Different sheath for Lesche Digger

[Ism]

I have never used the Lesche sheath. Its difficult to extract and insert the digger and gets packed full of dirt.
So I made my own.....

I used a 7" piece of 1-1/2 schedule 40 PVC pipe. cut a section from the pipe for the belt area before heating the pipe.
I heated the uncut area of the pipe slowly so the surface didn't burn. It takes about a minute or two.

Then I flattened the pipe so that there is about 1/4-3/8" space for the blade. I let this section cool before working with the belt end.
I then heated the belt end of the sheath and flattened it out allowing the sides to flair out from the blade end of the sheath giving the whole unit strength.
I cut the belt loops and then cleaned it up with belt sander and hand files. It ended up being a couple hour project.

Its a breeze to retrieve and return the Lesche to my side in this sheath. Hope this is helpful to others.
I probably should have put this in Mods forum eh, Moderator?
Ran

 

[ZOFCHAK]

That's a cool idea! I never liked the Lesche sheath either. I simply carry it in my left hand and and swing with the right, but your setup looks like it would work very well.

 

[MNCoinhunter]

Very cool idea . .

 

[flyin-lowe]

I took mine to an Amish farm in town where they do saddle and other leather work. $10.50 later and I was out the door with this little beauty. The only thing I need to do is put a grommet in the hole at the bottom. He didn't have any at the time. I have a gold towel that hangs from there.

 

[jmaryt]

nice! looks factory! sweet!

(h.h.!)
j.t.

 

[TerraDigger]

Lowe, that is quite nice..and a great price. Now I would incorporate Ism's open bottom idea on the leather sheath so dirt/mud just falls out instead of depositing in the sheath.

 

[flyin-lowe]

I thought about it but figured two things. One the leather itself is stiff enough that if I kept the sheath the same size and left the bottom un-stitched it would still trap the dirt inside. I also didn't want to make the sheath shorter and leave the bottom portion of the Lesche hanging out. Mine is not sharpened more then from the factory but I didn't want the edges and tip exposed while I am kneeling up and down. I just do a quick swipe with my glove before I slide it in. The top is tight enough that most of the remaining dirt is pushed off the top as I slide the edge in.

 

[Ism]

Hi all, I guess this idea took off in another forum.
I may extend the sheath but this prototype worked so well I wanted to share it with other users.
Trust me...if you use any other sheath where you have to look and/or use an extra hand to return it to the sheath or had your tool belt lift up to your ribcage trying to pull the digger out of its sheath, you will appreciate the hard shell approach. I can extract it and return the digger to the sheath in one smooth motion. It doesn't fall out of its holster either. It doesn't hang up and the unit works like a funnel guiding the Lesche back to its home. It can be styled for other diggers, but I happen to have the Lesche.
HH
Ran

 

[fwcrawford]

Nice setup you made there.. I wore two of the sheathes out and decided to make one myself and I also used a piece of pvc pipe.
Mine is a different design than yours and probably a little heavier, but I don't mind it and it works great, is easy to clean at the end of the day, easy to get the digger back into, and also helps to keep my clothes from getting worn and dirty from the tool.
I will post a photo of it later.
Felix

 

[osgood]

Nice work with the PVC. I think I will try something like that for my propointer and screwdriver. dont know if it might irritate the thigh when squatting. Like the pic Lowe has above at Sears is a tool carrier, of stiffer leather , for about 5 bucks, I cut off the end with a knife to let dirt go through and use that for my Lesche digging tool -the leather has lasted years. I was so concerned they might DC them I even bought an extra one to have on hand if the current one ever bites the dust. CO

 

[Imperio]

PVC is good. But the leather thong is necessary not to lose.

 

[Ism]

Imperio, You are right, to be sure that one doesn't loose their tool in transit a retainer of some sort is a good idea. But that same strap gets in the way when actually getting down to business.
My previous sheath was a modified belt holder for a claw hammer. The entire Lesche was exposed without a keeper. I never lost it.

The type of hunting makes all the difference in the how's and why's of a persons preference. I would suspect that nobody would hunt the woods without something to keep the tools in place.
Heck, I lose my glasses more than anything in the woods because of stray branches...(I feel like Mr. Magoo when that happens)

When I detect, very little time is spent making unnecessary motions. As I'm kneeling down, my detector is being placed to my left side.
At the same time my propointer is being removed from the small of my back on the right side.
As soon as the detector is released my left hand is brought to the small of my back on the left side removing the Lesche from its sheath. And the retrieval process begins....

I have done this so many times that I have muscle memory. If my tool holders are out of place by 1/2 inch I know it and I end up making small adjustments throughout my hunts.
One day the battery on my Propointer failed. I was hunting a field so I decided to go back to old school (using the detector to PP).
Every time I bent down that Propointer with the dead battery was being pulled from its holster.

All that said, I have devised a couple ways to secure the digger in the sheath with very little interference. I will try it in the next model and share it with the group.

Anybody thinking of making their own, If you want heavy, go with schedule 40. If a nice thin sheath is preferred, the "under sink" PVC pipes are thin walled and would be light and easy to work with.
Either should last as long as the Lesche.

Happy days

 

[fwcrawford]

n/t

 

[fwcrawford]

I made this holster a couple of years ago after wearing out 2 factory holsters, and a couple of aftermarket holsters.
It is a much different design than yours, but works great and is easy to clean after a day of detecting.
It is very easy to re-holster the digger with this setup and it helps keep dirt from getting on my pants.
I attached the cap on the bottom, because I don't like the open end with mud and dirt falling through and getting on everything.
I also inserted a piece of 3/4" PVC inside the larger piece to keep the tool from rotating around while walking.
Although it looks heavy, being it is PVC, it is not heavy at all... I don't think this one will ever wear out!

 

[Ism]

I used a heat gun. Its one of the most used tools around my house...who woulda' thunk it?
I've read where others put it in the oven for about 5 min at 175-200...personally, I don't like cooking polymers in the same oven I cook my food.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Different but cool! There are several leather ones out that are nice!

 

[NolanM]

Very good idea...I never would have thought to use PVC that way.


Lowe, That is awesome. I think I might have to go visit the Amish, especially for $10.

 

[osgood]

Crawford, now that looks good, I like the smaller pipe inside, would also hold my screwdriver while preventing the rotation of the digging tool. Some times I can really get tripped up when prodding forth in the raspberry and wild grape vines.-all the while the head phone chord putting on a choke hold. When I go down then, which I have, your system would probably protect the leg better from accidental lacerations and such. Whats the diameter on the large pipe, does that hold a lesche digging tool? Did you glue on the end cap or is that removable for a major rinse? Thanks, CO

 

[joannenoiseux]

I don't like the lesche sheath either.... Look for another type of sheath since a while, but don't find until now. Your idea is really good. I think I will try It!


Joanne

 

[Dodqe]

I used to shape PVC with hot oil. I used to use my BBQ grill and an old pot. I had 6 quarts of 5w20 motor oil (not used in an engine) that I would reuse for multiple PVC heatings. Can get a little messy (and painful) if you're not careful though...

I like all of these, especially the OP's. Nice, and thanks for sharing!