Anyone who has worked extensively in the construction trade or an agricultural setting will tell you that a quality auger from Digga or other top brands is a handy tool that will save you lots of time for any project involving drilling or digging.
However, people tend to be unaware of the real benefits of auger teeth and their role when digging. If you want to get more out of your auger — and your investment — you need to understand auger teeth. Investing in a quality set of auger teeth and wear parts to complement your equipment, depending on the nature of your work, is a smart choice.
Lucky for you, this post will have you well on your way to becoming an auger teeth expert. We’ll start by giving you a detailed overview of the type of auger teeth available and the associated uses and benefits before providing some advice on choosing the correct auger teeth. Using our extensive industry experience, we’ll also set you up with some useful maintenance tips and troubleshooting tips to help you extend the longevity of your investment.
Why Are Auger Teeth So Special?
You need the correct tool for the job, and the same principle applies to augers and auger teeth. When you’re drilling or digging with your auger, it’s the teeth that will be doing the bulk of the work, directly interacting with the soil or rock. If you choose the right auger teeth, you should have no trouble getting through the surface you’re working with. However, if you pick the wrong teeth, you could be there a while and do plenty of damage at the same time.
What Are the Different Types of Auger Teeth Available?
Whether you’re wanting to dig through earth, rocks, wood or even concrete, an auger is often your best bet. However, no matter the quality of your auger, only the right teeth for the job will set you up for success. The teeth are the component that experiences the greatest degree of contact with the surface you are digging or drilling into. Therefore, making the right choice when it comes to teeth before you even start digging can have a huge effect on the overall job and result. To figure out which teeth you’ll need, you need to know what surface conditions you’re dealing with.
Try Bladed Cutting Head Teeth for Dirt
If you’re going to be digging or drilling through earth, clay, or shale, you’ll want tungsten carbide or multi-faceted tungsten bladed cutting auger teeth. These teeth are made to make short work of softer surfaces and to do it day after day.
Tapered Cutting Head Teeth Are Good for Dirt & Rock
For something, a little more versatile, try tapered cutting head teeth. While also made from multi-faceted tungsten, these teeth can handle anything from soft earth and clay to fractured rock.
For Heavy Rock, Use Rotating Rock Picks
When you really need to pull out the big guns, you want to pick your rotating rock picks. They’re made of hardened tungsten, so are suitable for use on shale, fracturable rock and concrete.
Getting the Most From Your Auger Teeth
Like most pieces of heavy construction equipment and their associated components, auger teeth require a substantial financial commitment. It is therefore in your interest to do your research and pick the right auger teeth. This decision along with following proper maintenance procedures and having the ability to spot signs of trouble can make a massive difference in terms of increasing the longevity of the auger and the auger teeth.
Choosing the Right Type of Auger Teeth for the Job
The first factor that you need to consider when getting the most out of an auger and the auger teeth is to take the time to choose the machinery and attachments that are most well-suited for the intended purpose. If you use standard blade cutting teeth on concrete, you’ll wear the teeth down quickly and put an unintended amount of pressure on the auger itself. Similarly, using a rotating rock pick attachment to drill into earth or clay will damage the surface.
At the end of the day, using the wrong auger teeth can cause a lot of damage to the auger and the surface. This can also cause significant safety issues too. Failing to address these issues will limit the effectiveness of your auger teeth. At a minimum, you’ll see a decline in the equipment performance, which is counterproductive given the financial investment you’ve made in purchasing the equipment.
Performing Proper Maintenance & Storage of Your Auger Teeth
Augers are effective pieces of digging machinery; however, to work at optimal capacity, their teeth need to be in good shape. If the chosen type of auger teeth isn’t correct or not maintained, the auger flighting will pick up the slack and absorb additional wear. Worn-down teeth decrease the digging capability of the auger and can even result in it becoming stuck in the ground.
Although the longevity of your auger teeth will depend on correct usage to limit wear and tear, it is also natural for the teeth to wear over time. Depending on the frequency and intensity of use, they’ll inevitably need to be replaced at some stage.
Like with any piece of machinery, proper storage is imperative, so keep your auger teeth in a place that is temperature-controlled and dry. Remember that extremes in climate conditions could also cause machinery to disintegrate faster, even when they aren’t being used.
Consider the environment in which you’ll be using the auger. For example, suppose you are using the auger for drilling foundations. In that case, the teeth will be exposed to extremely tough and rocky conditions. If you are digging holes for the installation of poles, the chances of damage are higher. It is therefore important to pay attention and check for signs of damage regularly.
Knowing When to Replace Your Auger Teeth for Better Value
Nothing lasts forever, and even the toughest auger teeth reach the end of their useful life. Otherwise, you’ll find the ease at which you drill or dig — and the quality of the result — gets worse and worse.
That’s why it’s important to check auger teeth regularly and budget to carry out a replacement when reasonable wear becomes noticeable. As a general rule of thumb, pocket wear is what you should be on the lookout for. If you see pocket wear, it’s well and truly time to replace those teeth. Otherwise, you might as well be drilling or digging without them!
What you’re likely to find is that it’s the outer teeth that need to be replaced first. This phenomenon happens because the outer teeth cover more distance as the auger rotates, in comparison to those at the centre. Therefore, take care to regularly check the outer teeth and their tips for any signs of damage, blunting or other general wear and tear. This is where you’re most likely to spot it before it starts causing any issues.
While wear and tear may not seem all that worrying — everything experiences it — things can very quickly go downhill. In fact, you can easily start to see the packers and auger flight get damaged as a result. And these are significantly more expensive and fiddlier to replace than a few auger teeth.
Troubleshooting Tips for Getting More Out of Your Auger Teeth
Even when you’ve invested in top-quality components, there are likely to be times when you experience a common performance issue with your auger teeth. Knowing how to troubleshoot and implement a simple fix will help return the auger to its original productivity levels. Here are two of the most common issues you may face and some tips on tackling the problem.
Dealing With Damage to Outer Teeth
As previously mentioned, the outer teeth of an auger are more prone to wearing out than the inner teeth. The outer teeth need to therefore be replaced more regularly. In a perfect world, you’d always get to replace your auger teeth exactly when you need to. But we know that’s not always how it works. Sometimes there isn’t time, or you need to wait a few extra days to get your hands on the replacement auger teeth.
If this is the case, there is a trick you can use. You can swap the outermost teeth for the innermost ones. The formerly outer teeth — and all their wear and tear — won’t be under as much pressure, while the ‘rested’ inner teeth can take some of the strain. Of course, this is only a quick fix, and you should get fresh auger teeth on there as fast as you can. However, if you’re in a tight spot, this will do in a pinch.
Fixing Auger Teeth That Have Gotten Stuck
Just like our teeth can get stuck in something tough or chewy, auger teeth can get stuck in the ground. Tough materials and surfaces, like concrete, stone, or metal, may be too much of a match for your auger teeth and all digging, and drilling will come to a halt. If the teeth can’t break through the material, they may instead get stuck, stopping your auger from moving entirely. Things can go wrong very quickly from here.
The auger teeth usually get stuck for a couple of reasons. It is either due to excessive torque, which happens when too much pressure is applied to the auger while it is rotating, or it can get stuck due to too much dirt around the teeth, which stops it from moving. Therefore, it is important to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the auger and keep the teeth clean.
When dealing with an auger that becomes stuck, you should start by backing up to safety to avoid any accidents. Next up, use a shovel or similar tool to manually remove debris from the teeth. Avoid cutting too deeply as it may damage the teeth. Once the teeth are clean, you can unscrew the head, which should come off quite easily. If, however, you find you need to add pressure, use a screwdriver to loosen any tight bolts. Finally, pull the auger out slowly without any sudden jerky movements. Once the auger has been removed from the ground, you should inspect the area to ensure no damage has occurred to the surface during the removal of the auger teeth.
Get the Best Digga & Other Auger Teeth at Bunyip Equipment
Now that you know what to look for when buying auger teeth and how to maintain the product, it’s time to shop for the best auger teeth on the market.
If you want to buy auger teeth and components from a brand you can trust, and at great prices, find it on online shops! They have a range of auger teeth designed to suit popular auger brands like Digga and Auger Torque but without the big price tag.
