So, now with spring digging season upon us, and a couple of expiditions under my belt, im again considering a boo digging shovel, the one Mid atlantic sells.... with shipping $210 gets it to my door... OUCH! have to put that one on paypal so the missus does NOT see how much it cost

before I do this crazy, crazy thing, anyone have any other boo shovels they have found, of the same quality, but a better price? I tried looking on places like craigslist, ebay, etc, hoping to find one "used", but no go. the one I built last year worked great, until the blade itself broke... seems that even the best shovels I can find in hardware stores just are not heavy duty enough for prying divisions out of holes.

if anyone has any suggestions, Im ALL ears right now!

How about getting a WW manufacturing shovel, and a post hold driver?

http://www.wwmfg.com/default.asp?contentID=1150

and

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... 888_988888

I think the long-handled "King of Spades" is the right starting point. I know it's my next shovel purchase. No "slammer", but seems perfect for prying and lifting. I used needmore's last fall. I think he said he's broken one before, but that was from misuse. Can you fill in the details Brad?

Yes, it is my shovel of choice and yes I'm on my second one. Broke the first one at the handle/blade weld while using it as a bar to pry a deeply buried and snagged set of railroad ties an expensive fubar indeed. Mine looks just like the WM Manu shovel already mentioned so they may be the same. Mine has the almost traditional round point look but there are other shapes and some with padded grips. AM Leonard has them for $91 - $109 depending upon which model, maybe there is a cheaper source out there. Shipping will add materially to that as well. A friend of mine loves the optional foot pads but I despise them so try it without first before adding that $12.

Thumper, I'm looking into getting one of those long handled shovels. I have the D-handled one, and love it.

Gene,
I made a couple of different ones that I think work great. I used a half of a set of old heavy post hole digger & put in a metal handle. The newer ones are not heavy duty enough. The other one was made from a older sharp shooter shovel. Not real sure how much prying this one will take but the one from the post hole digger has taken a lot so far.

What blade length do you have, 13" or 15"?

I didn't have to choose size on mine, there was only one so I did not pay attention. The KofS in the current AM Leonard catalogue seems different from mine - more vertical, less 'round'. The WM MAnu model they show is spot on with mine but mine was for sure called K of S in the past. I use it as an all purpose shovel so I like the round blade, those more vertical ones may actually be better for bamboo but I don't know.

A slide hammer spade is the way to go. I made this one recently and love it. More photos of it here http://mattsbamboo.shutterfly.com/
Took both of these divisions this past Saturday by myself but did need help to load them. Maybe you could find a local artist/welder. It really wasn't that hard or complicated to build but shipping would be a killer.
Matt

ghmerrill,

I have the Bamboo Spade that I traded for with Mary Anne and Burt. I love it, and so does everyone who uses it. I took it to the Anderson Moso grove clean up last year, and it was a hit. I mostly use my D handled shovel, but cut the tough rhizomes with the Bamboo Spade. Make sure you wear hearing protection. It is loud, but very effective. I don't use it to pry with as you can break its back. It's really built to cut with, and is very good at that! I use the heavier D shovel to pry divisions out. Just a side note- I sharpen all my digging tools to a cutting edge- makes smooth work of tough rhizomes.

Regards, David

Welcome to the forums thumper! good idea there... I already have a post driver, so just need something to "pound" on!
one of the main reasons why I wanted a slammer type shovel, is to dig into tight spaces, so you dont destroy what you are trying to dig out. some runners get like that, and someday, if I ever have a chance to get into some nice clumpers, it could be handy there too!


My biggest concern is with the noise, as david points out, and I was not aware you could not use it to pry the divisons out of the holes. the ad on thier website says to use it to pry.... I dont want to spend $200 on a shovel and bend it so that it is not usable!

Perhaps I better clarify some things. The shovel I have was one of their first. I used it to pry out several specimens before I took it to Anderson, but I'm aware of the tool I'm using and always did most of the work by cutting rather than prying. Apparently someone at Anderson bent the shovel prying on something they should cutting. It sprang back, but has been weaken by the event. (moral of this story is not to lend your tools!)

My D handle shovel is a heavy professional model (I forget the make, and the paint has been worn off so no help there.), and made for abuse.

Nothing I have ever used cuts thru rhizomes like the Bamboo Spade. I used it Monday to dig 38 large FS out of clay / loam soil. I'm glad I've got it.

the one that I cobbled togeather last year from a wood splitter slammer, and the blade off a sharp shooter shovel worked VERY well for cutting around divisions for removing them. the hangup was in using it to pop them out of the hole... the blade itself bent in the middle, and after I pounded it back in place a couple of times, it finnaly broke- the blade, not the handle!
is the blade on the bamboo spade heavy enough that this is not going to be an issue? also, David, if you dont mind... how is it to dig with the bamboo spade if you are not using it to pound? can you put the lock pin and and still use it like a shovel? I realize its going to be heavier than a standard shovel.... but there are times you dont need to "pound" through, where a good chop downward does it, and I want something that is multi purpose.

Matt W- Welcome to the forum. That's a good looking spade, and it obviously gets the job done!

gh- The blade on the Bamboo Spade is sturdy but not as much some. It's the King of Spades shovel attached to the slide, so it's a good quality shovel. It's too heavy for me to use comfortably for general digging. I tend to use both shovels and instead of jumping up and down on the D shovel I just use the Bamboo Spade for the difficult stuff. It's designed to cut, and that's what I do with it. I have cut out divisions that weigh 100's with rhizomes that no amount of jumping will cut (I'm 6' and 200lbs so I've got some HP) using the Bamboo Spade. It's a specialty shovel that will make quick work of any rhizome.

I have what I think is the ultimate slammer, but a King of Spades is on my short list. I have used the one Mantis has and love it. I will probably try the long handle too.