Question for those who use a Predator Phoenix..

Rattlehead said:

I currently have a Model 55 Barracuda and was thinking of switching to a D handle because the T handle of the Cuda is rough on the fingers after a while. So I went to the Predator Tools website to look around. I found the Spartan which is pretty much identical to the Barracuda, except its a D handle. Then I noticed the one called the Phoenix which had the curved blade. Watched a few YouTube vids on it and it does seem to dig a nice plug in soft ground. Problem is, a lot of the places I dig are just the opposite. Hard packed GA clay, often with rocks and roots. I'm considering trying one but I have a feeling the wider blade with less of a pointed tip might not work so well in tough ground. For those who use the Phoenix, how well does it work in tougher ground?

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Pete e said:

If your present spade works well expect for the handle, why not get the T cut off and a D shaped one fitted?

You can get the plastic D handles for various size sockets for different shaft diameters on eBay, but I would be tempted to take it to a local metal workshop and ask them to fabricate and fit a proper D handle in stainless for you...

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Rattlehead said:

I actually work in a metal fab shop and have made my own shovels before. The problem with that is the lightest round tubing we stock is still 4 times heavier than those found on Predator shovels. Weight is a big deal to me. I’m sure I could fab up something accepting with the one I have, but I need a backup shovel anyway and don’t mind paying for a new one.


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Pete e said:

I get what you mean re weight...I have a great spade made by Evolution here in the UK. It bomb proof, but being all stainless it is seriously heavy: it is good on hard ground though...

A couple of the guys in my club have bought diggers with a telescoping carbon fibre shafts ( https://www.megraphta.co.uk/ )..They look like something a bloke knocked up in his garage sort of thing, and the diggers have a somewhat "homemade" look about them but are crazy light...That said, I am not convinced the CF shaft will be strong enough or stand up to abuse, but I guess time will tell..

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