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Took my X-Terra 50 Out for a Spin Today...

shudsonshudson Posts: 108
in Metal Detecting

and dug my first item... a rusty 6 inch nail! lol

Actually, I've come to a sobering conclusion: the ground around here is going to be NASTY to dig in. Part of me hopes that's it's still frozen, but for the short time I was out in my backyard, I spent more time digging then I did detecting. Lots and lots of rocks in the soil.

I got a silver reading almost immediately and started digging, but like I said it was hard going and I got down a couple of inches but I never did reach the target. I dug out the nail on the way down! In "all metal" mode, the yard was lighting up like a Xmas tree... must be tons of iron scattered about... horray! image

I was making a nasty looking hole too... I need to rethink how I'm going to get at my deep targets. I think I need to upgrade my digging tool to a spade shovel... something I can really put my back into.

Does anyone have any advice or pointers on how to approach digging in hard, rocky ground?

Comments

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If it is your own back yard... a high pressure hose will work wonders.... if not, a continuous struggle. Cheers, RickO
  • gripgrip Posts: 9,962 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A hammer and screwdriver works well in my area.Ground is solid coliche(sp).
    Al
  • shudsonshudson Posts: 108

    I'm thinking a hammer is a good idea. My tools look fairly robust, so maybe they can handle a few smacks from a hammer. I don't really like the idea of carting around a shovel all the time!
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,530 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Rocky soil is tuff.

    What are you using to dig with right now?

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  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,530 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Y'know, I used to carry around a drywall hammer (at least that's what I think it was). It had a hammer head on one side, but a tiny little axe head on the other, like an old-fashioned metal tomahawk. It was really good for bustin' into baked hardpan clay, and chopping through webs of intertwined roots, which can be bad in some areas around here. Fortunately, rocks are not a big problem here on the GA coast where I live now, but I remember the rocky soil from when I lived in the NC mountains.

    Rocks + hard clay = a tuff time. image

    The drywall hammer would probably do OK in rocky soil, but it might send dangerous shrapnel flying around. You'd need goggles!

    Surely the geologists and/or rockhounds and fossil hunters have little hammerlike tools in their arsenals that might help?

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  • shudsonshudson Posts: 108
    Right now I'm using a saw-tooth trowel and an EZ-Diggr.

    The drywall hammer sounds interesting... I'll have to take a look for one!

    Edited to add:

    I took a quick look at the Canadian Tire website and found a couple of hammers that seem to fit the bill. I'm leaning towards a brick hammer at the moment, like this one.

    The fubar hammer also looks interesting. It looks like the back end could possible be used as a pick.

    I'll run out today after work and check them out in person!
  • shudsonshudson Posts: 108

    Okay, I just picked up BOTH of them... sorta.

    The brick hammer looks like it'll be the most handy. The pick end looks perfect for digging work and it's small enough not to be too clumsy to carry on a belt or handle in close quarters.

    The fubar hammer is a nice tool for taking apart, well, just about anything! The one in the link was a tad heavy in my opinion, it's not something I'd want hanging from a belt or in my backpack. Luckily they make a smaller, lighter version and that's the one I went for. I won't use this one as a digging tool like I first considered, but it's definately a tool I want in my arsenal... you never know when you're going to need to take something apart! image

    I also picked up a small spade shovel to replace my collapsable camp shovel. After playing in the dirt for a couple of hours on Saturday I realized that those little camp shovels wouldn't last 10 minutes around here, so I upgraded to something more durable made of steel and hardwood. It'll be a little harder to carry around, but the time it will save will be worth it!
  • kokapelli1kokapelli1 Posts: 27
    Long time lurker, first time poster. Wassup!?! image
    You might consider getting a Craftsman brick hammer at Sears. They offer a quality hammer w/ a hickory handle.
    It also comes with a lifetime warranty . Why they offer a lifetime warranty on a wooden handle hammer is beyond me, but they do!image I use one daily ( for brick) and love it. I haven't used it for MDing but I think its a good idea. Its the tool of choice
    for minor excavation tasks in tough soil and/or confined space at the site so why not.
  • shudsonshudson Posts: 108

    Hiya kokapelli1, good to see you out of the shadows... image

    That's the same hammer I bought at Canadian Tire! You're right, all you have to do is heft it and you can tell it's a sweet hammer. I'll let you know how it fares "in the field"!
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