One foot shovel...

I dig in some pretty hard soil with plenty of rocks and have nearly twisted my ankle when the shovel would hit a tough spot and kick the shovel handle violently to the side. I finally decided to see if I could redesign the thing to see if it would help. I've added a link to a photo (don't know if it will show up here as a link or actual photo) at the end so viewers can see what I'm talking about.

I saw first that the shovel was kicking to the side due to the point being off center of my foot. When you hit gravel, rock or hard spot, the laws of physics define that the shovel handle will kick to whichever side your foot happens to be pushing down on, twisting your ankle in the process. I didn't see a simple way of putting my foot where the handle attached to the shovel head which would put my foot over the center point of the head, so I "moved the point of the head" so it would be basically under my foot. I'm right footed, so I took a side grinder and cut the left side of the shove head off, and repointed the shovel head to the center of what was left of it. That left about 6 inches of width to the shovel head, which I find much better than the original 9-10 inches as it is easier to push a narrow width shovel into the soil than a wide one.

I hope this makes sense, and the photo should help. All my weight is centered under my foot in line with the point of the shovel, so it very rarely will twist on me unless the shovel glances off of the side of a large rock. Even then it's much better than before. I used a marker and drew lines on the shovel head where I wanted to make the cuts. If you're right footed, you'll cut most of the left side of the head off and trim the right side to bring the point to the center of what's left. If you're left footed, do the reverse. You can cut a very nice plug with this design and shouldn't twist your ankle. It may look really strange and you may get some odd looks, but it works great!


[www.flickr.com]

Neat shovel mod connortn...never saw one like that, makes sense.

Hope you are digging in the boonies.....use in local parks and you will be escorted out.....tip of the hat for a good idea if you are in an area where you can use....always used a long handled floral shovel on N.J. beaches and worked great...

I agree with not using any shovel in a park. I also use a floral shovel on the beach. It's much easier to dig in the sand, so the off center point of the floral shovel isn't a problem. I like a longer handle at the beach also. I can use my leg/thigh to leverage the shovel of sand out of the hole without having to lay my detector down in the sand. It's much lighter than a large sand scoop, which I have and would only use it if I were to detect in the water, which I don't. Wet sand doesn't sift through scoops very well, but a shovel is perfect for this.

I know this thing looks funny, but I believe if you tried it you would be suprised at just how well it does work. After cutting and removing the plug, I'll stick it in the ground beside me instead of laying it down. Gives an old body something to grab on to when getting back up. I've concidered cutting a notch in the D-handle just big enough to use as a detector stand after sticking the blade firmly into the ground. I have always liked the idea of a detector stand, but they add bulk to it. Using the shovel as a stand sounds like a good ideal. Maybe put a thin layer of foam or leather in the notch to help keep the detector shaft from slipping/sliding out.

I'm glad to see someone has the sense not to use a shovel in a open park setting. The clowns in my area on the other forum have just about got all my sites closed to detecting. I ran in to a couple newbies last week at a park digging up the place with shovels and E-tracs they didn't know how to use properly. I tried talking some sense into them,But they said the dealer in Chicago sold them the shovels so it must be O.K. ? I told them it wasn't and costing us dearly. They said I didn't own the park and I almost got into it with them and thought about calling the cops,But thought I would just leave. This is what is happening out there guys and that is why this hobby is in trouble. Sorry for the rant,But kinda pissed at the moment!

Harold,ILL. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm glad to see someone has the sense not to use a
> shovel in a open park setting. The clowns in my
> area on the other forum have just about got all my
> sites closed to detecting. I ran in to a couple
> newbies last week at a park digging up the place
> with shovels and E-tracs they didn't know how to
> use properly. I tried talking some sense into
> them,But they said the dealer in Chicago sold them
> the shovels so it must be O.K. ? I told them it
> wasn't and costing us dearly. They said I didn't
> own the park and I almost got into it with them
> and thought about calling the cops,But thought I
> would just leave. This is what is happening out
> there guys and that is why this hobby is in
> trouble. Sorry for the rant,But kinda pissed at
> the moment!

I know where ya coming from Harold. I don't hunt parks hardly at all anymore. I like to stay away from people and hunt for the Old stuff anyways.
So you will find me out in a field or in the woods somewhere.
HH

Connortin
Nice mod on the shovel,should work really good.

Corey

Nice mod...

I too have modded a few shovels in my time...even putting a razor edge of one side for root's....seems we are alwasy lookign for the ultimate digger...

Yes using a shovel in a park and not knowing how to use it Harold could lead to site closing's...

Ive seen shovels leave no trace and Ive seen shovels in grass areas destroy a site..

I always opt for a large Kbar type Knife in grass manicured sites...but I stay out of those sites usually...LOL!!

Keith

The parks I'm talking about are old so they have old coins or I wouldn't waste my time. I also know veteran hunters who are good with a shovel and leave no trace,But I still think one shouldn't be used in a park setting as it just looks bad to someone not in the hobby. When I first started I always hunted the woods as the finds started to peter out started hunting more open areas in the forrest preserves. Those got closed to detecting last year with a 500.00 fine so these little parks are all that is left close by. There are the gang ridden Chiago parks,But the closest one is about 45 minutes away. The forrest preserve and local parks are only about 10 minutes away so the new law sucks for me. I'm sure a lot of newbees could care less as they will get another hobby,But to me it is more than a hobby it is a passion. I hear they already have a law on the books to shut down the parks in Chicago and the water front so water hunters are not immune. Like I said are hobby is in trouble.

Cool!

Was thinking about your mod yesterday, Was out hunting and your mod kept bounching around in my head.

WTG!
Paul

Keep thinking :-) It's hard to realize how much difference it makes when done. Another thing I found out was that most shovels with small width heads have very little to get your shoe/boot on, which can cause it's own problems. With this design, you get to put all of your foot on the shovel. I've used this design for about 3 years and for inland digging, I won't have any other shovel. It makes for a great shurbery tool also.

I love it when someone uses imagination to design a better mouse trap, or in this case a shovel. How about a shovel with the handle centered but with a foot hole centered?