Comments on: A Simple, Effective Answer To Digging In Hard Soil http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:22:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: o1d_dude http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-247135 o1d_dude Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:59:35 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-247135 Out here in Cali, this thing is called a "Laredo bar". Not sure why but that's what it's called. Absolutely essential for digging fence post holes in adobe soil. Bust up the clay / hardpan / plowpan with the bar, lift it out with the clamshell style post hole digger. I own one of these. It reminds of my days in the Army where we used a similar tool called a "tanker bar" for various purposes in addition to its design purpose. 2nd Armored Division...Hell On Wheels, bros. Out here in Cali, this thing is called a “Laredo bar”. Not sure why but that’s what it’s called.

Absolutely essential for digging fence post holes in adobe soil. Bust up the clay / hardpan / plowpan with the bar, lift it out with the clamshell style post hole digger.

I own one of these. It reminds of my days in the Army where we used a similar tool called a “tanker bar” for various purposes in addition to its design purpose.

2nd Armored Division…Hell On Wheels, bros.

]]> By: Brad Justinen http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-235624 Brad Justinen Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:49:43 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-235624 used one of these many a time. very useful. used one of these many a time. very useful.

]]> By: PaulS. http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-79613 PaulS. Tue, 19 Jun 2007 05:30:09 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-79613 These are good for several jobs besides digging holes and prying out rocks. For demolition work in remodeling jobs like ceramic floor tile removal I've used one with great success. Slam it down to bust tiles, then slide/slam it horizontally to lift tiles, make sure you wear your safety glasses. These are good for several jobs besides digging holes and prying out rocks. For demolition work in remodeling jobs like ceramic floor tile removal I’ve used one with great success. Slam it down to bust tiles, then slide/slam it horizontally to lift tiles, make sure you wear your safety glasses.

]]> By: Eric http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-79376 Eric Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:47:12 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-79376 I throw mine in the back of the truck when I go up to my friend's mountain property. It makes short work of moving the fallen trees off the roadway to get back to the cabin. My uncle used to call this an "idiot stick" because, after using it to bust apart rock on a few fence-post holes, you start feeling like an idiot for not calling someone with an auger. Oh well... mine has always gotten good use in a number of ways! I throw mine in the back of the truck when I go up to my friend’s mountain property. It makes short work of moving the fallen trees off the roadway to get back to the cabin. My uncle used to call this an “idiot stick” because, after using it to bust apart rock on a few fence-post holes, you start feeling like an idiot for not calling someone with an auger. Oh well… mine has always gotten good use in a number of ways!

]]> By: Wheels17 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-79105 Wheels17 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:42:51 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-79105 A bar like this and a shop vac make quick work of post holes in hard soil. The diameter of the hole can be kept very close to the diameter of the post, really cutting down on the amount of digging needed. A bar like this and a shop vac make quick work of post holes in hard soil. The diameter of the hole can be kept very close to the diameter of the post, really cutting down on the amount of digging needed.

]]> By: Abe http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-78519 Abe Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:00:31 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-78519 No affect on vampires. It's made of steel not wood. I use broken, old hamer handles to deal with our vampire problems. Abe No affect on vampires. It’s made of steel not wood.

I use broken, old hamer handles to deal with our vampire problems.

Abe

]]> By: Bowen http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-78466 Bowen Sun, 17 Jun 2007 10:05:21 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-78466 The first thing that occured to me when I saw that was how much fun it would be to shoot out of an appropriately sized compressed air cannon (with a sabot of course). That, or build yerself a ballista.... The first thing that occured to me when I saw that was how much fun it would be to shoot out of an appropriately sized compressed air cannon (with a sabot of course).

That, or build yerself a ballista….

]]> By: cc http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-78399 cc Sun, 17 Jun 2007 07:18:58 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-78399 how effective is this against vampires? how effective is this against vampires?

]]> By: false_cause http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-78043 false_cause Sat, 16 Jun 2007 18:43:54 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-78043 I've got the chisel type that has a flat end to hit with a sledgehammer. I was wishing I'd brought it this week when some sudden landscaping work came up and the soil was more rock than dirt. It's tough to swing a pick inside a planting hole sometimes. I’ve got the chisel type that has a flat end to hit with a sledgehammer. I was wishing I’d brought it this week when some sudden landscaping work came up and the soil was more rock than dirt. It’s tough to swing a pick inside a planting hole sometimes.

]]> By: Scraper http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77879 Scraper Sat, 16 Jun 2007 12:17:35 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77879 We would call that tool a "Rock Pick". What we called a "spud bar" had a chisel point at one end and a round,flat end at the other for tamping. A very useful tool to use when setting fence posts. We would call that tool a “Rock Pick”. What we called a “spud bar” had a chisel point at one end and a round,flat end at the other for tamping. A very useful tool to use when setting fence posts.

]]> By: Eric http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77759 Eric Sat, 16 Jun 2007 06:10:22 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77759 Definitely not a new idea, and definitely still as useful as ever. In old Hawaiʻi, they were called ʻōʻō and were made of hardwood. These days they're usually made of steel, except for the <a href="http://www.koamaster.com/product/KOASTICK" rel="nofollow">fancy ones</a> used for <a href="http://www.koko.org/preserve/ceremony3.html" rel="nofollow">groundbreaking ceremonies</a>. I have one in my garage. Most recently, I used it to pry rocks out of the heavy clay in my back yard while landscaping, probably in much the same way that the old Hawaiian taro farmers pried the exact same damned rocks out of their fields. Definitely not a new idea, and definitely still as useful as ever. In old Hawaiʻi, they were called ʻōʻō and were made of hardwood. These days they’re usually made of steel, except for the fancy ones used for groundbreaking ceremonies.

I have one in my garage. Most recently, I used it to pry rocks out of the heavy clay in my back yard while landscaping, probably in much the same way that the old Hawaiian taro farmers pried the exact same damned rocks out of their fields.

]]> By: Leslie http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77693 Leslie Sat, 16 Jun 2007 02:12:14 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77693 It may seem obvious, but since something like that cost my former neighbor megabucks in damages, I'll say it anyway: Be very sure that you know where your sewer/septic lines (and all other buried utilites) are located before you use one of these. It may seem obvious, but since something like that cost my former neighbor megabucks in damages, I’ll say it anyway: Be very sure that you know where your sewer/septic lines (and all other buried utilites) are located before you use one of these.

]]> By: james b brauer 66 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77600 james b brauer 66 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:38:15 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77600 As my ex-geologist buddy explained: this area (high plains) used to be at the very end of a prehistoric river tail. The very finest silt got carried here and deposited before things dried up and left this super dense dry clay from hell. Trying to dig a little hole for a rain-bird head during a drought I busted the head off my shovel, drove steel spikes into the ground, and finally used my handheld pneumatic chisel to gouge out a small hole. It took about an hour for a half-gallon hole. I've sense learned to just wait until it has been raining or snowing before I try to dig anything. The moisture loosens things up enough to get some work done. As my ex-geologist buddy explained: this area (high plains) used to be at the very end of a prehistoric river tail. The very finest silt got carried here and deposited before things dried up and left this super dense dry clay from hell.

Trying to dig a little hole for a rain-bird head during a drought I busted the head off my shovel, drove steel spikes into the ground, and finally used my handheld pneumatic chisel to gouge out a small hole. It took about an hour for a half-gallon hole. I’ve sense learned to just wait until it has been raining or snowing before I try to dig anything. The moisture loosens things up enough to get some work done.

]]> By: BJN http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77598 BJN Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:36:18 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77598 Absolutely necessary for digging postholes where you have rocky ground and big roots. I have two styles. The pointed end works best for prying rocks, the chisel end can be honed sharp as an axe so you can chop roots at depth. The mushroom end version can be used for tamping. Any of them make great pry bars for rolling rocks, logs, beams, or corpses. Absolutely necessary for digging postholes where you have rocky ground and big roots. I have two styles. The pointed end works best for prying rocks, the chisel end can be honed sharp as an axe so you can chop roots at depth. The mushroom end version can be used for tamping. Any of them make great pry bars for rolling rocks, logs, beams, or corpses.

]]> By: Zeb http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77591 Zeb Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:22:11 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77591 While we're on goofy crowbar variants, here's the <a href="http://www.slidehammers.com/" rel="nofollow">Slide Hammer</a>. While we’re on goofy crowbar variants, here’s the Slide Hammer.

]]> By: Zeb http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77587 Zeb Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:07:38 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77587 Reminds me of something I saw on TV the other night - the <a href="http://www.dalbydigger.com/index.htm" rel="nofollow">Dalby Digger</a>. It's sort of a shovel/crowbar/mattock combo. Reminds me of something I saw on TV the other night - the Dalby Digger. It’s sort of a shovel/crowbar/mattock combo.

]]> By: Zack http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77551 Zack Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:46:07 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77551 In AZ we call that a calichi bar - basically, once you get 1-2 feet down, you hit rock that can be broken up with one of these bars. Works kind of like a pickaxe , but better for digging narrow holes, and requires less clearance to swing. In AZ we call that a calichi bar - basically, once you get 1-2 feet down, you hit rock that can be broken up with one of these bars.

Works kind of like a pickaxe , but better for digging narrow holes, and requires less clearance to swing.

]]> By: Paul Mc Cann http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77532 Paul Mc Cann Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:06:44 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77532 Here in Ireland we call that a crow bar. I find a mattock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattock)very useful in difficult ground and for clearing scrub etc Here in Ireland we call that a crow bar.
I find a mattock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattock)very useful in difficult ground and for clearing scrub etc

]]> By: scott http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77500 scott Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:57:07 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77500 Used to use these as a summer greenskeeper here in the Pacific NW. I used to have a helluva time digging through layers of dense clay with a shovel, but it was quick work using one of these bars. It's pretty amazing how well it works with a modicum of downward force. Used to use these as a summer greenskeeper here in the Pacific NW. I used to have a helluva time digging through layers of dense clay with a shovel, but it was quick work using one of these bars. It’s pretty amazing how well it works with a modicum of downward force.

]]> By: Russell http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77486 Russell Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:34:18 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/06/15/a-simple-effective-answer-to-digging-in-hard-soil/#comment-77486 Spud Bars! I perfer the chisel bars with a head on the end that you can hit. what makes these useful is the force that you can impart to a small area just by lifting the bar up and down. These are my favorite method for removing stubborn roots and leveraging rocks out of holes. (Be careful! It's easy to slip) Spud Bars! I perfer the chisel bars with a head on the end that you can hit.

what makes these useful is the force that you can impart to a small area just by lifting the bar up and down.

These are my favorite method for removing stubborn roots and leveraging rocks out of holes. (Be careful! It’s easy to slip)

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