been working on a digger

[bottlecaps]

So I started with 3/16 X 2" steal, I first bent the hand guard using a torch and a vice. I then cut the steel with a 10" wood chop saw with a medal cut off wheel on it (not recommended) at a blade length of 9 3/4" (I live in new england things are deep). I then put the steel in a vice horizontal and heat it with a torch and hammererd it with a 5 pound maul to make it concave. I then harden the steel by heating it glowing hot then dunking it in cold water I did that 3 times, then I then put the the 10" metal cut off wheel on my table saw (again not recommended) and shaped it took me an hour to shape/sharpen each side of the blade (very hard steel at this point). all I had was 3/4" tubing not 1" to make the handle (1" recommended) so I welded the handle on.. And this is what you see now. I have to make the serrated teeth on both sides any tips on how to make a even pattern? I want triangular teeth.

 

[booker]

Looks good! Send it to me and I will test it for you in this awful dirt we have around here

 

[bottlecaps]

next to my 7 1/2" X 2" gator digger for size.

any one wondering why my gator is red i want it to look less like a weapon and more like a garden tool (tot lot reasons)

 

[InkDigger]

Thats awesome! Are you taking orders? LOL

 

[JasonKyle]

It looks really good. How much time total did it take?

 

[bottlecaps]

It looks really good. How much time total did it take?

about two and a half three hours

 

[rusthunter]

any tips on how to make a even pattern? I want triangular teeth.

Put the gator digger on top of the new digger and give the gator a fresh coat of paint. Then cut out the paint marks left on the new digger.

 

[Ill Digger]

Put the gator digger on top of the new digger and give the gator a fresh coat of paint. Then cut out the paint marks left on the new digger.

Simplicity at it's best.

Or just trace the pattern off the Gator...
...and transfer the pattern to the new blade.
Either way it looks pretty beefy !
I like it .
Good luck with it .
HH

 

[Flapjack]

Get some teeth on that thing!

 

[bottlecaps]

built another digger today

today flapjack stopped by my shop and saw my digger i made the other day. he liked it but said it needed a larger hand guard and teeth so cut extentions (ears) out of 3/16 stock made another digger welded them on the grind the weld smooth and looks like a single piece. I shaped/sharped the blade and free handed the teeth they are not perfect but they are sharp.. i will figure out a way to make perfect teeth on the next one i make. then i stopped off at flapjacks house and he gave me a grip and he shrunk rubber end cap on the end of the handle. thanks

its 9 1/2" blade and its 1.5 lbs i tempered the steel its very strong

next to leche for size comparison