Super hard ground!!!!!

[robert roy]

A question to the old timers.....
What do you do when the ground is so hard you can't get to
the target? WHat techniques.tools do you use.
Robert Roy

[JCWhite]

Great question.... I will be listening for the info on this one.

[sheriobailey]

I am not an ole timer, but I had that same problem in the ball park with the hard clay, so I use a little hammer with a ball on the end of it to break the clay enough so I can use my garden trowel. Hope this will help some.

[LeoinPA]

Would dynamite or digging in the rain be out of the question?

I'm flexible on time and wait until after the rain stops. The Lesche digging tool works for me as does a Fiskars garden tool. Both are shaped similar and have a knife type edge on one side and they are serated on the other. I like the Lesche a little better. I only use them to push into the hard ground and cut a plug, and a flat pry bar about 1/8" thick from the hardware store to dig out the hole, or scrape it out. I wouldn't want to try to pry the dirt out with the digging tools and risk the chance of bending them.

Thanks
Leo

[creekrat]

im with you boobie,the ground is so dry now that it would take a weeks worth of rain to get the ground damp .creek

[mtpockets]

These work well

[bigbillinsc]

the rock hammer is good but a "ginsangers" mattock works best. it is a small mattock with an 18 inch handle. perfect for sang or treasure.

happy huntin


hey creek rat... that wv dirt gets so hard with out rain a back hoe wont dig it... have a great day my friend

[gordiesgirl]

I had an area with a great signal. went back twice and I could not break the ground. I went back the third time with a spray bottle it did help a little but I was determined and finally got that PENNY.

[Joe(TX)]

Some summers here in Texas the ground is so hard that 15 minutes of digging with a trowel or knife only dents a very small impression in the ground! Some here in Texas combat this with carrying large amounts of water, preferable carried in one gallon containers! This is a lot more practical if you own a truck and can carry these jugs in its bed! Of course, one can only do this on very specific targets! Water the targeted spot with about a couple of glasses worth of water and see how the digging improves! I wouldn't use more than a half gallon on each target recovery spot! And although this can be hard doing at least its a way to recover at least a few of those targets from cement-type ground! ..............TRY IT ........YOU WILL LIKE IT..........................HH............Joe

[rwsnc]

Originally Posted by boobieinPa

For myself I use a Predator digger. It comes with a serrated type edge on one side and a cutting edge on the other.
I installed a serrated edge on the cutting edge side then I used a fine file and sharpened the heck out of the point and both edges.

So far it works very well on hard dry ground. I haven't had any trouble with it yet, and I do a lot of digging.
If I ever do run into ground that it will not cut through

I would just go home and wait for the rain.

I just bought a Lesche digging tool. Predators tools have the words "Digging Use Only". Mine doesn't have those words on it. Is there a difference in quality?