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When drilling in different ground conditions you need the right speed and the right cutting system on the auger to suit the different ground conditions. So which auger should you choose for your application?For efficient drilling on any machine requires power (torque) and down pressure. Digga augers perform better at an optimal RPM against the ground conditions they are against. Similarly the auger diameter will perform better at certain speeds. For example: the larger the hole and harder the ground conditions, the slower you will need to drill. The smaller the hole and softer the ground conditions, then more speed is required.  As a general rule we recommend the following RPM/speeds: 55-65 RPM for general earth conditions. 45-55 RPM when drilling in heavy earth, clay or shale.  20-45 RPM when drilling in rock. Results will depend on rock hardness, type of auger being used and machine down force.  Digga recommends the following for attachments for the different ground c...

Having trouble drilling? The correct vertical alignment of your auger into the ground is essential to ensure efficient & effective drilling with your excavator. The natural arc movement of the boom causes the dipper arm to move out of alignment as it is raised or lowered, which is why constant operator adjustments are required to maintain vertical alignment. Please consider, that failure to do so will create significant side load on the auger drive and auger! As Digga auger drives are pendulum drills designed to hang freely from the excavator mount - excessive side load may result in bent auger flights, pipe and hubs as well as potential damage to the auger drive shaft, seals and gearbox. When you are drilling especially into hard ground this may also  cause socket and pilot breakage. So make sure to align your auger and drive correctly, to avoid damager and drill which much better performance. You can find more info and tips for drilling in harder grounds such as rock or...

Are you having trouble drilling in hard rock? We can help you out with some tips to make your job easier.. and more efficient! Without damaging your drillhead or wearparts. Let us explain why rock drilling may cause difficulties and issues when not carried our correctly: When drilling rock or frost for extended periods of time, air is trapped in the hole creating an oven effect. The trapped temperature and friction causes the wearparts and pilot to heat up to an extreme temperature, causing them to melt. It will damage the drilling head and can result in the face of the rock to 'glaze over' and become an even harder surface. This is why we recommend that you periodically remove the auger from the hole to allow fresh air back in the hole every 5 minutes. This means - stop drilling and bring the auger head to the surface to allow air into the hole. Below is an example of an auger, which was left down the hole for too long. While it may seem excessive to have to bring ...

Digga's dedicated rock augers (DR) require constant maintenance to remain effective. The teeth must be free to rotate inside the pocket. Teeth that stop rotating will be inefficient and wear out faster causing damage to the tooth pockets and flights. In the video below, Queensland Sales Manager Anthony Wieckmann talks to you in detail about our dedicated rock augers – the tool you need if you’re drilling into hard fracturable grounds. Tips when drilling in rock When drilling in rock for extended periods of time air is trapped in the hole creating an “oven”. This can cause the face of the rock to glaze over and become even harder. For this reason, you should stop drilling and allow fresh air back in the hole approximately every 5 minutes. As you stop drilling, bring the auger to the surface and allow fresh air back down the hole. Remove any spoil from the auger and inspect the teeth and pilot for wear and that they can turn freely in their pocket. For more informat...

The right auger for the right ground condition is key to working productively. Here we have a brief overview of the 3 different 'standard' auger ranges Digga manufacture. 'A' or 'earth' range of augers Digga's A augers are efficient in cutting through earth, clay and soft ground as it uses flat teeth to peel up the layers. Our A augers have 3 teeth options within the range to aid wear; the standard earth tooth, flat carbide tooth or raised carbide tooth option.  'RC' or 'rock combo' augers Digga's RC range of augers uses a tapered tooth which can be used on rocky/ earthy grounds. The tungsten tipped teeth helps to rip into the ground.  'DR' or 'rock' augers Dedicated rock augers are ideal for bursting into material such as shale or rock. They use a pick tooth to break and fracture into the ground.  Watch our video of Anthony giving a brief overview of the range here:  ...

Adrian Eagan, aka Baldy has been drilling in one form or another all his working life. Working for one of Queensland largest earthmovers L&D Earthmoving , we wanted to hear what he makes of the Digga drives he puts to work every day.   L&D Earthmoving were established in 1954 and Baldy has been with them for the last 25 years explaining that the company service a mix of commercial and domestic customers “from backyard bobs to major infrastructures – there is virtually no where we can’t service!” Covering all of South East Queensland working in light dusty sands and clay to solid blue metal Baldy really puts his drives through their paces. “I run a few 4.5 or 6 tonne combos for all our everyday work and light duty drilling with the Digga PD3. Then I operate an 18 tonne excavator with a 2 speed Digga PD30.” The Digga PD30 is an upgrade from the PD18 Baldy used to operate but he admits “after 8 years of heavy work, I finally managed to break the PD18…”  Of ...

Offering practical solutions for our customers is imperative for Digga and our range of machinery attachments. Proving just that is Mitch Wetton from Summit Landscapes. The local family owned and operated business working in the Smeaton Grange and Narellan areas of NSW specialise in construction landscaping, concreting and all excavation/ bulk earthworks. In the last 15 years Mitch has grown to love Digga Machinery Attachments . He had been using a range of Digga attachments through rental companies for several years but felt it was important to invest in his own attachments following successes servicing both small and large builders on a residential and commercial scale. Mitch purchased his first Digga attachment almost 10 years ago and hasn’t looked back since, with his range of Digga attachments growing annually! He regularly uses his Digga Auger Drive units with rock combo and dedicated rock augers to drill holes for structural piers in concrete and post holes for ret...

We know that our customers are busy working long hours in often remote locations so our focus at Digga is to work closely with them to understand their needs and requirements, ensuring we supply a high quality range of machinery attachments with the best sales and service possible, going over and above. For one customer in particular, Phil Shovlin of Shovlin Plant Hire Australia time is always of the essence so when he takes time out to write an email to our head office thanking staff for their exceptional service, we know he means business! Offering specialist plant hire to the railway, mining and construction industries across the east coast of Australia, Shovlin Plant Hire recently purchased a 900mm Digga Rock Auger to fit to their 128 Komatsu Excavator for drilling work on the Roma Street railway. Phil told us “The rock augers and core barrel drills worked a treat,” and as a result of their success at Roma Street have bagged further work from their international clie...

The cutting teeth & pilot on any auger are wear parts and you can increase the life of them with the help of Digga's best practice tips. The wear life of a tooth or pilot is undefinable. They will be affected by how often they are used, how they are looked after and the ground conditions they are being used in. For example, in non-fracturable ground where the rock is reduced to a powder; the powder is likely to get caught in and around the cutting head and, acting like a sand paper, will wear away both the pocket and the tooth. In hard ground conditions such as rock over heating within the hole can cause the ground to glaze over. The heat will polish the rock making it harder and have a greater influence on the wear of your cutting heads. To assist with peak performance and longevity of the wear parts there are a few procedures that can be carried out that will help prolong the life of wear parts and increase drilling efficiency. To help increase the life of your wear...

The best way to remove spoil from your auger is to use a forward, stop, forward, stop control pattern until all the spoil is totally removed. When you have been drilling with your auger it may seem like a good idea to alternate the drive from forward to reverse to clear the auger of spoil once lifted out of the hole but, it can cause torque related stress on the drive gearbox which will lead to premature failure. If you have one of our 2-speed drive units try using the high-speed mode to flick the spoil off the auger. When you are drilling in clay you could also try wetting the auger or spray some watered down detergent on the flights before drilling. This will help the clay slide off of the unit.  For more information on the Digga drive range check out the following blog posts:  Digga tips - best practice to increase the life of your wear parts Digga tips - when to rotate picks and change the teeth in your auger Maintenance for your Digga auger drive ...