows the front auger support to fold down and two screen door latches hold it in the upright and locked position.

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Steven Johnson is retired from an almost 30-year career selling medical equipment and supplies, and now enjoys improving his shop, his skills, and his designs on a full time basis (although he says home improvement projects and furniture building have been hobbies for most of his adult life). Steven can be reached directly via email at sjohnson@downtoearthwoodworking.com

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