Lesche digger

[WV62]

I just got a new Lesche digger that came with my detector. I noticed when I got it out all edges are extremely blunt, I was wondering if you guys hunt with the Lesche right out of the package or do you do some heavy sharpening work before using?

Ron in WV

 

[Elton]

I sharpen it.......... I read somewhere the sharpness is the difference in it being a digger, or a knife, when shipping and selling the item..

Some States if it is a knife deem it a concealed weapon if it's in a sheath... A Fine line... So if you have receipt that states it is a digger . it is a digger.. no matter if you sharpen it, or don't sharpen it..

 

[mudpuppy]

Interesting Elton..I didnt know that!...always wondered why a guy had to put an edge on some purchased/shipped bladed instruments himself....just chalked it up to dawdlers that know nothing about edges...I will say when I was a grave digger, theres nothing as satisfying to deploy like a well sharpened shovel to really move some dirt! Makes the difference for sure if a fellow intends to move some dirt by hand. Those old shovels a guy sees at yard sales didn't get so badly worn down from leaning up in a garage...folks once used to dig holes by hand a lot...and we detectorists still do, gives a guy an appreciation for the excavational effort involved to retrieve our targets...
Mud

 

[REVIER]

Mine seems to work just fine stock.
I have nice soil, normal grass, and it cuts nice plugs easily.
Back in Bama digging in the red clay devil soil I did sharpen one and put cuts in the other side, but here I don't need that at all.

 

[WV62]

Elton,

I never would have thought that was the reason, but I could see that it would relieve them of a lot of liability, and it puts it all on the end user.

So it is either a digger or dagger, mine will be a dagger when I get done with it.

Ron in WV

 

[WV62]

Well about an hour on the grinder and I think Rambo would be proud.

Ron in WV

 

[WV62]

I know I will find out on my next hunt, but how is this digger roots?

 

[GeorgeinSC]

I have tried using a large mill bastard file on mine and made very little progress. I am not inclined to use a grinder since that will heat the metal that has already been hardened. I am concerned that the added heat could destroy the temper of the metal making it similar to one of those cheap garden tools. Worthless.

Am I being overly concerned? Now if I had my Grandfathers Sandstone Grindstone set up I think that would be the ideal way to sharpen one as it is a cool, wet, slow method of sharpening tools. I used one many times back an eon or two ago when I was young.

 

[WV62]

I am not a metal guy, but I have done some sharpening in my day. When grinding I like to keep the blade moving and not let the grinding wheel stay in any one area vary long so as to not build up a lot of heat. When I get right up close to a edge I stop with the grinder and go with a low speed hand drill with finer grit wheel.

Ron in WV

 

[Steve O]

I use a good file. It can be done with a grinder but pay attention. Like Ron says, keep the blade moving. You might want to dip it in water every so often, to keep it cool when grinding.

 

[MarkCZ]

I have tried using a large mill bastard file on mine and made very little progress. I am not inclined to use a grinder since that will heat the metal that has already been hardened. I am concerned that the added heat could destroy the temper of the metal making it similar to one of those cheap garden tools. Worthless.

Am I being overly concerned? Now if I had my Grandfathers Sandstone Grindstone set up I think that would be the ideal way to sharpen one as it is a cool, wet, slow method of sharpening tools. I used one many times back an eon or two ago when I was young.

Don't use a lot of pressure with the grinder.
Like brother Ron stated keep the grinder or blade moving.
If you don't get the metal hot enough to change the color of the metal then you won't lose any temper. First color change will be "Straw" next will be "Blue" either of these colors means some temper will be lost, but blue will be more of a degrade in the temper than straw.

Keeping the heat down isn't really a problem, its keeping a good consistent angle.

Mark

 

[jerseyjim]

I saw

 

[MarkCZ]

I saw

 

[GKMan]

I have one of the raptors, awesome...I carry it for softer soil...

 

[WV62]

Lesche digger's first outing today, I was vary pleased with the results. It was for sure a step up for cutting and removing a nice deep plug, it is about 1 1/2" longer than the digger I have been using. After several holes I could really feel the advantage of that extra 1 1/2", and the tool felt like I had a lot more tool in my hand. The extra beef took a lot off my bad wrist.

Didn't run into any roots today, but I think the notch cutter on the right side should make short order of most roots.

Its a keeper,

Ron in WV