STARTING ON A STRING HERE! WHAT KIND OF DIGGING TOOL TO USE?

[kneedpnholes]

I use an old knife I made to dig with and the ground here in GA is almost like concrete so I wait til it has rained to go out and detect. I don`t have the money to rent a bobcat and can`t buy a pinpointer and don`t want to ruin any finds so what is a good technique to use for digging? ...............Clark!

 

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[randall61]

im in ga also ,depends where im diggin,if its grass....sod i use my army knife,but if woods job sites ect. i use a heavey duty 3 spike hoe with the handle cut off short.i will dig a little above the target,to avoid damaging.the back side of the hoe ie good for cutting roots,hope this helps

 

[Leon]

That's what i need is a small shovel... It would definitely come in handy at times...
I started a thread like this one awhile back: http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,23363.0.html
I'm still using the same equipment as I was then...

 

[hollowpointred]

i use a lesche predator and i love it. it was a little on the pricey side, about $30, but well worth it.

 

[ceejay64]

I went to an off-price outlet kind of store and bought a "diving knife" for $6. Edged on one side, sawtoothed on the other, with a 6" blade. Don't know if I'd trust it as a diving knife, but its GREAT at digging plugs, breaking through roots, etc.!! And if I break it, no loss; I'll just go get another one.
I also carry a fiberglass/plastic trowel and a Vibraprobe 560. LOVE the Vibraprobe!!
For the big or deep signals, I have a deep, thin shovel that I got at Home Depot for about $24. I don't usually carry that into the public places as it tends to worry people. That's for the private residences for the most part.

 

[Clifford Powell]

I bought this last winter and have been VERY pleased with it. The ground here in NM can be very hard - caliche clay. I also have one of their hand tools but I use this most of the time. With a little practice you can open a small 2x2 hole no problem.

 

[knapper]

atlanta here and i use a post hole digger doses the job in a hurry

 

[stoney56]

It all depends on the area I'm hunting.

 

[bomber]

MIGHTY AP DIGGIN TOOL.ENUFF SAID!

 

[buscadero]

RTD3

You must have to put packs on the dogs to carry all that around. Just Jesting!

Be Prepared as they used to say.

Nice lookin' dogs too!

 

[BigMESA]

Cost me $6 at Sears and it folds up nicely into a handy travel pouch. Is very sturdy, has a shove and a pick, and a saw edge on the shovel for cutting a nice large plug in the ground.

 

[jazzback]

I use a 1" Sears Craftsmen Gasket Scraper. I charged it with a speaker Magnet to make iron and other "Junk Metal" to stick to it so I don't waste time on magnetic metals. Things like roofing nails etc go right to the tool.

 

[Davisdog]

See the blue D-handle shovel above in rtde3's post? I got one very similar to that at Big Lots for $4.95.

I also use a pointed mortar trowel, a large folding knife, and a probe that I made from an aluminum gutter nail and a wood handle from a drywall saw.

 

[shadow0966]

I just bought the new jackson 7 in 1 and this this thing is STRONG and heavy but it is sold at canadian tire only I think . For under $30cdn you can't go wrong.Very sharp looking & very strong being made of stainless steel ,not aluminum or fiberglass.

 

[jeff of pa]

21" WilCox

 

[jocap]

here's a couple to consider.

The Fiskars Garden Knife can be found at Target and Wal-Mart for under $10 in the gardening section. Others have said that it works very well but the handle over time can break and it's only coated steel ( not stainless ) and can develope a lil rust.

http://tinyurl.com/23l5ne


here is another I came across and was considering it's the Camper's Lil Helper seem like a very good product and it's stainless steel.

http://tinyurl.com/2hf2n9


I think the Jackson mentioned above by shadow is a dandy as well.


HH

 

[Functional]

There are "vastly" differing opinions on what a "string" is. I have my own "string theory", based on my "string" resembling a thread.

I use an old knife I made to dig with and the ground here in GA is almost like concrete so I wait til it has rained to go out and detect.

Could bring along a watering can.

I don`t have the money to rent a bobcat

Seems like overkill, unless you mean the furry kind of bobcat.

and can`t buy a pinpointer

Could make one from a stud finder if your into electronics.

and don`t want to ruin any finds

You've been reading posts from the guys that use the hammer and chiesel techinque?

so what is a good technique to use for digging? ...............Clark!

The knife is ok, as long as it hasn't any sentimental value to you. You might want to check out a thrift type store for a cheap alternative, or buy one of the other inexpensive products mentioned here.

I use a modified butchers knife when prospecting, (I haven't been "nugget hunting" with a MD because my MD's are too old). I also use a garden trowel that I found at a thrift store $1, and a spade that I'm planning on rounding the blade on, (about 180 degree's), so I can cut near completely circlular holes.

Our soil isn't to bad for digging, mostly sandy clay. But I'm considering prospecting in other area's and I do plan to buy a better MD for nugget hunting, so I was thinking about adding a "platform" to the back of my shovel, so that when I dig in, I can use the platform as a foot to pivot against. I think the wooden handle would encounter less physical stress, as less force would be needed to be applied using this "fulcrum" technique. I'll have to talk to the guy that does the welding around town here and see what I can work out, when we both have some free time.

Just a thought.

F.

 

[MEinWV]

I use a small, round pointed garden shovel, with the 5" wide blade and 3' handle in the woods.

On most lawns I use 2; A Gator digger and a Ginsu styled steak knife. The Ginsu stays sharp for a long time and zips through roots like butter. If it is a real nice lawn, I try too use the Ginsu only, because it makes a very thin slice in the sod.

 

[txkickergirl]

The Fiskars Garden Knife can be found at Target and Wal-Mart for under $10 in the gardening section. Others have said that it works very well but the handle over time can break and it's only coated steel ( not stainless ) and can develope a lil rust.

I have this tool and let me tell ya, I love it so far! I have broken 3 other diggers in a very short time. So far this one is holding up, especially for the price.

I'm still holding out for one of those special Mighty AP digging tools!

 

[Springfield]

IMO, best equipment to make small-footprint, shallow to waist-deep holes in hard ground: 1) 12" heavy-duty flat tipped screwdriver; 2) 30" steel crowbar; 3) short handled shovel.