DetectingWales.com

I don't know if this has been posted before but I bought this trowel from B & Q and I have found it an excellent digging tool that cleans up like new and is very strong, I have dug holes a foot deep with it and it is only £8.98. Check it out here:

http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/garden-tools-equipment/garden-hand-tools/digging___planting_tools/-specificproducttype-trowels___forks/Fiskars-Powergrip-Trowel-12077661?skuId=12608368
 (http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/garden-tools-equipment/garden-hand-tools/digging___planting_tools/-specificproducttype-trowels___forks/Fiskars-Powergrip-Trowel-12077661?skuId=12608368)

Nice trowel and can be a useful tool but you'll need something a bit bigger when you start digging 'in the rough' so to speak.
This little spade is very popular and doesn't cost the earth.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-57569-Round-Point-Shovel-Fibreglass/dp/B0002GUME6 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-57569-Round-Point-Shovel-Fibreglass/dp/B0002GUME6)

Val

p.s. I'll bear the trowel in mind, I need a new one. The handle keeps coming off mine. ::)

the best place to get spades/digging tools are boot sales then cut them down as required.older tools are better quality  ;)

I got one of these draper mini spades and they are eccellent, thanks for the advice

Glad to be of service Tess.  I find it a useful tool and have even had Hubby sharpen it for me. Great when you've got to cut through rough grass and hedge roots. One with a longer handle is better for the beach though.
Hope it helps find you something nice.

Val

I bought one of these and its part of their 'pro' range, so no rubbish. Fantastic for getting in amongst all
those small stone compacted area's and still effective in larger holes.

http://www.oxtools.co.uk/hand-tools/masonry-tools/pro-pointing-trowel-london-pattern.html (http://www.oxtools.co.uk/hand-tools/masonry-tools/pro-pointing-trowel-london-pattern.html)

I bought a mini pick. Only used it once and put it strait through a button. ::)

Val

I bought a little finishing trowel on ebay for about a fiver it's great for cutting around a find thats packed by stones, or cutting it out of a clodge. You can get in close without damaging the find, I loved mine from day one.I went out on sunday and lost it, I'm gutted, I'll have to buy a new one before I go out again it makes life alot easier,they came in differant shapes but are all the same price and great value for money.

I just got myself these 2 tools from an irish store,  cant wait to try them out

http://www.caulfieldindustrial.com/fiskars-big-grip-garden-knife/p-e02255pd.html (http://www.caulfieldindustrial.com/fiskars-big-grip-garden-knife/p-e02255pd.html)

http://www.caulfieldindustrial.com/fiskars-big-grip-transplanter/p-e02253pd.html (http://www.caulfieldindustrial.com/fiskars-big-grip-transplanter/p-e02253pd.html)

What part of Ireland are you in ?

Flint, North Wales.  :P    sorry Chef, had to be done.

Oh the Dublin suburbs :D

simular to the fiskars trowel and a damn site cheaper
i bought mine from Home bargains for the princely sum of £1.50.
all aluminium one piece construction sharpened edges, works a dream. ::)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jv035q62exio5mr/trowelf.jpg?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/jv035q62exio5mr/trowelf.jpg?dl=0)

I've lost four trowels all together,The one I use now is a pointing trowel,I've drilled a hole in the handel and put a lanyard on it so no more lost trowels I hope.

I'll be ordering one of these :-)

With regard to trowels,I found that in the Spring,Asda sell a very,very,sturdy hard plastic garden trowel,it comes in very handy when trying to "winkel" coins etc without causing them any damage whatsoever, they are thick enough to even file a blade to each side.
And,by virtue of them being plastic there is absolutely no reaction when the pointer is in the vicinity of the trowel.
They are coloured black trowel,and green handle, very light to carry,fits into your finds bag,or easy to drill and put to a lanyard.
And the best bit.......only £1:00...👍

Only one problem using a trowel. You've got to get down close and personal.  Getting down aint too bad, it's getting up that gets me. ::)

No problem Val,my mate stands over me ready with a "block &tackle".. LOL👍

I think after reading all that lot I might just buy a JCB then I can put all my stuff in the front bucket and dig with rear one. lol

 ;D ;)Now that's the way to do it 👍

Those mini spades might be OK for the dwarves in our midst but I'd break my back trying to dig with one of those. I don't mind getting down on my knees to retrieve stuff from holes - I just heave myself upright on my 'human-size' spade  afterwards . . .  ;)

Got velcro sewn on my detecting trousers in the knee area and made some knee pads from DPM so it doesn't show the muck. There's yoga mat material inside the knee pads . . .  ;)

If you want decent knee pads I got mine from home bargains for 5.99, had them for over 2 years and they are still going strong. They still sell them now

i have too totally back this up.... short of pouring petrol on them and burning them there indestructible !!!! and they really can be sharpened i went the lazy way and done it with my grinding stone bit and my drill ha ha

Spot on; I have one already.  :)