Frozen ground???

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Does anyone have any tips, tricks or tools for digging frozen ground. This year we still do not have snow but the ground is like digging concrete.
ZDD

[SeaninNH]

Detect in the woods. The ground stays soft a lot longer than in parks.

[M Scott @ FTP]

On a REALLY good site years ago I had 2 or 3 coffee cans with lots of holes poked in the bottom half of the cans and coat hangers made handles.
I would put charcoal in all of them and start them up. When I had a decent target I would put a can on it and look for another good target and put a can on that-then dig the defrosted targets and just keep rotating them to good targets-it makes for some selective digging but it was a heck of a killer site…….
It did get pretty muddy after awhile.
Mike

[Red James cash]

Get a cordless drill and get your hands on the type saw bit,i forget what theyre called,for cutting holes in doors for door knobs

[NGE]

3 inch brick chisel and a 3lb. sledge hammer......NGE

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Thanks everyone, some great ideas for gutting through the ice layer.
We just had some snow yesterday but they are calling for more warm weather on Friday. I hope to get out and try out some of these ideas.
Thanks,
ZDD

[kayden]

Get a cordless drill and get your hands on the type saw bit,i forget what theyre called,for cutting holes in doors for door knobs

Thats a good idea ...never thought of that!

[goldentruth]

Get a cordless drill and get your hands on the type saw bit,i forget what theyre called,for cutting holes in doors for door knobs

Possible: "Core Driller Bit" or "Circular Hole cutter" I call them.
I like the Cordless (German made, Not Mexican Made) Bosh. with a back up battery.
Note: if you had a portable generator from Harbor Freight, a low cost "Heat Gun" works!
It can also warm up your hands & gloves. (Lately, I heat dry my leather boots after the day) (My extra idea).
Good luck.

[bearbqd]

I find a geologist pick is the quickest way to go. I just chop with the pointy end around my target and voila.

[kieser sousa/rip]

I just got a "raven" from preditor tools...used it the other day in a frozen cornfield and it worked great.....dug a seated dime.....still alot of work though.

On a REALLY good site years ago I had 2 or 3 coffee cans with lots of holes poked in the bottom half of the cans and coat hangers made handles.
I would put charcoal in all of them and start them up. When I had a decent target I would put a can on it and look for another good target and put a can on that-then dig the defrosted targets and just keep rotating them to good targets-it makes for some selective digging but it was a heck of a killer site…….
It did get pretty muddy after awhile.
Mike

Thats a pretty good idea....and you can use it to thaw out your fingers !

[G.A.P.metal]

Some time i go out when the ground is frozen.
I take red golf tees pound them in the ground over target and go back in the early spring and dig them then.
Gary

[CASPER-2]

when I was younger and could not wait to get out - was known to use a sledge hammer and larger chissel
not fun when warm even less when temps are below freezing and you slip and get your hand

[justanotherbarber]

I just waited till spring.

[Zachac]

I get my first metal detector today and I am in colorado, figure once I get a target I will then have my wife sit on that spot like a mother hen and I will come back in a few hours and dig...