The Plug Popper

[ModernDayWarrior]

Anybody tried one of these yet? I just recieved mine but the weather is terrible right now. I can't wait to try it. I saw it used on Treasurehunting America. Check out the link. http://www.jimmysierra.com/toolsZ.htm

 

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[Burdie]

Keep us posted when you start using it. HH Burdie

 

[lionhrt9]

I have not tried them, see em before. Maybe good tool for comp's if it is sturdy enough??

 

[Monty]

I saw one of these in use in a film somewhere? Can't remember where? The ground is so hard around here due to the drought I wonder if it would penetrate? Also, what about deep grass roots? Let us know how it works as soon as you can, looks interesting. Monty

 

[The Beep Goes On]

I thought about getting one of those. I was concerned that, since it cuts the roots all around, it might be more likely to stress the grass. The flap, or trap-door, method leaves the roots connected on one side. I got this digger a long time ago...I don't know who makes it and I haven't seen any for sale, but it's great for grass digging...

HH!
TBGO

 

[HobBob]

Yes, I have one...
First, a disclaimer... I am a newbie to metal detecting, and have only been able to get out 3 times this winter due to weather, but I have been very happy with it so far. The only problem is when you hit an obstacle, either a rock or your target. It royally scratched up (no, gouged) a ZLincoln penny when I was slightly off target.
The other thing that bothers me about it a little - although I'm sure there is a practical limit to the diameter of a hole you can dig under human power, the hole is too small for me to get my hand down in it without enlarging it.
Of course, if you are on target with the plug, it's just a matter of crumbling a little dirt to recover it.

All in all, I am very happy with it (but your mileage may vary). Not sure how it would work with dry ground, but it's been very easy to use in the rich dark soil I've been hunting in so far.
HH,
Bob

 

[ModernDayWarrior]

I got out in the back yard yesterday and used the plug popper. I was impressed with it. I would pinpoint my target and then cut the plug. When I replaced the plug and stepped on it, no one could tell I had been there. Found an old dog rabbies vaccination tag fom 1973 and a ring. I almost jumped for joy until i knocked some dirt off and saw AVON on it. Anyhow, I am pleased with it and will use it when soil is soft and use the Gator in the hard stuff.

Warrior

 

[Michigan Badger]

Yes, I have one...
It royally scratched up (no, gouged) a ZLincoln penny when I was slightly off target.
The other thing that bothers me about it a little - although I'm sure there is a practical limit to the diameter of a hole you can dig under human power, the hole is too small for me to get my hand down in it without enlarging it.

I've been watching this post and knew sooner or later someone was going to post this information.

Yes, HobBob is right. I was one of the first to employ this method of coin retrieval back in the early 60's. I made my unit out of a hole cutting saw that was about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. On my first time out in a local park I got a nice signal and dug it with my popper. I hit the target and ruined a rare trade token that was nearly priceless to the history of that town.

Most of us "old timers" long ago gave up on this idea.

I could write a book about this topic and explain why this hole cutting concept is all wrong for most situations (NOT ALL) but short posts are better here.

If you want to do this right, cut a half circle plug leaving the sod connected on one side. Left up the sod like a trap door and carefully locate and remove the target with your hand (wear thin strong leather gloves).

Consider: You finally detect a real gold coin but because you used a popper you ruined it. The next day we read your name in the obituary as a suicide victim.

Well, anyway, I think you get the point.

 

[Burdie]

Thanks for nothing badger! Because you didn't bother to share your knowledge earlier I bought something similar. That was good battery money! Don't you know what a forum is? You are to
inform the good members of this forum. Burdie
PS. Just having fun with you badger don't take it serious.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Thanks for nothing badger!
PS. Just having fun with you badger don't take it serious.

LOL!

The popper would probably be okay for shallow finds like clad and recently lost items. Just make sure you pinpoint very carefully. However, if a target registers in the gold range I wouldn't risk it. You don't want to ruin a nice gold ring or chain.

 

[Sandman]

You have to be careful what tool you use in grass at parks and lawns. Anyone using this tool to destroy the grass in a park should be shot for ruining the hobby for the rest of us. LOL..........With careful use it will work fine if you don't cut the grass all the way around for your plug during the dry season.

 

[Visionquest]

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.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Like Visionquest wrote, this post shows up on a regular basis.

At this point I usually pop into the thread and mention that not all sod is the same. In drier more sandy regions the sod tends to be thin and easily damaged. In these areas even a hinged plug will be a nasty brown spot after about a week.

In the places where the sod is nice and thick and the soil black the hinged plug usually works much better.

I've tried the round plug approach and it's always noticeable after a week or two in all the places I've tried it.

This isn't going to win me any popularity contest here, but, digging causes a certain amount of damage to any lawn and that's the bottom line. It's this fact that has brought about the NO THing signs we see at some parks. This is the main reason I no longer hunt the well-kept lawn areas. My opinion is that those who do are just ruining it for all of us.

Sorry, once in a great while I just have to be serious on here and write what I really believe

 

[Visionquest]

Nothing wrong with dissagreeing. We obviously do on some of this. Just the basic concept of Sod goes against the thought of it not being possible to dig without damaging grass or quick recovery etc. Also some soil is much more difficult if even possible to cut without damage as MB alluded to. I posted what I did as a point of reference in hopes that it will be found helpful by someone utilizing similar equipment or considering buying or building one. It is way too often that we go into parks and see damaged grass and signs were people have been less than careful. It should make us all angry. Fact is for every 10 of us that go through a park without a trace, there are still going to be a few selfish people going through the same park without concern making us all look bad. All we can do is educate as many as we can and hopefully they will have the integrity to do what they know is right when they are not being scrutinized.

As far as not winning a popularity contest MB, I would hate to think people based their posts on that. No body would ever benefit from any discussion if that were the environment. Your just fine in my book, I appreciate all honesty, I wish everyone would say what they feel rather than what they think will be popular.

 

[HobBob]

Thanks, Badger for the insight. I also have a Lesche but haven't really tried it out yet. Next time I go out digging I will try the flap method and see what happens.
HH from SE lower Michigan,
HobBob