Auto feed is a lot easier on you labor wise but they can get pretty wild if they get out of control with the disclaimer that the only auto feed ive ever used was old and busted , it was hard to use safely but probably isn ' t a good example of that feed system . These things can seriously fuck you up if you get slapped and or pinched up in the line auto or man . I personally prefer manuel feed with a foot activated switch . i feel like it gives better control , i kneel down and squeese the control with my off hand and feed with my dominant hand . Holding the foot switch like that kinda turns it into a dead mans switch if it decides to bite me , and i dont want anymore of me touching the augur than needs too . I have a lot of upper body strength though , feeding a manuel augur can get pretty tough even for me . the manuel feeds still self feed a tiny bit , you just have to help it along . When i think i ' ve found the obstruction i keep it spinning forward and pull it back and push it forward until i feel the obstruction break up . The old timers i work with tell me auto feeds don ' t do that as well may just be back in my day . talk but i tend to agree with them on most things now that i can solo a lot of stuff . Wear heavy gloves . I usually wear thick leather ones with a latex glove over them to keep them dry . Augurs get nasty . Dont touch them bare handed . Put a towel you dont care about under it and the lavatory .