A shovel is the standard way of digging by hand however if you need to dig a trench you might want a pick to cut into the hardpan to bust it up making it easier to lift out with a shovel.
A pick can come in various forms, the ones I am most familiar with have an axe like head with a long point in one direction and a flat sharpened piece out the other something like an axe with the blade at 180 degrees to the direction of the cutting edge of an axe. You swing this into the dirt in a sort of skimming action parallel to the surface biting into the dirt to skim down into it to break it up for digging or to pick and loosen stones and rocks which confound your spade. The usual shovel is a round point spade. I like a short 'D' handled one for standing and stamping on to get it into hard dirt and I sometimes sharpen the bottom 6 or 8 inches a little with a file or grinder, not a knife edge but enough that it will more easily cut soil and/or roots. A square steel shovel also sharpened holds a little more but is also heavier but it can help shape the bottom of the trench or hole if that is necessary. The 'D' handle gives a little better control and more natural sense of the direction of the blade of the spade. In a deep hole or where reach is more important then a long handled spade is what you need. Once I get into a hole more than about one meter (3 feet) deep it gets hard to throw the dirt high and far enough away from the edge with a short handled spade. You need to slide your hand up and down the handle easily so the advantages of the 'D' handle are lost but it takes a little skill to get the hang of smooth efficient digging with a long handled spade. I am pretty short so I can use a short handled spade probably a little easier and longer than taller people and of course if the dirt is heavy the long lever of the long handled spade is a disadvantage but it is surprising how much dirt one can move even taking relatively small bites once you get a rhythm going. Around here though you can hire a back hoe for about $50 an hour. A skilled operator can move a bunch of dirt in an hour. The cost goes up quite a bit if he has to float it to the site but around here they usually are able to just drive it over. You might be able to hire a smaller machine like a Bobcat if the trench isn't large or access is limited.Sometimes too you just want to do it to avoid the risk of the trench getting caught in the rain. That can make one hell of a mess. ----- Original Message ----- From: Shane Hecker To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 12:43 AM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] gas hell yes I got gass (conclusion) Well looks like I got the problem fixed. I didn't have to dig as far as I thought since the pipe was in good condition. I initially wanted to replace the pipe from the meter all the way down to the 90 but a friend told me it wasn't necessary to do this. When all was said and done, 30 inches of pipe was replaced. Now for some questions. What is the difference between the types of coupling that are used? My friend told me I had an api (a p I) coupling. Then another friend told me the coupling I was trying to use is a merchant coupling. I thought a coupling is a coupling, didn't know there were several types. Second, I've heard from several people who say do *not* use galvanized pipe for gas, but I've heard from just as many saying they use it all the time with no problems. The gas technician who originally came out says that the code says you can use galvanized. So what's the story on this? Third, for future reference are there any tips you have for digging? My parents lent me a shovel and it got the job done, but it was extremely slow. Felt like I was digging through concrete, not dirt. It's only a matter of time before I'll have to dig again (sewer lines this time). It's just a matter of when (hopefully no time soon). Shane ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.7/1411 - Release Date: 5/2/2008 8:02 AM [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
