Got Me a New Digger!

[SwampHunter]

Well last night I found my new digger. I have been wanting to get a Lesche 40" Ground Shark for sometime now. However I just couldn't see paying $50.00 for a shovel and $10.00 for the shipping for buying off the internet. There are no shops here that would sale such an item so I was looking at Wal-Mart, Lowes, TSC and other places for something that I might find. Wal-Mart had a drain shovel for $20.00. The blade is 13 and 3/4 inches long and 5 inches wide. The shovel is 42" long overall. It had a rounded tip, but I wanted a pointed tip.
I took a flexible ruler and made a line across the blade where the straight edges start. I made another line an inch above this line. This new line was 2 and 3/4 inches from the tip.
I then found the center of the blade and marked it at the point of the blade. I then took the ruler and made a line from the edge of the 2 and 3/4 inch line to the center at the tip. I did the same on the other edge.
This gives me a nice angled point with plenty of blade.

Next I am going to take a cutting torch and cut the blade along the angled lines. I will then place the blade on a grinder to shape it up better for a nice even angle. I will then take a rat-tailed file and make a serrated edge on one side. Then I will take a file and sharpen all of the edges of the blade.
I will then make a leather pouch for this shovel.
This will give me a nice shovel that I can use for metal-detecting and I have $40.00 extra that I can spend on getting a pin-pointer.

I will try to get pics of the finished product as soon as I am able.

 

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[pgill]

SwampHunter, I have heard of so many different types that a person can buy in the USA, but in South AFrica, you make your own I think that as long as the blade is hardened steel and can handle wear and tear without breaking, you have a great tool.
I wish you all the best in your venture.... Hey maybe your tool will also be on the market sooner or later.

I just use a garden trowel and a small pick that I made from a long pin punch..... It works.

God bless
Peter Gill

 

[Ima Swinger]

Now see.....that's what I'm talkin' about. Making your own tools, whether out of necessity or fun.
Sounds like great fun. That'll make the hole digging a lot more meaningful. I hope you have a little THer to pass it down to.
Great hunting to ya !!!

Ima Swinger

 

[MEinWV]

Swamphunter,
If you put a torch to it, you might take the temper out of it, and the softened point won't last long.
You will have to re-temper it, to make it tough again. Maybe you can find someone near you that has a bandsaw that cuts with coolant added. That should preserve the temper. I have a shovel similar to what you described. I got mine at a hardware store, and it was called a trenching shovel.

I like the idea you have to make a better point for digging, sounds like it would work great! If it works good for you, maybe I will try doing it to mine.

Good luck!........&........Happy Digging!

 

[Night Stalker]

I think I have seen the shovel you're talking about at Walmart, and it would make a fine digger once modified. However, I agree about putting the heat to it, as it will remove the hardened temper and it will bend or break in no time.

Happy Hunting / Night Stalker

 

[bruizr]

you can re-temper yor blade after finished cutting by making a fire with wood or charcoal, inserting the blade in the coals for several minutes until metal is near glowing hot then dunking it into a bucket of cold water till completely cool. that is how metal is tempered.

 

[SwampHunter]

Maybe I should have said that I was going to re-temper the blade?

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

With all the time and effort your going to put into it before its done I would have just payed the $50 and been detecting already. Ive done alot of things like that before trying to save a few $. I find that alot of times my time spent is worth more than a few $.