Specialty Homemade tools for detecting

[Herb Jones]

Found a new all metal shank gardening tool @Lowe's the other day. It seemed to be very well built, and with a little adjustment, I think I have an awesome little digger scoop. It has a nice built in finger guard that helps get a lot of leverage. Cost $8 and took about 20 min to fabricate... This little baby works perfectly for digging coins out. Does anyone else have an example of something homemade that helped with your treasure seeking?

 

[Herb Jones]

n/t

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Have found most gardening tools won't hold up.....had Sears craftsman replaced several times before I threw away as they will replace but not refund the purchase price...
Looks like a good job and hope it holds up.

 

[KindManTall]

Great idea .... But .... that shaft is going to bend ....

 

[Herb Jones]

Yeah I know what to expect from a normal garden tool, but I doubt I would pry with it much, and I cant afford to have Leshces in all of my vehicles, so I am always looking for a decent spade, or trowel... But the shape of this thing is especially useful. I try to keep gloves and a digger of some sorts in every vehicle.... I can say that I was surprised the metal is as thick and strong as it is... Ill bet there is a crazy collection of home made doohickeys out there that folks have dreamed up over the years.

 

[still looking 52]

Harbour Freight has a small shovel for under 10$ that I've been using for woods hunting, the only modification I made was cut a V in the tip of it for root cutting.

 

[Herb Jones]

I cant pass a hand tool section without wondering if something there could be used for digging...its the only work part of the whole deal...I figure soon someone will trick out/ Frankenstein a roomba vacuum cleaner and a metal detector, and just turn it loose in the park.... make it stop when it gets a tone... turn it loose o the beach and just wait...like fishing with a cork.

 

[BillF]

I went to the metal shop and bought heavy gauge stainless. Shaped it into a shovel, creased it down the center, gave myself a rolled over edge for my foot and attached a handle with a grip. Also cut serations in the edges for cutting. Been using it for 4 years now.
Too cheap to pay for factory made.

 

[detectin4fun]

Herb, good work on the digger making an item to fit your needs is a rewarding part of this hobby. I modified a similar digger weeder awhile back that made an excellent digger. I wish I could find a decent holster for carrying it on my side. I made a find probe out of a cheap small Philips screwdriver by grinding the tip to a rounder point and it works well. I added rare earth magnets on the end of my tools so I can pull out the had to find tiny rusty metals in a hole our detectors like to ring up on. Like it has been said I look at tools and think how it might help me recover finds efficiently. The selection of T handled Allen wrenches are finds probes I have been testing. The one has a ball tip and it will be good for not scratching the target. The black screwdriver is my coin popping tool a freebie from Harbor freight. The fulcrum method Bill would tell everyone to use. Leaves a small footprint and a quick step closes up the hole.
Sorry, I have photos on the tools on the tablet and I'm not able to resize them to the lower resolution so I can post them. Old guy with technology. Lol

 

[Herb Jones]

It works just fine. I did
It So I could have a set
Up In Both vehicles.
Worked out better than expected
And as far a durability goes, it seems
To be good. Worked so good that
I plan on making another just like it.

 

[detectin4fun]

One pic

 

[detectin4fun]

n/t

 

[Herb Jones]

I do like the idea of the T handled probe

 

[still looking 52]

I've got this tarp cut down to a 4'×2' piece with wooden dowel rods stapled to each end that is multi purpose. The main purpose is to put your dirt/divot on it so it makes for easy clean up, also found it to be real nice for a kneeling pad which keeps your knees dry and it can even serve as an umbrella. All this for less than 5$.

 

[Herb Jones]

I've got this tarp cut down to a 4'×2' piece with wooden dowel rods stapled to each end that is multi purpose. The main purpose is to put your dirt/divot on it so it makes for easy clean up, also found it to be real nice for a kneeling pad which keeps your knees dry and it can even serve as an umbrella. All this for less than 5$.

I have been thinking of doing something more with a ground cloth. It looks ridiculous, but a long apron works great as both, a kneeling cloth and ground cloth for spoils. Like a butchers apron.

 

[ironsight]

I have been thinking of doing something more with a ground cloth. It looks ridiculous, but a long apron works great as both, a kneeling cloth and ground cloth for spoils. Like a butchers apron.

I use a flexible black rubber sheet about 1' x 1'.
Doesn't stick out like a sore thumb (more stealthy), easily rolls up and resists blowing away in the wind like a cloth towel would.

 

[ironsight]

Here's my goto home made digging shovel.