The Annual Probe Search

[diggermeister]

Mike , Thanks for the great tutorial! Just so happens that I do have a mapp gas set up (cheap at under $30). I'm going to give it a try today and post the results here later.

 

[DIGS CHESCO]

Chris, I will gladly pay $40 for a 5 footer. I'm going to the Baltimore Show. Thanks Tom.

 

[CALDIGR2]

Good "riddler" probe steel is expensive, at 10 bucks a foot, but it does not ever soften or lose it's tensile strength. I have probes that have over 20 yrs use and are still as good as ever. All have had tips replaced numerous times, but the rods remain true.

 

[diggermeister]

ORIGINAL: CALDIGR2

Good "riddler" probe steel is expensive, at 10 bucks a foot, but it does not ever soften or lose it's tensile strength. I have probes that have over 20 yrs use and are still as good as ever. All have had tips replaced numerous times, but the rods remain true.

"Riddler" probe steel??

 

[CALDIGR2]

Here are examples of my probes and the truck I pack them around in. My old Silverado is setup all digging season long, so the tools are constantly exposed to the weather. Rain is expected this afternoon and the temp is cool, down into the mid-50s.

Here are the daily used probes, 5, 6, and 7 footers.

The 6'er has a fairly new tip, but the 5 will soon need a new one, as will the 7. It only takes about 10 minutes to braize a new one and grind it a little.

I carry the most often used probes in a piece of 3" electrical conduit that has 4 individual 1/2" diameter tubes in side it. That way everything stays out of the truck bed and out of the way. Easily pulled out for use. I hate to have tools piled in the back, where you have to shuffle them around to get to them.

The "long dong" 10 foot probe rides inside the top rack tubing. It has along piece of 1/2" conduit slid in to it so that the probe doesn't rattle around. I like quiet riding, with no tools banging around.

Shovels are bungied to the ladder we use to get in and out of deeper pits. I don't scramble out of 10 foot pits like I once did.

Finally, smaller tools to be used in the "depths" are kept in this piece of tubing. Of course, there are other tools that are kept in my swivel top bucket seat, along with gloves and assorted other stuff. A 5 gal bucket with a nice soft padded swivel seat is great to rest your tired behind on while watching your partner do his thing.

 

[milkglassbottles]

Bungee cords are a NO NO here in NJ. We are required now to use ratchet type nylon tie-downs.

Careful with those elastic cord types, they dry rot when you're not looking!

 

[CALDIGR2]

Not for lightweight stuff like this, at least not here in uber restrictive Kooklipornya. I have plenty of ratchets, but I'll be darned if I'm gonna tie stuff down that's used every few minutes.

 

[lexdigger]

Nice setup Mike. Alot better than mine, but I guess I'll get it together one of these days! LOL All I do is toss all this stuff in the truck and go!

 

[lexdigger]

Here's the tip to my probe Modified for our soil conditions here in Kentucky. With the bead at the tip, it's almost impossible to get started. Without a bead, it's almost impossible to pull out of the ground! I took notice of the other seasoned local diggers tips and fashioned one of my own. Similar to the bead on Mikes, but has a 1-2 inch tip to get started. Notice the tip is not Pencil sharp, but more like a crayon with a small flat spot grinded on the very end. Have not busted a hole in any bottles with it... YET!!!

 

[lexdigger]

Still gotta shuffle stuff around to get to my tools. Alot better now that I got outta the Jeep and into a pickup truck!
P.S. Always keep a bucket full of commons to offer, er bribe, the homeowner!