Do you sharpen your digger?

[matthias]

Just curious what you guys and gals are using and do you keep it sharp. HH. Matt

 

[Elton]

Yes .............. I keep the end sharp as possible..and every once in awhile I I redo the root cutter section.

If you have noticed the end starts to flatten out (Round Out).. makes it much harder to penetrate the ground..

I figure for around $40 dollars every five years for a new digger..it's not expensive to to sharpen it down.. and buy new when it isn't workable any more..

 

[robo]

Yep.I just take a file and give it a nice clean edge. A sharp digger makes for neater plugs.

 

[Critterhunter]

Yes, usually every spring I sharpen mine...Which reminds me I need to do it this spring. It for sure makes it easier to cut through thick grass mats. Some places I hunt the grass is like a thick carpet and very hard to cut through to where it's almost impossible. I use a workbench grinder to sharpen mine.

 

[Dude]

I was surprised to read that people sharpen their digging tools, because my Lesch stays razor blade sharp, and I've never sharpened it.

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[fowlercharles]

Hi Matthias, I use a "sharpshooter" shovel with a 12 3/4" sawed off wooden handle with a 11"X 5 1/4" X 4 1/4" ( rounded at the top) tapered blade.It is a bit shorter now than when I first started using it over 40 yrs.ago.I try and keep it sharp on All 3 edges, as the blade became shorter,more narrow and lighter it became a real fine "machette". I have a rope loop through the end and sling it over my shoulder when not in use. HH, Charlie

 

[Hank68]

Sometimes it do.

 

[Steve O]

Yep, sharpen all my diggers with a file so the metal stays cool..... to keep the temper.

 

[TerraDigger]

I own a Predator. It and Lesche diggers are pretty much the same in construct. Mine also stays sharp. But as Elton pointed out, high gravel content will wear down any blade if you dig in that stuff alot. Luckily, most of my digging is in dirt with little to no rocks.

 

[MNCoinhunter]

I have sharpened my Lesche once since I bought it two years ago. But then again, since I bought a Sampson w/serrated edge last year my hand digger is mostly used for secondary retrieval needs. And of course, the hand Lesche puts in it's time at public parks.

 

[REVIER]

Sharpened it when I put cuts in the other side.
I like to cut both ways.

 

[Dude]

n/t

It doesn't matter what I dig my Lesche stays razor sharp. Same thing happens to my screwdriver and brass probe I use.

 

[mudpuppy]

All tools of a cutting or digging nature should be skillfully sharpened by their owners...it is the sign of a craftsman who understands and respects metal.

 

[TerraDigger]

Revier, very nice work on that blade. What did you use to make the serrations?

 

[Elton]

I was surprised to read that people sharpen their digging tools, because my Lesch stays razor blade sharp, and I've never sharpened it.

You must have bought a better Lesch than I did... Mine was never razor blade sharp...

 

[Elton]

Happy Hunting.............

 

[targets]

yep i use an angle grinder with a fine disk for max sharp,just mind those toes

 

[REVIER]

Revier, very nice work on that blade. What did you use to make the serrations?

Just a grinder with a thin blade.
I also used that grinder to put a slightly sharper edge on both sides.
I found that roots were sticking in my thin slots so I used a little bit thicker disk on those same slots and now it works fine.

I had to sharpen it because digging in the concrete-like soil in the summer loaded with rocks in Alabama dulled it down, some.
I live in Kansas now and this is usually beautiful, black, loamy soil with very little rocks so I don't think I need to sharpen it much any more.

 

[Dude]

I was surprised to read that people sharpen their digging tools, because my Lesch stays razor blade sharp, and I've never sharpened it.

You must have bought a better Lesch than I did... Mine was never razor blade sharp...

I hope you didn't buy a knock off that could be why your having to sharpen yours.

Your not going to dull the Lesche anytime soon, it's made out of 4130 Chrome-moly Virgin Steel, Aircraft Quality Heat Treated and Temped.
Maybe that's why after 8 years I've never had to sharpen it.
http://predatortools.com/item_details.asp?ID=42

If you do sharpen it with a grinder be careful not to over heat it, it will loose it's temper.