Old timer at the lumber yard said my auger was too small

Was grabbing posts for a 6ft privacy fence yesterday. Guy probably 70 years old watches me pick a 6 inch auger bit. He just shakes his head. Says "gonna be digging all week with that thing." Told him I used it fine on a 4ft fence last month. He laughed and walked off. Then I hit clay at 3ft down. Took me 45 minutes per hole. Did 8 holes. Felt like an idiot. Anyone else run into an old timer who knew your setup was wrong before you did?

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the_spencer5mo ago

oh man, that clay hit is brutal. I swear it goes from "this isn't bad" to "what have I done to myself" real fast. I had a similar moment digging post holes for a shed last spring. Thought a 4 inch auger would be fine for 4x4 posts. Hit a layer of hardpan about 2 feet down and it was like trying to drill into concrete. Had to switch to a digging bar and a shovel for the last six holes. My back hurt for a week. That old timer probably saved you from even more misery.

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the_joseph5mo ago

Wait, hold up. 45 minutes per hole? That's insane. I've hit clay before but never that bad with a 6 inch auger. Must've been some seriously hard packed stuff. Definitely sounds like that old timer knew what he was talking about.

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