Ditching my Lesche for a $6 Digger?

mrwilburino

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Well, $5.67 to be exact. Got this bargain at my local grocery store. Stanley Fatmax. They had a few in stock. Probably a discontinued model. A little bit bigger and heavier than the Lesche, and the gauge is slightly thicker. Not sure how I will like the split tip, but I do like the longer blade and handle. Even if I just keep it as a backup, you can't beat the price.

fatmax1.JPG Fatmax2.jpg Fatmax3.jpg
 

Terry Soloman

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Let us know how it works out for you!
 

A2coins

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I have broken soooo many diggers Ive had my leshe for 2 years ill never buy any other trust me on this
 

holepuncher

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I used a cutoff blade to get rid of the split tip on my digger and it works great.
 

xr7ator

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I have one broken lesche. That looks like a great deal.
 

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mrwilburino

mrwilburino

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Yeah, not a fan of the split tip. Just makes it harder to drive it into the ground. Pretty rugged otherwise & digs a nice, deep plug, but going to have to grind that tip down or save it for softer ground.
 

bowwinkles

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As it has been said a couple times here, that fork end is not compatible with most digging a severe point mod is in order I would think for you.
 

Tpmetal

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I'm willing to bet that this would break long before that lesche.
 

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mrwilburino

mrwilburino

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Why? Quality of the steel or something?
 

Slingshot

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Looks like a capable digger to me. Hobbyist tend to gravitate to brand name accessories approved by the majority of other practitioners of that specific hobby. This approval originates from clever marketing ploys developed by companies to increase their profits at the expense of herd mentality hobbyist.
 

Tpmetal

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Why? Quality of the steel or something?

yeah steel quality and proper tempering can not be done for that price. I am the destroyer of all shovels. Rocks, clay, roots, and so forth. I have purchased several(4-5) similar low price items of different manufacturers and all have failed. My lesche and whites hand diggers are the only ones that have lasted. Most break right where it joins with the handle, a few have snapped off the tips, None held an edge or any sort. Also have tried the same for larger shovels. The lesche and predator are the last ones standing. I destroyed several hardware store brands and the whites ground hawg for larger shovels.
 

marjam

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I have had the lesche for 12 years. It still is solid. The metal in it is quality metal. The metal in this one looks like it would be ok for light duty. Prying up things or heavy duty work, better use a lesche.
 

Rookster

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Lesche uses the best steel money can buy. You get what you pay for.
 

Megalodon

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Steel quality is not always visually obvious. I got a cheap new hammer at a farm auction once, from a new box of hammers, passed out to folks for $1 each. Looked a bit crude, but hey, $1? I hit one nail with that hammer and the head exploded. No more Chinese steel for me.
 

RichieSoprano

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Had a similar one from Fiskars. Blade detached from handle so I got a free replacement from the store. Had a buddy weld one blade layered to the other, got rid of the cheap plastic handle and underneath was a lame handle if you could even call it that. He then welded about 8 inches of 1 inch pipe to the mini footrest, so added a pic tee for a top handle for comfort. Then I ground off the double tip forming a slight point
Cut notches BOTH siDrs. Looks like Mad Max. And cuts plugs almost as good as a full sized shovel. If O could post pics you cannot believe how thick the blade is. I put all 210 pounds of me on it to test a pop on a plug. It LAUGHED at my weight. And now....I am gonna make a shovel...an EVIL shovel.
 

bowwinkles

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As mentioned several times above the split end was the killer for me. Even in the playground chips it would fail. It does have a very good handle but I just got a mtn bike handlebar grip and replaced my lesche's grip and now it works great. I have the whites as back up.
 

Clad2Silver

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Had a similar one from Fiskars. Blade detached from handle so I got a free replacement from the store. Had a buddy weld one blade layered to the other, got rid of the cheap plastic handle and underneath was a lame handle if you could even call it that. He then welded about 8 inches of 1 inch pipe to the mini footrest, so added a pic tee for a top handle for comfort. Then I ground off the double tip forming a slight point
Cut notches BOTH siDrs. Looks like Mad Max. And cuts plugs almost as good as a full sized shovel. If O could post pics you cannot believe how thick the blade is. I put all 210 pounds of me on it to test a pop on a plug. It LAUGHED at my weight. And now....I am gonna make a shovel...an EVIL shovel.

I had one of those Fiskars a while back. Tip snapped in no time at all......junk
 

RichieSoprano

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I had one of those Fiskars a while back. Tip snapped in no time at all......junk
Yes. It WAS junk until I layered the blades together and added the galvanized steel handle with the cpvc top. Like a completely different animal. I seriously believe I could now pry a door on a car open with it. And since I sharpened and serrated both sides it cuts a plug pronto! If you or anyone likes pm me. I will text you pics as I don't know how to post them. You could in turn post them. Thanks, Rich
 

Noah_D

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yeah steel quality and proper tempering can not be done for that price. I am the destroyer of all shovels. Rocks, clay, roots, and so forth. I have purchased several(4-5) similar low price items of different manufacturers and all have failed. My lesche and whites hand diggers are the only ones that have lasted. Most break right where it joins with the handle, a few have snapped off the tips, None held an edge or any sort. Also have tried the same for larger shovels. The lesche and predator are the last ones standing. I destroyed several hardware store brands and the whites ground hawg for larger shovels.

Although I do agree with you, he got it from marcs. Marcs sometimes sells things dirt cheap, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was somewhat good quality.
 

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