Digging Baked Ground

[RingProfessional]

any tips on how to remove targets in baked dry ground.I have Been having problems digging lately due to the hardness of the ground, i might have to wait for the rain before i can get out again!

 

[James/Washington]

Use a Lesche digging tool. Keep it sharp with a file. Use the file to sharpen it and be sure to keep the same factory cutting angle. This tool is tough and is not easy to sharpen but you will not break it! Keep the retreval hole as small as possible and try not to damage the target. A little practice will help. I live 10 miles from the Mexican border in Edinburg, Texas and it it is hot and has not rained for over 6 months and the ground here is not too much softer than concrete. The Lesche digging tool is the only digging tool I will use here and is the best digging tool made. I have no affilation with Lesche nor with anyone that sells their tools.

 

[RingProfessional]

ok thanks, i own a lesche digging tool so i will give it a try on the hard as iron ground.

 

[John LA]

Straight claw. Be careful.

 

[JB(MS)]

n/t

 

[RingProfessional]

Ok i will try to find a claw hammer with a straight claw , not sure if i can obtain one but i will try. Thanks for the tip.

 

[RingProfessional]

An ice pick as used by ice/rock climbers might be a good alternative. This would be great for chipping the hard dirt away , just a thought.

 

[Texas T]

Entry 2nd from the top!

 

[Texas T]

I guess we all run into this one from time to time. I carry a 5 gal. bucket with all my digging tools and stuff hanging around the outside on a web belt .Inside shfting screen, towel anti-static spray and a 32oz plastic bottle of water, If the reading is good enough to go after the target. I dig a small shallow dished out place and add the water until it soaks in the ground . Take out the soft stuff, add some more water, and repeat. Most of the dirt-creet is usually only 3/4 inches deep. The I take a VERY-LARGE screw-driver, and start down breaking the Stuff up.Only so;ution I have come up with to perserve the target.Careful with the screw-driver
though break away from the target first.I have a reminder with a long scratch accross his face.Hope this method will keep you from walking of from a nice prize. stomping your hat or renting a back-hoe!

 

[dward51]

Baked ground? Try Georgia "red" clay - and it's everywhere. Let it dry in the hot summer sun and the ground is just one big clay pot. Add in 98* heat with about 200% humidity and it takes the will to swing coil out of the best of us.

I have a hand held pick axe (short handle) that does a decent job, but it makes a mess of the ground and if you are not careful you can "sign" your find as well. A lot of the relic hunters around here use those military shovels with the pick on the back if locked in the 90* position.

Those will not work for grass areas where looks of the dig are an issue. Our problem is under about 1" of decent dirt you hit that red nasty stuff again even in parks. You would think the good stuff would not penetrate deep, but with our freeze & thaw/frost cycles breaking up the clay even modern clad is common down to 6" in parks & school yards. Go figure.

 

[Eddie Currents]

Made for breaking or trimming rocks. Used by geologists, rock
hounds, etc. A top brand is Estwing with lifetime guarantee.
About $30. There are other, cheaper brands. They come in
different sizes. Also called rock hammers. They either have
a pointed tip as shown or a flat, chisel tip.

EC