Whats the best way to dig through a gravel road?

[alpha105]

Running my F2 over tons of gravel and i get a beep at certain spots....i managed to pull one of em up....a 67' quarter.....but is there an easier way?

 

[wildrider]

Digging in any gravel sucks. Basically you have to go a piece at a time.

 

[jeff of pa]

Hand Pic or Long Heavy Screwdriver & a Hammer to
Drive it in.

I'v used both.

I like the Screwdriver & Hammer for Blacktop Especially.

after removing the Object you
can replace the pieces of Blacktop & Hammer it
flat again.

 

[jimb]

Best thing to do is don't even bother. They take forever.

 

[Sandman]

Best thing to do is don't even bother. They take forever.

I know of a Drive-in that is now blacktopped that has coin targets under the hard stuff. I dug one out, a 1954 quarter, and it took me almost a half an hour. Still it was a good find, but I hate work........

 

[cam9457]

I have this problem a lot as well. Usually while doing an old farm or homesite with a pain in the A*# gravel driveway. So many good signals under the gravel but it's either way to bothersome or I just don't want anger the property owners by disturbing their driveway. I usually wind up passing them over

 

[rferris75]

Backhoe lol

 

[mick56]

Go after a good rainstorm, the gravel will be softer to dig.

 

[Ray S ECenFL]

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Running my F2 over tons of gravel and i get a beep at certain spots....i managed to pull one of em up....a 67' quarter.....but is there an easier way?

Hand the shovel/digger to the significant other..........

 

[undertaker]

I found my oldest coin a 1783 Nova Constellatio in a graveled road. Thank god it was only 5 inches down because I was getting tired and thinking about covering up the hole. Take your time and pick away at it and you could be surprised what might be there. Gravel is easy compared to dry clay. I had permisson to hunt some fields where revolutionary troops were all over. The dry clay was like digging cement. I found a musketball on my first hit, but because of the terrible digging conditions we got discouraged early and gave up. I think I walked away from my last four hits because I couldn't get to them. The 90 degree heat didn't help matters. Worst part is the farmer really did'nt want artifact hunters on his land but was in a good mood and gave us permisson. We went back to ask if we could look it another time when the soil was softer and he wasn't home. I left a note thanking him along with the musketball but I have a feeling that it could have been a one time hunt that we didnt take advantage of. Can't seem to find a jackhammer small enough to fit in my detector bag.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Ask a prospector, use a pick.
Or C4.

Estwing Geo/Paleo Pick could do fine, or something in that way.

 

[Bum Luck]

Ask a prospector, use a pick.
Or C4.

Estwing Geo/Paleo Pick could do fine, or something in that way.

I dig up stuff for a living.

This is what you want to use, period. Don't lend it out.

 

[TerryC]

Good hammer! I bookmarked the Eastwing page. But I don't see anything on the handle/shaft specs. What is it made of? TTC

 

[bazinga]

Go in the spring after lots of heavy rains. Will be as close to digging in soil as you will get.

If it is hot... forget about it. It's no fun to dig in it then!

 

[Eu_citzen]

Ask a prospector, use a pick.
Or C4.

Estwing Geo/Paleo Pick could do fine, or something in that way.

I dig up stuff for a living.

This is what you want to use, period. Don't lend it out.

Thats the one I meant.

 

[Bum Luck]

Good hammer! I bookmarked the Eastwing page. But I don't see anything on the handle/shaft specs. What is it made of? TTC

It's really light weight, but still works well. I'd guess a tough tubular aluminum alloy.

I used to be a carpenter, and I'd only use Estwing hammers. Still do. Unbelievably tough, and extremely well thought out as a tool. I only saw one ever break, and that was deliberate. The big guy worked on it for an hour, just to get a free new one with a clean wafflehead.

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Good hammer! I bookmarked the Eastwing page. But I don't see anything on the handle/shaft specs. What is it made of? TTC

It's really light weight, but still works well. I'd guess a tough tubular aluminum alloy.

I used to be a carpenter, and I'd only use Estwing hammers. Still do. Unbelievably tough, and extremely well thought out as a tool. I only saw one ever break, and that was deliberate. The big guy worked on it for an hour, just to get a free new one with a clean wafflehead.

As a carpenter, I can vouch for Eastwing hammers. I'd never seen one of those diggers, but I might just have to get one.

 

[rmptr]

Does anyone use a slide hammer for gravel, or hardpack

just an idea...

it would be HEAVY, nut a center steel rod 3ft long with a chisel point, and a stop welded on it maybe 10"
up the shank for a stop.

Then a 3ft heavy wall pipe slipped over the steel rod to slide for impact.

...it would be real heavy, but would get results...

Maybe a 2lb hand sledge to re-compact the hole when target retrieved

Best
rmptr