Digging tool

Should do as well as my $8.00 Fiskars garden tool that I've been using for 4 years.
 

Wooden handle looks like it would fail in time. I like this one. Product Details
 

I just got this one and love it! image.jpg
 

+1 for the Raptor especially for hard dry ground and deep targets. I found the nori hor hard to dig deep with.i
 

Msbeepbeep Knows a good digger when she sees one i use the same one…DSCN0730.JPG…...4750.jpg
 

Did you get it from Amazon ?
 

Last edited:
RustyGunn said:
+1 for the Raptor especially for hard dry ground and deep targets. I found the nori hor hard to dig deep with.i
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Dig deep with! Hay , your into shovel territory. This all steel baby is 14 years old. It has dug deep for caches and has been used as a pry bar and lock breaker. From A M Leonard of course! Frankfive star.png
Tool shovel-700.jpg
 

I ordered a Hori Hori with wooden handle like the one you're considering but returned it as the handle didn't feel comfortable and the top of that handle bit into my hand when pressure was applied.

I found the one at the link below and really like it. Titanium bonded, serrated blade and it feels great in my hand.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KH5VKMA
 

As I said before the Raptor is my ultimate digger but cant afford it yet. But this is the one I use now and has never let me down. I think it is a Fiskars, got it from an old guy who retired from detecting.

WP_20140916_001.jpg
 

mikeraydj said:
As I said before the Raptor is my ultimate digger but cant afford it yet. But this is the one I use now and has never let me down. I think it is a Fiskars, got it from an old guy who retired from detecting.

View attachment 1054307
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Looks like the aluminum one Sears was selling a while back. Yes it was a Fiskars. Frankfive star.png
 

dusty1530 said:
What do you think of this tool ? I am impressed .
Amazon.com : Sun Joe SJHH1901 Hori-Hori Garden Landscaping Digging Tool with Carbon Steel Blade and Sheath : Hand Spades : Patio, Lawn & Garden
Click to expand...

I have one very similar to that, but no serrations on the side. I love it. There's no feeling like wood in your hand. What I did was to sand down the wood to 400 grit and finished it real nice with Tru-Oil, so it came out like a gun stock. Super durable, and easy on your paws if you take the time to smooth out the handle a little. Well worth the effort.
 

I bought almost the exact hori hori you are looking at, this is mine. The only difference I see at a quick glance is that my blade is stainless steel while that one is carbon steel and I think my blade is an inch or two longer. I would've probably gone with yours if I saw it in my search results since it's ten bucks cheaper. Anyway, so far I love my hori hori, I've had it for about three months and so far there is nothing I can't do (in the hand digger domain).

I don't let my kids use it though since there is a straight shot right to the blade if your hand slips while stabbing the ground. We have really dry and thick (clay) soil around here so often times it's hard to stab the dirt with a hand tool. I let them use the standard leche, I used that one once but didn't like it, the blade is much thicker and less knife-like so it didn't seem to cut through the ground as well. In moderately moist soil, the hori hori glides through the dirt like it's butter.

So, here's my take (basing off using a lesche hand digger, hori hori, lesche 18" Sampson)
Pros:
  • Thin blade cuts through tougher dirt much easier than other tools I've used
  • The blade is thin but it is extremely durable, I have pried many rocks and large trash items and it's still straight
  • The serrated blade has worked fairly well on most roots pencil thick or thinner
  • I do like how the handle is directly above the blade, seems physics-wise that it would put less strain on your wrist (I used the lesche but don't like the offset handle), especially in hard dirt
  • Three months in and no sign of bending, dulling (surprisingly) or handle failure (those rivets are really holding in there well)

Cons:
  • Although it cuts through tough dirt easier than other tools I've used, it hurts my wrist (I have carpal tunnel) when using it in tough dirt after a while
  • There is no guard between the handle and the blade. I wear gloves so this isn't a huge negative for me
  • The serrated edge works but maybe deeper teeth would make it even better

Conclusion:
All in all, the tool works great in my opinion, I haven't used many others but when you find something that works and works well... why keep looking? I did, however, look for a new tool to assist this one, because of my carpal tunnel, I now use the hori hori but in hard dirt I substitute my lesche 18" tool which is great too but that's not a hand tool so I won't go into detail.

Hope this helps. For $14 (right now) it seems like a pretty good deal... my Lesche hand digger cost $36 and the 18" Lesche Sampson cost $68
 

I got this one at Menards for under $10 and it stays in my truck as a back up in case I forget my primary digger out at the cabin. It's sharps as hell and cuts very clean plugs quickly and efficiently.
2014-05-02 21.47.59.jpg
 

When I started out I used an old swiss bayonet especially if I had to cut a fancy plug. Plunge cut a circle and wa la. Now people say you should not wear a bayonet :dontknow:. Have a leonards and a lesche now. I like a little bit of a guard so like the lesche better but leonards is a good tool.
 

I also have a Lesche, but prefer my hori hori because of the offset lesche handle. The Lesche is a nice tool - very tough, but if the offset was 1/2" less, it'd be almost perfect.
 

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