My home made digger

[rusthunter]

I am an industial maintanance tech. I work in the automotive stamping industry so I have alot of time on my hands right now.* coughs go buy a car* I got bored the other day and made this. So far it is working great. I have written a program for the trax mill to serrate the blade, but haven't gotten that far yet. I also creased the center of the digging blade a bit to add strength. What do you think?

[ICE]

Good Job Kind of looks like a lescher. "Cough Go buy a Car/truck/paint/tires" I also support to auto and steel industry. Ice

[Flapjack]

That tool looks great!

[sectshun8]

Doesn't look to shabby, I'd recommend adding more of a hand guard near the blade... wouldn't want to sleip

[rcasi44]

Here's a picture of my Lesche. I don't have a better picture but I'd consider using a bicycle type grip. You know with the finger slots. Also like it was mentioned if you keep it sharp make the guard bigger. Check the picture.

My ground is hard and many times I use 2 hands to dig, one on the grip and one pushing on the back of the handle. The hand pushing on the back of the handle would get a sore palm. So I modified the handle end. Its the inside of a solid core golf ball. I've got the mod listed in this forum.

Also what makes the Lesche great is the steel. Don't skip on the metal quality. It looks great. Post when you get it milled. Rob

ps If you are right handed put the grooves on the other side.

[tony48]

Looks like a good digger for sure! I strongly suggest you make a larger handguard though. I have slipped a couple times while digging in really hard soil and the hand guard really saves you.

[BrianVickers83]

Awsome digger!

[Ferrous]

Rusthunter, I'm puttin my order in right now. Nice digger.

[rusthunter]

I appreciate the ideas especially about the guard. I did not think about that. The blade is 440 stainless and the handle is a hollow thick wall stainless as well covered with rubber. very light weight but strong. Now about the teeth I'm going to put on it. I was thinking of serrating the blade like a knife but now I'm wondering if I should go with something like teeth on a drywall saw? I have never used a lesche but I don't really see how those teeth can cut that well but I also know that alot of you have. So please give me some input.

[joe-in-ohio]

Looks good! I agree that it should have a hand guard!

[wyoming hunter]

Originally Posted by joe-in-ohio

Looks good! I agree that it should have a hand guard!

if you can get your hands on a welder i would weld a gaurd so your hand doesnt slip off. in my school welding class i was thinking of doing the same thing

[rcasi44]

Here's the link to my handle mod.
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=16528

The teeth on the Lesche would work better for me on the other edge. Also I changed the shape of the teeth with a file. They work better but not as good as the teeth on a folding saw like the one below. Rob

[rcasi44]

Hit the button before I posted the pictures. Rob

[tony48]

rcasi44-Those teeth look pretty mean! No roots are getting in your way!

[teehunter2]

Originally Posted by rusthunter

I am an industial maintanance tech. I work in the automotive stamping industry so I have alot of time on my hands right now.* coughs go buy a car* I got bored the other day and made this. So far it is working great. I have written a program for the trax mill to serrate the blade, but haven't gotten that far yet. I also creased the center of the digging blade a bit to add strength. What do you think?

Hi rusthunter, I tried that also didn't last long tho. I went to Home Depot here at home and bought myself a stainless steel garden trowel (w/ruler inside) for around $6.00 or $7.00 (tax included) and w/a waferwheel on a anglehead grinder, sharpened it and cut notches down one side. Has a nice rubber handle on it also. Works great for me. HH, be safe.
MXT, Bullseye pinpointer teehunter2

[booker]

Rust I think you should send me one to try out in the frozen Ks dirt LOL just kidding

[jkwidener]

Here is a picture of mine. Used a press and a peice of pipe to get the contour of the blade. Its all stainless.

[tony48]

jkwidener-looks like a pretty good digger. It looks kinda hard to hold while digging though. A tube handle would probably help that but I don't know, it could be very comfortable.

[HEM]

Here is a digger I made 2 years ago It's 440 c with a P.V.C covering the handle. with time I have added a P.V.C screw plug so I could keep some nice find in it or like Rambo some first aid kit

[david blackstoc]

Not Bad, I like it