Big Boys Hobbies

My Lesche is rusted after 2 sessions

Tommyboy Japan

Tommyboy Japan

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2023
Messages
56
Location
Japan, Kyoto
The Lesche hand digger I bought is excellent, digs through the soil like butter. However, when I took it out yesterday to clean off last weekends dirt, I realized after only two metal detecting sessions it seems to already be rusted. All down the serrated edge is a bright orange colour, and just below the tip on the back side it has a dark orange, slightly brown mark. I'm not able to take any pictures at this moment but I'll post them later in the thread. I'm not savvy on much of this yet as I'm still quite young and learning the hobby. I'm hoping that rather than rust this is just the paint job wearing off. I'll be sad if it is rust, because it was an expensive piece of equipment. Really good equipment, but if it rusts like this so quickly I'm wondering if it is something I've done wrong. Perhaps it needs maintenance after every session.
How do you clean and maintain your digging tools? Thank you.
 
bmattioli said:
Mine has been in use since 2008 without any rust or problems. Where did you purchase it ?
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I bought it from Amazon and it was shipped from America. It's the one I linked to be exact. This is the Japanese Amazon, but it came from America.
Regarding the digging it has been very good, I've had no problems at all with it. I was just surprised to see that it seems it had already started to rust.

 
They will rust if you leave them all muddy and stuck in a sheath. Digging plugs will clean the rust off though, and most should come off with a light scrub anyway. I never worry about it.

This pic is right now, I washed the mud off of it a day or so ago and this is what it looks like. It's been raining and hailing non-stop these days so it's moist everywhere.
 

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GroundSweeper said:
They will rust if you leave them all muddy and stuck in a sheath. Digging plugs will clean the rust off though, and most should come off with a light scrub anyway. I never worry about it.
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That's quite a relief. Going to hopefully have some time this Saturday to go out detecting again, so I'll make sure this time to give it a scrub and clean out the sheath as soon as I get back home.
Would you use regular dish washing soap when you clean your tools or would it be better to use something else? Thank you

Your Lesche seems to have a similar type of rusting as mine.
 
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MasonDixonMding said:
As GroundSweeper said just use it and that should clean the rust. But if you like things clean? When you get home wash it with water dry it than spray it down with WD40 that would help with it rusting. If my shovel starts getting rust on it that means I need to do more detecting!šŸ˜œ
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That's a good excuse I have now to convince my wife it's time to go detecting for a few hours to keep my tool from rusting up! Haha. Thank you for your advice, I'll buy some WD40 tonight.
 
Tommyboy Japan said:
Would you use regular dish washing soap when you clean your tools or would it be better to use something else?
Click to expand...
Don't worry about it. Your digger is carbon steel and yep, it rusts when not in use. Mine does it every year until I dig my first plug. Polishes it right up after the first dig. Now go out and knock the rust off of it.:rofl2:
 
vmc1161 said:
Just wondering, were you cutting your plugs clock wise or counter clock wise?

I have been using them for many years with no problems. Maybe a soil issue I'm thinking.
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Sorry I missed this question!
I've been digging counter clock wise because it feels more comfortable for me. You're right, it could be something in the soil. I'm not quite sure. I've had no use problems with the tool, in fact it's as good as everybody has described. Digs better than any other hand tool I've used. It's just that it got patches of rust on it and all along the serrated edge that surprised me. However, according to the help I've had on this thread that isn't unusual, and it should hopefully come off if I use it to dig some more plugs. I'll likely go detecting again on the weekend, so we'll soon see!
 
Just as some has mentioned... just clean it off after your hunt. Dry it with a rag. If not planning on digging again anytime soon... put a little wd40 or light oil on it. Try to keep the sheath clean and dry.
This tool will last years. I love my Lesche. I have dug over 10,000 coins in the past 4 1/2 years (counted) and at least half that many other targets and expect to continue digging with no issues of rust.
....just keep digging each day and don't give it a chance to sit idle and rust.... LOL:mder:
But seriously keep it clean and dry you'll have no issue. Good luck hunting.
 
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