You know I see these topics posted pretty often and it seems there are always similar comments about the use, damaged coins, bad grass etc. I have made a couple of these things way overkill out of SS in a few diameters and it was amazing to me the difference in how much as little as a half inch change in width would effect all the issues at hand. If you search for hole hog in here, you will likely find one that I posted pics of.
So in short, the ones you buy that I have seen are 2.5 inch diameter and are easy to drive in the ground for that reason but you definately have to be accurate with your pinpointing. The one I made that is posted in the forums here is 3" diameter and will cut at 10" depth until the handles stop you. This one is pretty easy to drive, a bit more forgiving on the pinpointing and much lighter to tote around with you than the last monster I created. The lack of depth and the fact that I still couldn't get my leshe digger in the hole to continue the dig or my fist are the only reasons I opted to go bigger on the last one. The last one I made solved a few of the problems but not all. It is 4" in diameter and will dig to 15" till it hits the handles. I can honestly say I have had no trouble avoiding targets, it is pretty easy to get the pinpointing accurately enough to not have issue. I also can get my fist in the hole as well as the lesche if I need to go deeper. It is about the perfect diameter. As for weight, it makes my explorer 2 seem really light and is difficult to keep out of the range of the coil while sweeping both of these things can be gotten around by carrying colored golf Ts or little flags to mark the targets then after a reasonable area is searched, go back and go nuts. The other issue with the 4" is the effor required to cut a plug that deep. It goes up tenfold. So on targets that are really deep, I end up pulling 2 plugs out, they stay together well enough usually that it still makes it worthwhile.
Now to cover the last issue about the grass dieing. I havn't had trouble with that any more or less than cutting a flap, the thing is, if the ground is dry and you don't get rain the plug will likely die. As long as the ground is not in drought mode, I have never had plugs dieing out on me. Same park for months at a time with no visible signs. One thing that I did start doing that I think is just smart anyway even if you are flap cutting is carrying a small snuffer type bottle with water and very light amounts of grass food in it to squirt the plug after it is back in. I tend to be a bit overkill on everything, but I know the park personel that have watched me dig plugs never had any concerns afterward.
So, summary: I think a 4" version at whatever depth you wanted to work at would be fine with proper pinpointing and attention to the soil would cover most all the bases. Is it worth it? Maybe, I don't haul mine around because I feel atatchment to my creation or anything. I haul it because after developing decent methods of use, it saves time, leaves a very undetectable plug, looks fairly professional when used right all of which I think is worthwhile. Having a really good pinpointer helps a lot of course (X1 of course)
Hope that helps. I will try to get pics of this one some time over the next week and post it.
