Dirt Lizard
Elite Member
Don't we know it. The Raptor from predator tools is the number one digger.
What's the best digging tool?
- Thread starter laffy10316
- Start date
Don't we know it. The Raptor from predator tools is the number one digger.
roaddust66
Senior Member
okay so you dont want to be seen walking around with a shovel
Okay so you say you dont want to be seen walking around a city park with a shovel. People CAN'T SEE THIS if it is turned to the 90 degree position and is hanging from your pistol belt. They dont know what it is. When you go down on your knees to dig , turn your back on them. They can't see what you are doing. The beauty of these entrenching tools is that MOST times , you only hit the ground once because they are sharp. You get a pistol belt , and make a holster for it OR buy a mag light belt loop flash light holder and drop the shovel down in it. Carry your leesh too. The 1945 Ames Folding Shovels have gotten exepensive. $50 to $75 . For lighter duty and if you are a smaller person I recommend The Romanian Warsaw Pact Army Surplus Folding Shovel. These are great. They are very strong but weigh only half of our 1945 shovels. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/261322604277?lpid=82
Okay so you say you dont want to be seen walking around a city park with a shovel. People CAN'T SEE THIS if it is turned to the 90 degree position and is hanging from your pistol belt. They dont know what it is. When you go down on your knees to dig , turn your back on them. They can't see what you are doing. The beauty of these entrenching tools is that MOST times , you only hit the ground once because they are sharp. You get a pistol belt , and make a holster for it OR buy a mag light belt loop flash light holder and drop the shovel down in it. Carry your leesh too. The 1945 Ames Folding Shovels have gotten exepensive. $50 to $75 . For lighter duty and if you are a smaller person I recommend The Romanian Warsaw Pact Army Surplus Folding Shovel. These are great. They are very strong but weigh only half of our 1945 shovels. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/261322604277?lpid=82
Rammjäger
Elite Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2007
- Messages
- 4,173
Rammjäger
Elite Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2007
- Messages
- 4,173
Looks nice, but no description or link to find it. Keeping it a secret?
No secret, but these are sold in E...by Germany ,perhaps you find
similar ones there where you are at.
abbynormal
Elite Member
Silversmith-- what did you use to pad your knife handle? just got a Hori Hori and I like what you did with yours.
Pete Re-pete !
Pete -RE-Pete !!! page 2IMO the best digging tools to carry ( and I do ) are the Lesche digger, Predator Raptor model 31, and the Sampson mini 18. With this arsonal you can dig like a mole!!! I would not be without this combo.
Silversmith45
Elite Member
I built up the base with a pad of leather and the wrapped the sides in leather. I covered it with a double layer of electric tape and covered that with a liquid tape (rubber). You can find it at Harbor Freight. It's a brush on type. It has held up for years with only minor touch-ups. The wider pad at the base helps prevent blisters when pushing it into hard ground. I learned that the hard way when I was starting over thirty years ago.
FistFullOfCoppers
Elite Member
dirt removal
Ive seen the garrett it looks like a pretty tough tool.
Ive seen the garrett it looks like a pretty tough tool.
coin whisperer
Elite Member
DIGGER27
In Memory Of
Lesche and Predator tools for me all the way.
Why?
You would not believe how hard I am on my equipment.
The fact that I have very little patience out there in the field works against me and when I come across a big piece of iron or a large rock stuck in concrete hard bone dry soil instead of digging it out I usually try to pry it out and that doesn't always work out too well.
These things cut plugs like a dream and are super tough but not 100% indestructible and trust me I know because I have weakened them with my prying and eventually I have broken 2 so far.
My fault not theirs, but when it happens I call the main office and the nice lady just asks me what side I want the cuts to be on and then she tells me to just send it in.
No other questions about how old is it, how it got broken, nothing about a warranty card or any receipt...just send it in and they will replace it.
Recently I just sent in my current one and a week later I get a new one with a new sheath included Priority mail on their dime.
Can't argue with that kind of service and that is why I will be getting a new Predator Raptor for next season because I am getting a new machine and plan on going pretty deep and I will be happy to pay the price knowing I will buy it once and that is it.
You get what you pay for in this world if you do your homework and buy the right products from the right companies and in the digging business the Lesche/Predator people are exactly the kind of company you want to deal with.
Why?
You would not believe how hard I am on my equipment.
The fact that I have very little patience out there in the field works against me and when I come across a big piece of iron or a large rock stuck in concrete hard bone dry soil instead of digging it out I usually try to pry it out and that doesn't always work out too well.
These things cut plugs like a dream and are super tough but not 100% indestructible and trust me I know because I have weakened them with my prying and eventually I have broken 2 so far.
My fault not theirs, but when it happens I call the main office and the nice lady just asks me what side I want the cuts to be on and then she tells me to just send it in.
No other questions about how old is it, how it got broken, nothing about a warranty card or any receipt...just send it in and they will replace it.
Recently I just sent in my current one and a week later I get a new one with a new sheath included Priority mail on their dime.
Can't argue with that kind of service and that is why I will be getting a new Predator Raptor for next season because I am getting a new machine and plan on going pretty deep and I will be happy to pay the price knowing I will buy it once and that is it.
You get what you pay for in this world if you do your homework and buy the right products from the right companies and in the digging business the Lesche/Predator people are exactly the kind of company you want to deal with.
DarkPrognosis
Senior Member
Yeah, I have seen too many detectionist videos with the Predator Raptor 31c to know that is a dream tool but at 70 dollars delivered that price stings a lot.
DIGGER27
In Memory Of
I bought 2 so far and I will buy more in the future.
Those tools have dug up over $3000 in coins and jewelry for me and made it way easier and faster to do that task than any other tool I have ever used.
Frozen ground, hard pack concrete-like ground in the summer, under and around small and big roots and so much more.
Well worth it IMO.
It's all in how you look at things.
DarkPrognosis
Senior Member
Oh, don't get me wrong it is a beautiful tool but the initial outlay for it hurts. Funny thing is I was reading around the various forums and someone got his for $49.95 delivered. That is a lot better but he did not mention where he got it and I am not a member of that forum. Sad thing is where I am getting my Fisher F5 from does not carry Predator tools.
DIGGER27
In Memory Of
Oh, don't get me wrong it is a beautiful tool but the initial outlay for it hurts. Funny thing is I was reading around the various forums and someone got his for $49.95 delivered. That is a lot better but he did not mention where he got it and I am not a member of that forum. Sad thing is where I am getting my Fisher F5 from does not carry Predator tools.
That would be nice to know.
So far the Predator website is the only place I have found that has them.
Some dealers might, I have not checked out all of them, although this deal might be a special one from a dealer to a customer that has done business with him before and didn't mention that...but who knows.
Even a few extra bucks won't bother me knowing what the thing will help me find and I am sure it will pay for itself pretty quickly no matter what it costs in the end.
DarkPrognosis
Senior Member
I went to my parents house for Thanksgiving today and went in the back yard and man my holes suck. I spotted each one of them and it has been almost a month since I went in the back yard.
See I used a full fledged shovel and that made a mess plus I do not have a pin pointer so I was not spot on either and had to dig more hole than I had to, or should have.
So, with the 31c I figure my holes should be much better than with a full shovel even though I used the 3/4 circle technique.
See I used a full fledged shovel and that made a mess plus I do not have a pin pointer so I was not spot on either and had to dig more hole than I had to, or should have.
So, with the 31c I figure my holes should be much better than with a full shovel even though I used the 3/4 circle technique.
sycotoad
Member
I would hunt with you any day sir - I just love surrounding myself with cleaver bugga's
ohiochris
Elite Member
The answer to this is just be careful. People in a public place will be watching you very closely , sometimes when you think nobody is looking. Your shovel may be small in comparison to others but if spotted by somebody it will no doubt draw some of the "unwanted" attention. Maybe you will be just fine with it but the smaller less invasive looking digging tools are by far safer to use in the public eye. They also usually cut a neater , cleaner plug or hole with less effort.
canman678
Senior Member
fast14riot
Full Member
Hands down, the best digger I have ever come across...
He great to talk to, thoroughly enjoys his job (digging), works for just a pat on the head and a scratch behind the ear. Now if I can just get him to fill his holes and sniff out gold and silver I would be set! Wouldn't even need to swing a detector anymore!
Seriously, lots of great advice in this thread for all newbies like me! Thanx all!
-Alex
He great to talk to, thoroughly enjoys his job (digging), works for just a pat on the head and a scratch behind the ear. Now if I can just get him to fill his holes and sniff out gold and silver I would be set! Wouldn't even need to swing a detector anymore!
Seriously, lots of great advice in this thread for all newbies like me! Thanx all!
-Alex
