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What tools and digging method do you use
- Thread starter gambler13
- Start date
I use a Gator digger to cut and pry open a horseshoe shaped plug 3"-4" in diameter and 2"-4" deep. I hunt coins and most are found right there in the hole or near the bottom of the plug. My White's Bullseye II is a necessity. If I need to remove lots of dirt, I will use a towel next to the hole to load the dirt on to. I attempt to make the plug invisible when I'm done. HH.
Use a whites metal probe or brass probe to feel out shallow targets in ground.(brass doesn't damage coins etc)And pop out without digging..If I have to dig I use a nisaku soil digging knife.And cut a U shape plug and flip it over.Any xtra dirt i take out I put on a towel.using a U dig it trowel . I have a whites bullseye pinpointer to find target in hole or plug if not readily visible.I carry my tools in a carpenters tool pouch.Once item is retrieved,I pour xtra dirt back into hole from the towel,sweep any loose dirt into hole with small pocket whisk broom.Flip U shape plug back over and tamp down..Done right can't even tell I been there. Nisaku Digging Knife or Chelsea edge knife
Whites Metal Probe
2 different Dia. Brass Probes
U Dig it trowel
Bullseye Pinpointer
Cloth towel
Small pocket whisk broom
Carpenters belt & pouch
PS don't forget your camera,hydration(water) and zip lock bags if caught in downpour to cover your control box etc.PLUS xtra battery pack Good hunting!
Whites Metal Probe
2 different Dia. Brass Probes
U Dig it trowel
Bullseye Pinpointer
Cloth towel
Small pocket whisk broom
Carpenters belt & pouch
PS don't forget your camera,hydration(water) and zip lock bags if caught in downpour to cover your control box etc.PLUS xtra battery pack Good hunting!
Cajuncoinhunter
Moderator
Small dish towel, Lesche digging tool and DX-1 Pinpointer makes things simple and easy for a "newbie" like me ! CCH
grumpyolman
New member
If the mower sucks it up, it was too dry to cut in the first place. Think about the question. How would it be better to cut a completed circle, leaving no roots attached, as opposed to digging a horshoe shaped flap and leaving at least 1/4 of the piece intact? I don't think the mower 'sucks' it up. If the mower is traveling the same direction the flap would lay when opened, it will pull it up and away from the earth...unless you left some soft soil under the plug and pushed the root system down into the soft dirt. If the mover is traveling the opposite direction the flap is cut it will tend to just push it back down. There's also a difference between what a reel type mower will do compared with what a rotary mower will do. Obviously the smaller the cut area the less likely something is going to disrupt it. Most mowers used in parks and schools do not have vacuum attachments to catch the grass. Takes way too much time to dump it. They use a mulching blade that chops the grass up finely and the soil uses it to fertilize the growing grass. It also retains the mositure better that way.
I asked about 10 professors from major univerities about how to best prevent damage. They were all professors of a 'Turf Science Program' and a couple were darn right astounded that we metal detector folks would even give that a considereation. The best remedy to keep the grass intact is to water it after you dig it. Not likely! Water weighs 8.5 lbs/gallon and the amount you'd need for 5-10 holes would be a whole lot more than your camel back water supply. A good idea but not practical.
How about limiting digging flaps only when the ground is damp, if in a park or school, and when it's dry just go after the shallow stuff with a coin popper of some kind?? All summer, I hunt shallow and only carry an Ice-pick and a homemade coin popper. I dig a lot more of the target in the foil and pull tab range hoping for a ring. If it's a shallow target, like 3-5" it's not that tought to do and is a lot better for the grass on the field. I am afraid that without some self-restraint with our collective 'plug' making, soon everything will be closed to us except private property. jim
I asked about 10 professors from major univerities about how to best prevent damage. They were all professors of a 'Turf Science Program' and a couple were darn right astounded that we metal detector folks would even give that a considereation. The best remedy to keep the grass intact is to water it after you dig it. Not likely! Water weighs 8.5 lbs/gallon and the amount you'd need for 5-10 holes would be a whole lot more than your camel back water supply. A good idea but not practical.
How about limiting digging flaps only when the ground is damp, if in a park or school, and when it's dry just go after the shallow stuff with a coin popper of some kind?? All summer, I hunt shallow and only carry an Ice-pick and a homemade coin popper. I dig a lot more of the target in the foil and pull tab range hoping for a ring. If it's a shallow target, like 3-5" it's not that tought to do and is a lot better for the grass on the field. I am afraid that without some self-restraint with our collective 'plug' making, soon everything will be closed to us except private property. jim
I use to dig a complete circle when I first started, now I use a ..kinda like a boomerang shape. The grass root system needs to stay connected as much as possible.
After I fill the hole back in and stomp on the plug, I aerate the plug with my digger to allow water into the plug. Otherwise, the water will just run around the area you just cut making the grass turn brown. I even aerate other peoples plugs that I see while I am out an within a week, they are green again.
I have heard of other people using a slit method where they just make a straight line cut and pull back each side and then when they are done, they just "close the wound" by pushing the sides together. What ever we do, we need to make sure we are doing it in a very good way. I had a subject started about this here..
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?18,1252924
After I fill the hole back in and stomp on the plug, I aerate the plug with my digger to allow water into the plug. Otherwise, the water will just run around the area you just cut making the grass turn brown. I even aerate other peoples plugs that I see while I am out an within a week, they are green again.
I have heard of other people using a slit method where they just make a straight line cut and pull back each side and then when they are done, they just "close the wound" by pushing the sides together. What ever we do, we need to make sure we are doing it in a very good way. I had a subject started about this here..
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?18,1252924
grumpyolman
New member
Wish all the detector users were as considerate as you magic. Never though about the aeration being a benefit. Makes sense though. Maybe your carefulness will save an area that would otherwise be closed. Thanks...jim
earthmansurfer
Active member
I usually use a no name digging knife on the targets that are 4" or less (but I'm going to get a lesche). I hate to cut a flap as I know it probably kills the roots but if it's wet I might. I usually cut a circle around 4" - 5" across. It's interesting to think about the different shapes having an affect.
With deeper targets 4" on (or when people aren't around - I don't think a shovel in a park is a welcome site) I use a folding military shovel.
I must have dug 300 holes in the park by my house and I really can't find many of them. As long as it rains they are ok. In the past, when digging around the house I would always water my holes dug and that did the recovery trick. Great suggestion on cutting into the plug after to aid in air-ation. I stomp pretty hard on the plug which doesn't seem to harm the grass. If the ground is really dry I may leave out a little dirt to get the plug even. (but only on deeper holes).
Having my Garrett Pro Pointer is awesome. First week it saved my only silver find in Germany. I dug a rare 1936 Hindenberg commemorative Nazi coin (Swastika and all), like new. Had I not had that pinpointer I likely would have shoveled it as was slightly off on pinpointing and the coin was behind the corner of the whole. I get 3" within a coin with it and more if I use the talked about trick on the forum here.
I carry everything in a back pack. I started using a towel (instead of a plastic plant saucer) to put the dirt into. Great idea and keeps all the dirt back in the hole after you are done. Surgical precision.
I wear a trash pouch and put the garrett pointer on the same side (left) to keep it away from hitting the detector - I'm a righty. I keep my digging knife in the pouch with the trash as to not alarm anyone. BTW - Last time out I had 4 groups of people approach and talk to me. I'm not great in German but it was nice to connect to the people from my neighborhood.
With deeper targets 4" on (or when people aren't around - I don't think a shovel in a park is a welcome site) I use a folding military shovel.
I must have dug 300 holes in the park by my house and I really can't find many of them. As long as it rains they are ok. In the past, when digging around the house I would always water my holes dug and that did the recovery trick. Great suggestion on cutting into the plug after to aid in air-ation. I stomp pretty hard on the plug which doesn't seem to harm the grass. If the ground is really dry I may leave out a little dirt to get the plug even. (but only on deeper holes).
Having my Garrett Pro Pointer is awesome. First week it saved my only silver find in Germany. I dug a rare 1936 Hindenberg commemorative Nazi coin (Swastika and all), like new. Had I not had that pinpointer I likely would have shoveled it as was slightly off on pinpointing and the coin was behind the corner of the whole. I get 3" within a coin with it and more if I use the talked about trick on the forum here.
I carry everything in a back pack. I started using a towel (instead of a plastic plant saucer) to put the dirt into. Great idea and keeps all the dirt back in the hole after you are done. Surgical precision.
I wear a trash pouch and put the garrett pointer on the same side (left) to keep it away from hitting the detector - I'm a righty. I keep my digging knife in the pouch with the trash as to not alarm anyone. BTW - Last time out I had 4 groups of people approach and talk to me. I'm not great in German but it was nice to connect to the people from my neighborhood.