Is there an advantage to a short shovel?

[PAdogman]

I happened upon a YT channel and this one the ground seems more like what I have been trying to dig a hole in. No digging with your trowel here.
In it the guy is using what I think is the 18" Lesche with serrations on both sides. But sometimes it looks shorter. And he digs in the forest, so isn't concerned about his plugs being replaceable. Actually, I don't think he's ever shown himself filling the hole back in... but I'm assuming he does.

Anyway, he kneels down and worked feverishly with that short shovel using just his arms. I'm guessing that can be tiring, but I'm also thinking he can easily change his angle of attack and sidestep a lot of rocks. I'm finding that pushing a longer shovel into the soil with your foot, only to encounter a rock 2" down, can be tiring, too. Note to self: Stop using your instep if you want to be able to walk the next day.

And the shorter shovel must substitute for his hand digger/trowel. I've never seen him use one. The short shovel seems pretty handy. At least for him.

I did forget my shovel the other day when I walked out back and my hand digger worked, but more weight behind it would have been nice. It seemed to be more comfortable for me kneeling and digging.

So does one work better than another in rocky soil, or is it all in the technique?

 

[Ken Clad]

So does one work better than another in rocky soil, or is it all in the technique?

This is my opinion having dug holes in the rocks of the PA Poconos, the clay of central NJ, and the sand of SC. Tool and technique both play big part. Know your enemy, know your tool(s), know your strengths. Adapt and overcome as necessary. Change as conditions change. Having more tools in the toolbox is always a good thing.

 

[SirDigsALOT!]

I think having an 18" shovel is easier to carry into tight areas and can be strapped onto a backpack. I just bought the Lesche 36" double serrated with the clad I dug up so far this year and plan to get an 18" version as weĺl.

 

[EmuDetector]

I enjoy my short shovel because I hike into my locations, so it's easy to backpack and carry. The few times I've been to parks, it also makes me look a little more low key.

Added bonus, I feel I can more delicate when I dig and reduce risk of damaging things.

Model 69 - The Spike - Mini-Shovel

Mighty And Compact, designed in 2017 The Spike is a multi-purpose, versatile, and easy to carry digging tool; fits in a backpack. It easily penetrates the ground. The Spike is great for metal detecting, nursery work, prospecting, gardening, and landscaping. This tool does not have fittings for...

www.predatortools.com

 

[sube]

Yep their easy to hide and don't broadcast i am going to dig a pit in your beautiful park . Better for park Karens sube

 

[SirDigsALOT!]

I love that predator shovel, but would love it more if it were gray.

 

[Gunrunner]

I love that predator shovel, but would love it more if it were gray.

I'm abt to paint my lil sparky, don't like high vis colors

 

[PAdogman]

This is my opinion having dug holes in the rocks of the PA Poconos, the clay of central NJ, and the sand of SC. Tool and technique both play big part. Know your enemy, know your tool(s), know your strengths. Adapt and overcome as necessary. Change as conditions change. Having more tools in the toolbox is always a good thing.

You are a good enabler

 

[PAdogman]

I enjoy my short shovel because I hike into my locations, so it's easy to backpack and carry. The few times I've been to parks, it also makes me look a little more low key.

Added bonus, I feel I can more delicate when I dig and reduce risk of damaging things.

Model 69 - The Spike - Mini-Shovel

Mighty And Compact, designed in 2017 The Spike is a multi-purpose, versatile, and easy to carry digging tool; fits in a backpack. It easily penetrates the ground. The Spike is great for metal detecting, nursery work, prospecting, gardening, and landscaping. This tool does not have fittings for...

www.predatortools.com

Liking the price on this one.
I'll assume it's just the pic that makes it look like the handle wasn't welded on straight.

 

[Cherry Picker]

Loved my 28" Root Slayer not because it made recovering the deep ones quicker, but it could hang on my Lesche and lay at my leg and didn't look obvious.

 

[hoser]

I only use my 36" digger in the woods. I've never used it in a public area. Only the Lesche hand digger. My opinion is people will notice a long or large digger but pay less attention to a small hand digger. But that's just me.

 

[Diga]

Yep their easy to hide and don't broadcast i am going to dig a pit in your beautiful park . Better for park Karens sube

That's what I was going to post.

Although it's not so much the length of the shovel that causes some people to lose their mind lol. It's the standing up and digging down with your feet that is the bad optics. That happens with a long or short length foot shovel.

 

[PAdogman]

I don't see myself hunting in public. Well, maybe our (the town's) rocky little beach area. No one really uses it anyway. Anything I'd find would most likely be given up by the lake.
But it's interesting to read the posts about longer shovels attracting unwanted attention.
What? They notice the shovel and not the detector? How did they think you were going to retrieve the metal?

 

[Diga]

What? They notice the shovel and not the detector?

Yes indeed.

How did they think you were going to retrieve the metal?

You would be surprised at the amount of people who don't know that your going to dig holes. They often think the detector is just finding stuff on the surface or in between the grass blades.

 

[sube]

That's what I was going to post.

Although it's not so much the length of the shovel that causes some people to lose their mind lol. It's the standing up and digging down with your feet that is the bad optics. That happens with a long or short length foot shovel.

I think a shovel would be fine if you had on your back (SCAT COLLECTOR) sube

 

[Diga]

I think a shovel would be fine if you had on your back (SCAT COLLECTOR) sube

Then you could just leave it strapped to your back, and squat down to dig the hole

 

[Ken Clad]

it's interesting to read the posts about longer shovels attracting unwanted attention.

You know what I'd tell anybody that asks about a shovel... "how else am I gonna dispose of the body? You gonna help or just stand there?"

 

[PAdogman]

Yes indeed.


You would be surprised at the amount of people who don't know that your going to dig holes. They often think the detector is just finding stuff on the surface or in between the grass blades.

I am surprised.
Thanks.

Although in my AO no one respects other peoples' property anyway. So it's hard to venture a guess if there would be any reaction at all if say, I went to the town park. That is, if there weren't any signs prohibiting detecting there.

 

[hoser]

"how else am I gonna dispose of the body? You gonna help or just stand there

Oh GREAT! Thanks a lot! Now I gotta do something different than carrying around that old rolled up rug.

 

[Diga]

You know what I'd tell anybody that asks about a shovel... "how else am I gonna dispose of the body? You gonna help or just stand there?"

Good one. Or...

I was going through historical maps, and found out there are unmarked graves here. I'm digging the graves up, to see what valuables I can plunder from the corpses.

The look of shock you'd get, would be priceless!