diggers

I built a new digger to use out detecting, this is my 11th or 12th model to date.
The latest improvement is a magnet holder. I sliced a small piece of 1 1/2 pipe
and welded it to the hoe part of my digger for the magnet to sit into. If you've
ever been out digging or hacking a big hole in the ground you have probably
thrown off your magnet. Even the glued ones let go when they receive a 10 G
whack against hard ground or a big hidden rock. Most targets are near or on
the surface and are junk iron. Just gently dragging the hoe across the surface of
the ground will usually end the search. the trash metal will leap to the magnet
and the signal will disappear on the beeper. The hoe is large and has curved
ends to help pull out those sands that want to keep sliding back in.

It even has a finger hole to help in removing and cleaning the magnet or if you want to
transfer it to another digger. Actually, these new magnets are so powerful I can't shove
them out with my finger. I have to shove the hole against a stick or something. Those
rounded corners on the hoe are also easy on my shoulders. I usually use steel handles
but this is my first wood model. As my detector coils get larger I find I need to remove
all the metal possible in the vicinity. This digger will quickly dig a big deep hole and
that's what we need sometimes with the big deep seeking coils.

Update on Diggers

After using my previous diggers a while I decided there needed to be a few changes.
One, when detecting I like to set my digger up on my shoulder and let it balance there
while I'm swinging the coil. The Minelabs are so sensitive you have to get it far away
from that coil. This is where the bottom mounted magnet is holding all that black sand
and debris which seems to let go and slide down my neck into my shirt. Now I mounted
the magnet on the backside, it's a larger 1/4 x 2 inch Neodymium super magnet, power
N48 and it is Strong. Two, I increased the handle to 30 inches which makes it easier than
the older 18 - 20 inch models reaching down raking out holes. Three, I didn't drill a finger
hole on this one so as to easily wipe black sands off the front side. Four, the hoe is now a
little larger to expedite cleaning out a big deep hole. I think this may be the best one yet.
Now I need to go on a field trip and test it real time. Soon as I do I'll update this page.