made a new shovel

tmshaft · Nov 4, 2014

Tried to make a new shovel , its a little heavier then I wanted it to be but it is strong . Now I just have to paint it.

rainyday101 · Nov 4, 2014

Great don't use it in parks. Get a small garden trowel and learn how to pinpoint. There is no need for the shovel. That is what shut all the county parks down for metal detecting in a nearby county. Not only that, we are close to losing the county parks in my county from shovels. The park ranger told me they are getting awful tired of fixing craters and if it keeps up the end is near.

Do really need to dig that big of a hole for penny? In reality you only need to cut a plug no more than 4" across- if you can pinpoint. Save the shovel for your wife's flower garden.

EccentricInTexas · Nov 4, 2014

It looks good!!!

tmshaft · Nov 5, 2014

For one don't jump to conclusions that I will use it in parks ., for one I don't hunt parks I hunt in woods and fields .

CladGrabber · Nov 5, 2014

My 31" Sampson actually cuts cleaner plugs than my handheld Lesche.

Charlie P. (NY) · Nov 5, 2014

Agree with CladGrabbber. I can cut a smooth plug that replaces seamlessly with my Sampson (Looks like TMShaft's but is smooth sided).

Jesse James · Nov 5, 2014

Wow. Nice craftsmanship. I also make my own diggers. Looks very similar to my tool in the way it was made. After snapping many hand tools, I made mine strong as hell. Steel blade with a hollow aluminum shaft and a rubber grip.

Jesse James · Nov 5, 2014

Looks good. Here's my crafted digger. Steel blade, aluminum shaft and rubber grip.

Frankn · Nov 5, 2014

I picked up my 2 from A M Leonards. A small hand blade for small holes and an all steal shovel for cache recovery. They have lasted over 14 years, and the price was right. Frank

dirtdigginfool · Nov 5, 2014

AWESOME craftsmanship!! As a welder/fabricator myself..thumbs up on a great piece of work! I would be proud to have one of them for field work..it is that time of year and my hand held digger has trouble with the deeper targets in the fields..ddf

rainyday101 · Nov 5, 2014

Perses said:
Looks great man, no more annoying roots to knock the dirt back into the hole!

And RainyDay101, I bet you a silver half I can cut a cleaner plug with my 31 T-handle serrated Lesche than you can with your ... anything.

Guys I have no doubt you can cut a cleaner plug with your shovels. Also before I took that bet, I would have to buy a silver half off of ebay! The thing is, if a park employee or ranger sees you with a shovel up by me you will get booted out of the park. At the federal parks they will for sure give you the boot. If you have a small hand digger they won't even bother you. It is people with shovels in public parks that have shut down several city parks and complete counties up here. Granted most of them were probably ignorant newbies.

Use them in fields and woods, that is great. Public parks not so great. In a public park they draw attention to you from ignorant bystanders who think because you have a shovel you are digging the place up, even though you cut nice clean plugs. In public a small Lesche etc. draws a lot less attention to you and what your are doing.

I live in a very historic town. No metal detecting. When I asked why they said because people have used shovels and dug the place up. It's shame because my town is of real historical significance. In our state digging artifacts is illegal on public land anyway. Not that it always matters. Diggers was in town 2 weeks ago to film an episode. We can't detect, but they got all the permits they needed and had the red carpet rolled out for them. I didn't attend any of the festivities.

I am not against shovels, I just think they have a time and a place.

And by the way, I don't hunt were I can use a shovel, but it is a nice looking shovel. Looks good enough, you would think it was manufactured.

The Silver Pirate · Nov 5, 2014

I only use my shovel in the woods. In a park, or I'm a yard, I use my Leache. And, I don't know of any Federal parks that would let you swing anyway. You should have seen the looks I get when I drive my back hoe I the school yard!!! Just kidding of course. Haha

McKinney_5900 · Nov 5, 2014

CladGrabber said:
My 31" Sampson actually cuts cleaner plugs than my handheld Lesche.

My Sampson Mini 18 does also. Faster in-and-out for the treasure, which I could never state when I used the Lesche. Low profile digger.

TSCOM · Nov 5, 2014

That's a wicked shovel.

rainyday101 · Nov 7, 2014

The Silver Pirate said:
I only use my shovel in the woods. In a park, or I'm a yard, I use my Leache. And, I don't know of any Federal parks that would let you swing anyway. You should have seen the looks I get when I drive my back hoe I the school yard!!! Just kidding of course. Haha

I have a copy of the Fed park rules and metal detecting is considered a low impact activity and is allowed. I carry a copy of the rules in my car in case I am asked. The Fed park employees have never bothered me. Once the head of the parks up here told me friend to enjoy and just make sure they dig clean holes and leave no trace. He also said that if he saw them with a shovel he would personally toss them out.

I got a copy of the rules from a user by the name of Tom_in_Ca. I may not have his user ID exact but he is a regular poster. I can't find where I saved it or I would give you a copy.