GRAY GHOST
New member
hello all, i own three different diggers - and they each have a specific purpose. choosing the right digger is as important to you as choosing the right machine to detect with. not much is said about digging irons; so i'll take this opportunity to help you choose the right one for you.
some people like to build their own diggers. i've seen some great designs that should be mass marketed! two of mine are handmade and are very effective for the type of hunting i like to do. the first thing to take into account is your build. obviously, a small and slight man would not want to carry around a long handle shovel all day. long wooden handled shovels like the ones you see in the hardware store or in your shed are a definite no - no, and serve little purpose unless your're out in the middle of the woods digging 6 feet to the treasure chest. they certainly don't have any business on a lawn or in a park. the second thing to take into account is where you'll be detecting, and what type of ground it is. again, you obviously don't want to use a hand trowel in hard ground. allow me to describe some of the different diggers in our hobby.
the relic hunter's spade - this is usually an old army surplus shovel that the guys fold into a 90 degree angle and use like a pick. it's very effective, but good pinpointing skills are necessary. and it's cool that you can park it on your shoulder while swinging your machine! or you can choose to hang it from a "d" ring, found at almost all hardware stores.
the lesche and lesche type diggers - these are specialized diggers that are mass marketed and are great for most types of detecting, whether your're detecting a yard, in a park, or even at the beach. they are compact and are built strongly, and often have serrated teeth to help deal with roots. just an all around great tool to have. most come with a pouch or a "d" ring. most are a bit pricy, but are well worth it.
the stainless steel combo beach digger - these tall diggers have a spade and retrieval basket combination built in together. when a target is acquired, the beach hunter simply scoops up sand into the basket and either shakes it or allows water to run through the basket, separating the target from the sand in short order. a really neat digger, and even neater to watch someone using one who knows what they're doing with it.
probe and coin popper types - some people like to "probe" out their target while it's still in the ground, make contact with it, then use a popper to pop it out of the ground. probes can be made of almost anything - old long shank screwdrivers, cut out of an fiberglass fishing rod, etc. and can double for the popper. excellent pinpointing skills are necessary here as well, as damage to the target can easily happen if not done right. lots of practice is required!
straight spade - i have a 2' long straight spade that i use in the woods and fields a lot. it's fast and efficient. the spade itself is about 6" wide, and 8" long. i also have the handle marked with a sharpie up to 12". i just simply carry it in my left hand whilst swinging with my right.
trowel type diggers - these types of diggers are good for lawn and park hunting, where the ground is almost stone free, and where there are few obstructions you would expect to encounter in the ground. they are good for retrieving shallower finds, but because of the handle configuration, are not much good at any depth. but, still, they are good diggers for some applications. they're really good for exposing shallow layers - archaeologists really like 'em.
straight blade types - one of the diggers i built is a 12" long, 1" wide blade that is excellent for stabbing into the turf, making a quick turn of the wrist and POP! out comes a nice sized plug. the other digger i built is the same length, but has a 3" wide rounded flat and serrated blade for the heavier yard and park digging. they both fit my needs and hunting style well. some people also like to use the small serrated sheet rock saws for cutting through difficult roots.
the butterknife and tablespoon types - well, i hope we never have to resort to using our table ware to dig with! however, old butcher knives that are purposely dulled are good turf diggers too. they are very quick to cut a plug out, and not to mention, a great crime deterrent! i mean, who's gonna mess with a guy with a 14" butcher knife in his back pocket? nobody. 'nuff said.
whatever digger you decide to get, make sure it fits the type of detecting your're doing. obviously, i would never take a trowel digger into the woods with me, or take my straight spade into someone's yard. each digger has it's own purpose and application. nothing will get you run off faster out of a man's yard or out of a park than using the wrong digger for the job. use your common sense and judgement. would you want someone to dig up your yard with a wooden handle shovel? i think not. so, please use your best judgement and common sense and always remember to cover up your holes. it's a good idea to occasionally check your diggers for wear, cracks, breaks, and even sharpen them once in a while. anyone with a simple grinder or a file can do this. it prolongs your tool's life and makes for easier digging. it's also helpful to spray the handle or shank with bright orange paint like i have. that way, if you do happen to lose or drop your digger, then it will be much easier to find.
i thank you for reading this post, and hope it helps you in some way. not much is ever said about the diggers we rely upon so heavily, so i thought this might be a good topic to open and discuss. remember, choosing the right digger, and taking care of it, is just as important as the machine you choose to use. if you take care of your digger, it will take care of you. good luck my friend, and happy hunting!
some people like to build their own diggers. i've seen some great designs that should be mass marketed! two of mine are handmade and are very effective for the type of hunting i like to do. the first thing to take into account is your build. obviously, a small and slight man would not want to carry around a long handle shovel all day. long wooden handled shovels like the ones you see in the hardware store or in your shed are a definite no - no, and serve little purpose unless your're out in the middle of the woods digging 6 feet to the treasure chest. they certainly don't have any business on a lawn or in a park. the second thing to take into account is where you'll be detecting, and what type of ground it is. again, you obviously don't want to use a hand trowel in hard ground. allow me to describe some of the different diggers in our hobby.
the relic hunter's spade - this is usually an old army surplus shovel that the guys fold into a 90 degree angle and use like a pick. it's very effective, but good pinpointing skills are necessary. and it's cool that you can park it on your shoulder while swinging your machine! or you can choose to hang it from a "d" ring, found at almost all hardware stores.
the lesche and lesche type diggers - these are specialized diggers that are mass marketed and are great for most types of detecting, whether your're detecting a yard, in a park, or even at the beach. they are compact and are built strongly, and often have serrated teeth to help deal with roots. just an all around great tool to have. most come with a pouch or a "d" ring. most are a bit pricy, but are well worth it.
the stainless steel combo beach digger - these tall diggers have a spade and retrieval basket combination built in together. when a target is acquired, the beach hunter simply scoops up sand into the basket and either shakes it or allows water to run through the basket, separating the target from the sand in short order. a really neat digger, and even neater to watch someone using one who knows what they're doing with it.
probe and coin popper types - some people like to "probe" out their target while it's still in the ground, make contact with it, then use a popper to pop it out of the ground. probes can be made of almost anything - old long shank screwdrivers, cut out of an fiberglass fishing rod, etc. and can double for the popper. excellent pinpointing skills are necessary here as well, as damage to the target can easily happen if not done right. lots of practice is required!
straight spade - i have a 2' long straight spade that i use in the woods and fields a lot. it's fast and efficient. the spade itself is about 6" wide, and 8" long. i also have the handle marked with a sharpie up to 12". i just simply carry it in my left hand whilst swinging with my right.
trowel type diggers - these types of diggers are good for lawn and park hunting, where the ground is almost stone free, and where there are few obstructions you would expect to encounter in the ground. they are good for retrieving shallower finds, but because of the handle configuration, are not much good at any depth. but, still, they are good diggers for some applications. they're really good for exposing shallow layers - archaeologists really like 'em.
straight blade types - one of the diggers i built is a 12" long, 1" wide blade that is excellent for stabbing into the turf, making a quick turn of the wrist and POP! out comes a nice sized plug. the other digger i built is the same length, but has a 3" wide rounded flat and serrated blade for the heavier yard and park digging. they both fit my needs and hunting style well. some people also like to use the small serrated sheet rock saws for cutting through difficult roots.
the butterknife and tablespoon types - well, i hope we never have to resort to using our table ware to dig with! however, old butcher knives that are purposely dulled are good turf diggers too. they are very quick to cut a plug out, and not to mention, a great crime deterrent! i mean, who's gonna mess with a guy with a 14" butcher knife in his back pocket? nobody. 'nuff said.
whatever digger you decide to get, make sure it fits the type of detecting your're doing. obviously, i would never take a trowel digger into the woods with me, or take my straight spade into someone's yard. each digger has it's own purpose and application. nothing will get you run off faster out of a man's yard or out of a park than using the wrong digger for the job. use your common sense and judgement. would you want someone to dig up your yard with a wooden handle shovel? i think not. so, please use your best judgement and common sense and always remember to cover up your holes. it's a good idea to occasionally check your diggers for wear, cracks, breaks, and even sharpen them once in a while. anyone with a simple grinder or a file can do this. it prolongs your tool's life and makes for easier digging. it's also helpful to spray the handle or shank with bright orange paint like i have. that way, if you do happen to lose or drop your digger, then it will be much easier to find.
i thank you for reading this post, and hope it helps you in some way. not much is ever said about the diggers we rely upon so heavily, so i thought this might be a good topic to open and discuss. remember, choosing the right digger, and taking care of it, is just as important as the machine you choose to use. if you take care of your digger, it will take care of you. good luck my friend, and happy hunting!