Which is the better made?

pjcd · Apr 20, 2019

I was reading post on diggers, there seems to be some debate as to who makes the better hand digger, shovel and so on. A lot of the diggers look like one company makes them and then others stamp their logo on it.

That poses a question, I would be curious to know the gauge, grade and hardness, (Rockwell scale) of the steel used in these diggers. That would certainly put an end to the debate, ( or maybe just start another :laughing:

) "Grave Digger" list the Rockwell hardness at 50, now is that hard compared to others? I have no idea.

bowwinkles · Apr 20, 2019

I with you as far as the count goes. I put my hand on something this morning and it felt like maybe it was pushing a 100.

georgeinsc · Apr 20, 2019

Remember one thing about metal hardness. The harder the metal the more brittle it becomes.. I have been using the same Lesche digger for six years and I have not been gentle with it and it is still working as designed.

Ron 71 · Apr 20, 2019

The best digger Iv'e used so far is the White's Digmaster, It's strong,
serrated on both sides, and has a very comfortable grip.

ZR2guy · Apr 20, 2019

Been using a Fiskars garden knife for many years; lighweight, lifetime warranty and I have only broken one. Best part, less than $10. I do a little pre-season sharpening with my Dremel and it does the job perfectly.
https://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Gardening-and-Yard-Care/Cultivating-Tools/Big-Grip-Knife-400S

pjcd · Apr 20, 2019

ZR2guy said:
Been using a Fiskars garden knife for many years; lighweight, lifetime warranty and I have only broken one. Best part, less than $10. I do a little pre-season sharpening with my Dremel and it does the job perfectly.
https://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Gardening-and-Yard-Care/Cultivating-Tools/Big-Grip-Knife-400S

I saw those, the handle looks nice. I didn't care for that little divot in the front of the blade, has it ever gotten hung up on anything while digging?

ZR2guy · Apr 20, 2019

pjcd said:
I saw those, the handle looks nice. I didn't care for that little divot in the front of the blade, has it ever gotten hung up on anything while digging?

I used my Dremel on those tips and "widdled" them down but just a little. I sharpened the the tips and the area between them and that area between the tips cuts small roots like pie.
It is the only digger I have used for many years. It works great, especially for the price. :yes:

tnsharpshooter · Apr 20, 2019

https://www.predatortools.com/pages/made-in-the-usa

https://www.steelforge.com/alloy-steel-4130-aisi-4130/

https://www.astmsteel.com/product/4130-steel-aisi-25crmo4-7218-scm430/

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6742

Some shovels, seems the exact steel they are made of is not specified on their sites unlike predator tools.

I am still looking around.

The White’s ground hawg shovel
I can’t find any metal specifications on what is made of.

Lesche shovels (some at least ) it says are made of aircraft quality steel. Whatever that means.

Anaconda nx6 shovel made from tempered steel and is heat treated. Don’t say which steel exaclty.

Personally from a longevity/ durability standpoint. You get what you pay for.
Go cheap and you’ll get just that.

TommyJay · Apr 20, 2019

I like my Fiskars garden knife for three reasons:

1) Its cheap, and easily replaceable (I broke my first one)

2) Its cuts good plugs, but I need to resharpen it.

3) Its cheap!

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/314HBT4HN0L.jpg

HistoryHippy · Apr 21, 2019

Fiskars garden knife on sale $8. I have tried to kill mine. Can't!

flyguy784 · Apr 21, 2019

The blade aside. I'm more concerned with the specs on the rubber handle material. Whats its composition? What are the various durometers of the materials? How about their frictional coefficient? I don't even want to think about color retention, abrasion resistance etc.

Good lord man, its a hand trowel, not a critical aircraft part. Buy one that has a decent reputation for a few bucks. When it wears out in 10 years, buy another one. Rockwell hardness, surely you jest, :laughing:

Bill_Ace_350 · Apr 21, 2019

flyguy784 said:
The blade aside. I'm more concerned with the specs on the rubber handle material. Whats its composition? What are the various durometers of the materials? How about their frictional coefficient? I don't even want to think about color retention, abrasion resistance etc.

Good lord man, its a hand trowel, not a critical aircraft part. Buy one that has a decent reputation for a few bucks. When it wears out in 10 years, buy another one. Rockwell hardness, surely you jest,

That is so true! So funny!

normx2 · Apr 21, 2019

pjcd said:
I was reading post on diggers, there seems to be some debate as to who makes the better hand digger, shovel and so on. A lot of the diggers look like one company makes them and then others stamp their logo on it.

That poses a question, I would be curious to know the gauge, grade and hardness, (Rockwell scale) of the steel used in these diggers. That would certainly put an end to the debate, ( or maybe just start another ) "Grave Digger" list the Rockwell hardness at 50, now is that hard compared to others? I have no idea.

There's none better than Lesche. that's a 20+ year proven fact. Old Chinese proverb , Low cost=Low quality lound eye!!

Silversmith45 · Apr 21, 2019

pjcd said:
I saw those, the handle looks nice. I didn't care for that little divot in the front of the blade, has it ever gotten hung up on anything while digging?

I had a friend weld the tip closed on mine. It works a lot better.

Which is the better made?

pjcd

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bowwinkles

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georgeinsc

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Ron 71

ZR2guy

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pjcd

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tnsharpshooter

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TommyJay

HistoryHippy

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normx2

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Silversmith45

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