Best Turf Plugging Tool?

[Steve Herschbach]

Hi,

I'm going to be going after coins deeper than I've ever gone for this summer and need a way to punch deep, clean holes in turf. Who makes the best "Hole Hog" or similar type tool for getting down to depth? I need at least 12". Any help is appreciated.

Steve Herschbach

 

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[Highwater]

Steve,
In my opinion if you want to go deep in a nice lawn it might work just as well or better to cut a 3 sided trap door. If you use a plug cutter you will just have more stuff to pack around with you. Also, they work well for cutting a plug in the sod, but you still have to dig to depth through the little hole they make, then have to mess around getting the plug and soil pushed back out of the cutter and back in the hole. It takes time and effort to fool around with them. It can look real nice when you shove the plug back in the hole, but by cutting all the grass roots in the plug it will usually turn yellow in a few days when the grass starts dying.
By cutting a three sided trap door you can cut it big enough to dig the amount of dirt it takes to get to your deep target. You can pile the dirt on a drop cloth to be dumped back in the hole when you have recovered your target. By leaving a hinge on one side of your plug the grass has a much better chance of surviving. If you make sure to cut straight down around the three sides of the plug It also helps keep the grass growing.
Some people cut a 'cone' when they cut a plug. Not only does this make the grass die quicker, a lawn mower will suck the cones right out of the hole. Cutting a plug in a nice lawn takes some careful effort and skill. I really do believe that a three sided trap door is the quickest and most efficient way to get to a deep target.
When I cut a plug in a lawn I make it long and narrow. I start close to the spot that I pinpointed. That is the first end I cut, then down both sides. When I flop the plug over the target will either be in the end of the plug, or still in the hole. The separation I get between the end of the plug and the hole gives me room to run my coil over both and I very quickly know where to go for my target.
This doesn't answer your question about the best plug cutter on the market, but I just wanted to share my thoughts on the subject. With a good digging tool you can open a trap door plug in just a few seconds, flop it back, dig some dirt out of the hole and onto a drop cloth, recover your target and be closed up in just a short time. Of course, best not to work nice lawns in the dry season. Good luck... HH Highwater

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Here is the best I've used that will cut 8" deep.

Made by Trans-Missippi Electronics

 

[Sandman]

It can look real nice when you shove the plug back in the hole, but by cutting all the grass roots in the plug it will usually turn yellow in a few days when the grass starts dying.

These plugging tools almost have to be jumped on to push them down and rocks will stop them cold. The way they kill the grass in the plug makes them a hazard to parks and makes us look bad for the damage they do. It is best to cut a 3 sided plug like Charlie says and any dirt you remove you can place it on a piece of cloth to dump it all back in the hole when your done. It makes a very clean area when you leave.

 

[Steve Herschbach]

Hi Guys,

Well, it's always been me, a Lesche digging tool, a three-sided trap door, and a drop cloth. I was just wondering if there was a better way, but looks like I'm already doing it. Except I'd better get one of those long Wilcox scoops.

Thanks!

Steve Herschbach

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I really like the Lesche and use mine a lot, especially where roots are involved, but once you get past 6" deep the pointy tip and "ears" mean you have to open up a much larger hole to keep going. The flat-nosed digger above is a lot better in parks with deep coins IMHO.

The park I hunt gets flooded regularly and I have found 1996 dimes at 8". That's just not fair.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Here is the method I have found as the best method for recovering a target, it is really amazing how there is no visible sign when I am done. Folks, I am not kidding this thing is amazing and when done it is next to impossible to see where I recovered the target.

Cut a small hole, and I mean small hole, and then use the Ez-dig-r. I am cutting a surface hole no wider then maybe 1 1/4 to 2 inches at the most.......I use the DetectorPro Pocket uniprobe to locate the target and the Ez-Dig-R to remove it.

http://ezdigr.com/indexD.html

This probe can locate a target anywhere from 3 to 5 inches deep in the ground. By adjusting the threshold you can adjust how close you can be before it sounds off......

I know I am still a newbie, so it may not carry much weight, but if you want to detect a park and leave no sign you were there, this is the way to go..................I have had a park ranger walk up behind me, watch me dig in the sod, then turn and walk away with out saying a word to me about what I was doing. Yes, I knew he was there and I was waiting for the "what the h3ll you think your doing?" comment, but it never came.

 

[dazoff]

Here is the method I have found as the best method for recovering a target, it is really amazing how there is no visible sign when I am done. Folks, I am not kidding this thing is amazing and when done it is next to impossible to see where I recovered the target.

Cut a small hole, and I mean small hole, and then use the Ez-dig-r. I am cutting a surface hole no wider then maybe 1 1/4 to 2 inches at the most.......I use the DetectorPro Pocket uniprobe to locate the target and the Ez-Dig-R to remove it.

This probe can locate a target anywhere from 3 to 5 inches deep in the ground. By adjusting the threshold you can adjust how close you can be before it sounds off......

I know I am still a newbie, so it may not carry much weight, but if you want to detect a park and leave no sign you were there, this is the way to go..................I have had a park ranger walk up behind me, watch me dig in the sod, then turn and walk away with out saying a word to me about what I was doing. Yes, I knew he was there and I was waiting for the "what the h3ll you think your doing?" comment, but it never came.

I agree the uniprobe is the best way to go in groomed areas I just use a screwdriver with mine. Dan

 

[golddigger14s]

Where can I get those tools?

 

[EDDE]

google ez digger

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Sorryu meant to include the web link..... http://ezdigr.com/indexD.html

 

[chrisplay2004]

This is all great advice, I have waiting for a post just like this. The flap method is very good advice. All these ideas work when the grass is green, but any advice on digging in dry grass in like is everywhere here?

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

Geez..........
this, that, and one of those................

I use a common garden spade.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Sherm, there are areas I hunt where a common garden spade is not a problem, and there are city parks that I would be kicked out of if I used one. The Ez Dig R leaves no signs when I am done and allows me to dig spots where I normally couldn't.

I would use my Beach Brute scoop if I could.......

 

[aslterp7]

ez-dig-r
I searched for it and found it no where. On ebay it was not there either. Hmmm?

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Your right, I can no longer find it either. I bought mine on EBay, and can not imagine land hunting with out it. I sent an email to the seller to see if he still sells them, I will let you know if he does.

I have both the EZ-Dig-R and EX-Dig-R II and the probe.

 

[rmptr]

Flap has got to be the way to go for a 12" deep target in turf.

Best
rmptr

 

[teddy]

Like stated above, coin pluggers only work well in moist, rock free, soils. They have their place but that place is very limited.

People with bad backs and knees use a stand up plugger made in California. I don't have the info on it right now but the guy sells on ebay. I've tried it and it works well for shallow coins (down to about 5 inches deep). But again, in super dry ground they're all worthless.

And too, as overstated here, the plugger kills sod. And it can really murder a find that's hit by the edge of the digger tube. I ruined several old coins and a valuable token with one.

Basically pluggers aren't the way to go...period!

Hunting deep without doing much damage to the sod is an art learned by doing. But digging deep holes with NO damage to the sod is impossible. I say this only after almost 45 years of THing experience. Any time one cuts sod and peels it back there is some (be it ever so small) damage. After a week of dry weather the nasty brown color will show up. The idea is to keep that brown area as small as possible.

teddy

 

[rmptr]

Did anyone mention that some folks are known to give a shot with their water bottle when they close up a flap ?
That would certainly help if it were dry.


.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Good for you if they work in your soil. It must be sandy.

I don't see either as cutting it hereabouts on the hardned clay and clay/loam glacial soils we have once they dry out in June & thereafter until October or so. It's easier to cut a plug and lift straight up than try and lever out hard packed soil.

I bent this.