What is an offset post hole digger?
What is an offset post hole digger? |
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Characteristics |
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An offset post hole digger has adjoining handles which counteract at the top by bending out in opposite directions. The outward bend at the top of the handles provides the user with greater leverage when digging. | |||
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The digger is usually made completely from steel, allowing heavy-duty, repetitive digging without risk of breakage. The only disadvantage to this is that the digger may be heavier than other types made of wood or fibreglass. | |||
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The offset handles also allow the tool to dig deeper and narrower holes, without interfering with the shape of the hole. | |||
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This is because the straight sections of the handles are in line, very close together, as they are lowered into a narrow hole. Thus, the offset means they can be opened and closed without having to move them too far apart. This allows the user to open and close the blades, when loosening and clamping soil, with a relatively small movement of the handles. | |||
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Another benefit of the offset feature is that it prevents the user’s knuckles from banging together when digging. The bend in the handles keeps the user’s hands apart, avoiding a painful collision. | |||
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Some offset diggers also feature a second pivot point which changes the direction that the handles should be moved, in order to open and close the blades.
For more information on this type of digger, see our page |
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How does an offset digger work? |
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A single-pivot offset digger works in a similar way to a traditional post hole digger. Firstly, the blades are thrust into the ground in an open position. | |||
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The handles are then pulled apart to close the blades around the soil, in order to remove it from the hole. | |||
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If the digger has a double-pivot design, then the blades will be closed when the handles are pushed together, and opened when the handles are moved apart | |||
