OK, How deep should I dig the holes for my new clothes line?

Question

Tommorrow morning I plan on getting up and heading to the rental store to get a post hole digger. How hard is it to use this thing and how long should I rent it? Will it take more than 2 hours? Also, once the holes are dug, do I put the poles in then pour the concrete or pour the concrete and put the poles in the concrete within a couple minutes?
Last but not least, how deep should I dig and how hard is it to use this post hole digger? How does it start? Pull cord, turn knob or plug it in? I am new at all this, but eager for my clothes line poles if you cant tell.

Answer 1

LOVE to see this sort of enthusiasm for energy efficient laundry.

If you already have your poles, your maximum depth is going to be related to how long the poles are. Don't skimp, go a few feet at least. The recommendation for fence poles is a minimum of 30 inches.

How hard the digging will be has a lot do do with your soil. My rule of thumb for any project is don't plan to have it done before lunch. So then if it is not moving at all by lunch, you've already planned to bring in pizza or get sandwiches, and can sit and mull it over.

Be sure to get all the instruction you can from the rental yard.

And read this... looks like great instructions and hints:

http://www.taylorrental.com/tip_detail.asp?id=30&sec_id=homeowner

Answer 2

Wanna cheat?

Here's how. First make a concrete anchor that's about a foot high. A joint compound bucket makes a good form, just fill it to about a foot high with concrete. You'll need a hole in the middle for the pole (or a pipe for the pole) and 4 smaller holes between that and the outer rim for smaller pipes just big enough to run rebar through them at install time (plastic conduit will do). Put all your pipes in, and then the concrete, being sure to keep all pipes plumb and true as you pour in the concrete (a mix of cement and gravel that can be purchased dry -just add water). Some concrete may leak out around the pipes, but if the whole thing is sitting on the ground that won't matter.

When hard, your anchor will then have 5 holes; middle one for the laundry pole, then 4 other smaller ones for rebar, equally spaced about 2 or 3 inches back from the edge. You can use a utility knife to trim away the portion of the joint compound bucket that's higher then the concrete anchor -no need, really to remove the bucket itself.

Now dig, with a shovel, your hole just a foot or so deep and place the concrete anchor in there -making sure it is level. Take 3 or 4 foot lengths of rebar and drive them through the holes into the underlying soil. Back fill with dirt or even any left over concrete you can mix up. Tamp down. That puppy is going NOWHERE.

Nice job!

Answer 3

Time depends on the soil type you have. To some extent, so does the depth, except you want to be able to reach your laundry, yet have it high enough to dry sheets, long dresses.

Sandy soil will go quickly, you will need to bury the pole deeper than clay soil, which will take a loooooong time. With a manual posthole digger, I can dig a 24inch deep hole in about 30 minutes for the first two, then about an hour for those afterward, and add 15 minutes for each one after 4. This is in clay.

You might want to look into a short pole set at ground level into which you can place your clothes line. This way you can remove the solar clothes dryer when you have a garden party. Find a pole that fits over your clothes pole and is about 2-3 foot long. Dig your hole and place the pole in the hole, and pour the cement around the outside. After a few days when it has cured properly, you can drop your pole into it and away you go.

If this is a telephone pole type dryer and not a umbrella type, you will want to slope the poles slightly away from each other and bury an anchor 45 degrees on the outside of the poles to help with the weight distribution.

Answer 4

I would love to be there to watch! Ok! I would help while I was laughing! The hole should be 1/3 as deep as the pole is high. Don't leave it too high or you won't be able to reach the line. It sounds like you are doing a carousel. You should place it in the hole, tie or brace it so it is vertically level, and then add concrete. wait about three days before using it.
The post hole digger is a bear to use, it will jerk you over, if it hits roots or rocks. If you have help, get the two handle kind. Use an (about) 8" auger for a 2 or 3" pole.
Good luck and send me pictures or a video.

Answer 5

well if you want a work out get you a manual post hole digger I would go 4 feet dig the hole first than put the poles in level left and right while holding it level pour the concrete in the hole place the level on the pole and check again let it set at least 48 hours than you are ready to put the line up

good luck

on the gas powered post hole digger is gasoline powered with a pull starter and a big screw looking blade that spins around it has handles on it with a speed control grab it and HOLD on runs like a lawn mower

Answer 6

Clothesline Pole