texas=hard soil=broken tools

[asian_sensation]

im on a budget for crying out loud i cant afford to spend 50 dollars on a digging tool. plus here in texas every time you stick a digging tool into the ground it breaks or bends....any advice?

 

[TheDetectorist]

Yeah, spend $50 on a good tool. I've dug in that hard clay that you Texans call soil. You'll spend $100 in a year of replacing all the cheap ones you broke.

TD

 

[hollowpointred]

Yeah, spend $50 on a good tool. I've dug in that hard clay that you Texans call soil. You'll spend $100 in a year of replacing all the cheap ones you broke.

TD

i agree. $50 now or $100 later. i guess another option would be to try a k bar hunting knife to dig with. thats what my brother uses and he seems to like it.

 

[asian_sensation]

HA, ya its more rock than anything else but life is give and take..i just hope ill be doing more taking than giving pretty soon



a.s.

 

[hollowpointred]

how about one of those hand held picks with a pointy edge on one side and a broad edge on the other. maybe that would cut through rocky dry soil a little better? maybe a home or garden center might have one?

 

[captinharry]

I'm in Texas with the same concrete soil & use a Fisker Garden Knife from Target for 9.99 with life time warranty, rugged tool & target will replace if you break/bend.

 

[rcasi44]

I use the same Fiskar. I broke the handle off the first one, took it back and got it replaced. I broke the handle off the second and permanently fixed it myself. The blade is super you will never break it. Under the soft handle the metal section has a + shaped cross section and is held to the blade with 4 small welds. I replace the + shaped piece with a solid steel rod and welded it myself. I put the soft cover back on. I'll be in Texas at the end of the month and it won't break. Rob

 

[Flyboy]

Hello

Im to am a texan and the dirt we have here in the San Angelo TX. area can be more rock than dirt. I recently purchased a Leche Predator tool the model 58. It is the best thing for this type of soil. If you are going to be digging into any type of hard dirt then I suggest the Predator tool series,something with a hard point and a longer handle for leverage.

flyboy

 

[dahut]

[attach =1]
Heres my tools. Down in front next to the Wilcox 102 trowel is a deep digger I made (cheap) and its rugged (indestructible). Ive had it for years and have dug with it in every sort of soil, from rock hard clay to sand.
Its simply made, from black iron pipe and steel conduit. You can do the same... or so can any fab shop for $15.
David

 

[ClonedSIM]

I have a Lesche Gator myself. It's over 5 years old and only shows some scratches and some dulling of the blade and teeth.

 

[TheDetectorist]

Heres my tools. Down in front next to the Wilcox 102 trowel is a deep digger I made (cheap) and its rugged (indestructible). Ive had t for years and have dug in every sort of soil from rock hard clay to sand with it.
Its simply made, from black iron pipe and steel conduit. You can do the same... or so can any fab shop for $15.
David

WOW! That's one serious looking digger! Glad to see I'm not the only person who makes his own tools. Your "hole-hog" looks similar to one I made years ago. I gave it away to a buddy. My current one is made from a photographer's 6 reel stainless developing tank. Thinner walls = easier to cut a plug, but it's still darn rugged. It's also about 8 inches long!

TD

 

[dahut]

Homeade tools

I do alot of experimenting with tools. Some I make, some I buy. The hole plugger is a piece of 3" electrical conduit (EMT). I figured if I need a bigger diameter, then Im not doing a good enough pinpointing job!
I tried a really tall one, like yours also, but it kept tipping over as I stepped on it. The shorter one is just right for cutting the plug. After that, I have a digger.

 

[TheDetectorist]

You stand on yours? I just lean over mine and push it in with a twisting motion. Of course my local soil is much nicer than that south Texas stuff.

I used to only use it on those deep, coil signals. I didn't want to take a chance on damaging an old silver coin. Then at park one day, I hit a large shallow signal. "another stupid pop can" I said to myself. I jammed my flat-blade screwdriver into the ground to pop it out. And then I saw that I had just scratched the @#$%@#$ out of a beautiful walking liberty half. After that, I don't make anymore assumptions about targets. I treat them all as MS-65 double eagles. I use the hog on almost every target, and I haven't scratched a coin since.

TD

 

[dahut]

Yah, I stand on it. Sometimes I push it around with my hands, but stepping on it is easier. Once Im sure its a worthy, deep signal, I just bend over and place the plugger, then step on it. It cuts out the plug and I go to work.

 

[young one]

is taht a drywall saw i see in ur "arsenal"??

 

[TheDetectorist]

You don't carry one? THey are great for getting through those darn tree roots.

TD

 

[ZoSo71]

I came across this awhile back..

http://www.kellycodetectors.com/accessories/razorgatordigger.htm

Lifetime replacement..

Just a thought

ZoSo71

 

[young one]

yai saw that gator saw too i was planning on ordering one when i order my 250 since it comes discounted..

 

[Blind.In.Texas]

im on a budget for crying out loud i cant afford to spend 50 dollars on a digging tool. plus here in texas every time you stick a digging tool into the ground it breaks or bends....any advice?

Stop trying to dig so deep on every stab.

 

[Iskuli]

I live in Texas! I use an OXO or is it ann XOX...anyway, I got it from Lowes Home Improvement. I use it at the fresh lake beaches where you have sand of a few inches before you hit clay from He-double-hockey stix. I have had it a year and it works great.