Author Topic: Lesche Alternatives (Read 1866 times)

aandromeda · « **on:** August 10, 2011, 13:02 »

Undoubtably the Lesche is the premium digging tool (and I may well order one sooner or later) but for those who want to save $$$ or dont want to wait for their order to arrive, I have found a couple alternatives that work quite nicely.

One is a paint scraper that I got from Dollars n' Sense for $2.50. It has a chiselled edge and has a bit of flex meaning it wont snap easily. I find it's really good at cutting a plug and then you can lever it out with a screw driver. I'm sure you can find even better ones at a hardware store.

The second is the widest, strongest chisel I could find at bunnings. It is 38mm wide, strong, sharp and heavy. I only used it this morning but found it a terrific plugging tool. Cost me about $23. Naturally the sharp edge will get roughed up over time but I'm thinking it can go the distance.

So before you rush out for the Lesche you may already have something in your toolbox that will do a decent job.

I have broken three different brands of trowel/hand spades, they are nearly all crap at being used to lever soil of any substantial weight. They bend and eventually snap.

Adam · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2011, 13:44 »

I've got a $20 jamie duree tool from big W that is doing well, i just try not to put too much pressure on it when levering out plugs.

GemQ uses a brickies bolster. Seems to work well, but its a heavy tool to carry around all day.

Each to there own. I'll be getting a lesche when I find more goldies, until then the $20 one does the job fine.

Goldfever · « **Reply #2 on:** August 10, 2011, 13:45 »

With regular sharpening the chisel will stay sharp. I am still looking for suitable plastic plug cutters, I have seen so many good coins and relics with scratches. I am using a plastic tent peg as a screw driver. Ive still got a lot to learn about plastic only digs. Also plastic doesnt set off the detector, unlike my steel cap boots. I just need to find some more goldies to kit myself out better.

Goldfever

Nugget · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2011, 14:27 »

I gave up, broke everything except a diver's knife which weighs a ton so I order a Lesche from Predator Tools last week - should arrive in the next week I hope.

aandromeda · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2011, 14:39 »

Adam, I saw one of those brickie bolsters at Bunnings today. thought it looked like an option but yeah, it's wide and heavy.
Goldfever, I'm not sure if a plastic plug cutter exists. I have used one of those strong plastic hand spades and while it didnt break it felt a bit light and hard to move rocky soil. The tendency with the plastic tools is they tend to feel a bit bouncy. There may be a way of coating a screwdriver with rubber or tape to avoid scratching coins. Filing down the sharp corners would definitely be an improvement.

Snoopy36 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 10, 2011, 15:05 »

I use the screwdriver a lot ONLY if I am at a site where I am fairly certain that no predecimals would exist

I had the BigW digger for a while and it cut excellent neat and tidy plugs. I bought a Lesche to see what the fuss was all about and after using it once I was ready to sell it coz the plugs were nowhere near as neat as the BigW plug. So the lesche sat in the garage for a while until I broke two of the BigW diggers! Now there is no way I'd use anything else. This lesche digger is practically unbreakable!

If there are two MD gizmos and gadgets that I will strongly recommend (and endorse) - it's the Garrett Propointer and the Lesche digger. Go get one!

Uncle Buck · « **Reply #6 on:** August 10, 2011, 17:00 »

Quote from: Snoopy36 on August 10, 2011, 15:05

If there are two MD gizmos and gadgets that I will strongly recommend (and endorse) - it's the Garrett Propointer and the Lesche digger. Go get one!

I second that...

Snowy · « **Reply #7 on:** August 10, 2011, 17:04 »

Quote from: Snoopy36 on August 10, 2011, 15:05

I use the screwdriver a lot ONLY if I am at a site where I am fairly certain that no predecimals would exist

I had the BigW digger for a while and it cut excellent neat and tidy plugs. I bought a Lesche to see what the fuss was all about and after using it once I was ready to sell it coz the plugs were nowhere near as neat as the BigW plug. So the lesche sat in the garage for a while until I broke two of the BigW diggers! Now there is no way I'd use anything else. This lesche digger is practically unbreakable!

If there are two MD gizmos and gadgets that I will strongly recommend (and endorse) - it's the Garrett Propointer and the Lesche digger. Go get one!

The only plastic plug cutter I ever saw was made years ago out of PVC pipe,
you held it with both hands, and used it like a post hole digger...
It looks like a hole cutter was used first, then plastic was cut out between these holes to make cutting teeth...

willy46 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2011, 17:22 »

I still use the Jamie duree digger. Still going strong.

Smurf · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2011, 19:11 »

I am too a jamie digger digger, but have just aquired a lesche digger

. so I think the jamie will be getting the heave ho

Snowy · « **Reply #10 on:** August 10, 2011, 19:25 »

I use a Predator, they are really the best I reckon...
I have had two Kellyco "Gator" diggers ___ They both bent!!!

spanners · « **Reply #11 on:** August 10, 2011, 20:47 »

Lesche digger is the only way to go, I tried everything else and it didn't work.

Sambo · « **Reply #12 on:** August 10, 2011, 21:26 »

Quote from: aandromeda on August 10, 2011, 14:39

There may be a way of coating a screwdriver with rubber or tape to avoid scratching coins.

Someone suggested heat shrink on the end of a screwdriver a while ago which I thought was an excellent idea, but I'm yet to try it.

Lesche/Predator is definately the way to go. More $$ upfront but it will save you heaps in the long run.

Sambo

pepper · « **Reply #13 on:** August 10, 2011, 21:34 »

im another jamie durie digger, it cuts nice neat plugs and roots with ease. i havent busted mine, probably been a bit careful after alot of other people breaking em, but its gone the distance, dug hundreds and hundreds of holes and still going strong. if it ever does break ill be getting a lesche, but only cos the jamie diggers are scarce on the ground nowadays.

Adam · « **Reply #14 on:** August 10, 2011, 22:30 »

Sambo, ive been thinking along the same line of rubberizing the tip of a screwdriver too. You can get a thick heatshrink that has a glue inside that activates once heated. I think it is for thicker cable though like 3 phase and such. but that fact that it would be open at the end i think it would pry off in no time. think of the way an eraser is attached to a lead pencil, im thinking more along those lines. ***thinking cap on*** $:-\$

Nugget · « **Reply #15 on:** August 11, 2011, 04:15 »

I saw on the US Ebay site a carbon fibre shaft screwdriver like probe with a wooden handle - no metal at all.
Was only about $5 as well.

jeffaust68 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 11, 2011, 18:42 »

Quote from: Snoopy36 on August 10, 2011, 15:05

If there are two MD gizmos and gadgets that I will strongly recommend (and endorse) - it's the Garrett Propointer and the Lesche digger. Go get one!

I must agree can not do with out them both Garrett propointer and Lesche digger
you do need em both full stop !

tailofdog · « **Reply #17 on:** August 12, 2011, 05:41 »

Quote from: aandromeda on August 10, 2011, 13:02

Undoubtably the Lesche is the premium digging tool (and I may well order one sooner or later) but for those who want to save $$$ or dont want to wait for their order to arrive, I have found a couple alternatives that work quite nicely.

One is a paint scraper that I got from Dollars n' Sense for $2.50. It has a chiselled edge and has a bit of flex meaning it wont snap easily. I find it's really good at cutting a plug and then you can lever it out with a screw driver. I'm sure you can find even better ones at a hardware store.

The second is the widest, strongest chisel I could find at bunnings. It is 38mm wide, strong, sharp and heavy. I only used it this morning but found it a terrific plugging tool. Cost me about $23. Naturally the sharp edge will get roughed up over time but I'm thinking it can go the distance.

So before you rush out for the Lesche you may already have something in your toolbox that will do a decent job.

I have broken three different brands of trowel/hand spades, they are nearly all crap at being used to lever soil of any substantial weight. They bend and eventually snap.

i have a new Leshe (CAME with my F5) i will sell for $38.00 posted

Snoopy36 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 12, 2011, 06:15 »

Wow that is good value. I'll bet this sells today

mesha · « **Reply #19 on:** August 13, 2011, 12:10 »

Hi tailofdog If you are seriuos about selling it I,ll take it

cheer Ronnie

tailofdog · « **Reply #20 on:** August 13, 2011, 12:34 »

SORRY ALREADY GONE!!!

boof · « **Reply #21 on:** August 15, 2011, 14:31 »

I want a Lesche but in the meantime i got a bloke at work to knock me up this little ripper works great its made out of stainless steel and you can cut nice plugs and not scared to use it as a lever if i have too!!

hatch · « **Reply #22 on:** August 15, 2011, 17:23 »

That's alright for now

I'm after a lesche digging tool i have a Garrett's treasure trowel,
i think i can get one over here for 70 bucks

Goldfever · « **Reply #23 on:** August 15, 2011, 17:30 »

Boof, that look lethal. Id sharpen it often to make sure it cuts nice plugs. That should last you a lifetime.

Cheers

Goldfever

s13tsilvia · « **Reply #24 on:** September 07, 2011, 20:37 »

Just been down to bunnings to purchase some digging equipment etc and came across these diggers, for $9 bucks they are super sturdy, cant even begin to bend it and really nice rubber handle.
Has the sharp serrated edge and i reckon it should do the job nicely for diggin me some holes