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I have a black ada stainless mini trowel and a dagger sort of digger. But watching some video clips on you tube ive noticed that the majority are using long handled spade type things ???? any recommendations on what type is best ??? i imagine they must save a lot of back ache too any advice appreciated....

black ada range is very good , dont buy a short trenching type shovel as you will get back ache ,

A spade...any spade will do but preferably a border spade, a good spade will cost you just shy of £30 add the words "metal detecting" and you can add another £20, £30 or more :-\ Ask a gardener, road worker or grave digger what they use and they'll tell you "a spade" ;D ;)

If I might put my two penneth in here,I have found that a border spade purchased from WILCO at price well below a tenner is a BRILLIANT detecting spade,stainless steel,and a very,very strong stave,it will stand up to a  hell of a lot of abuse,I was lucky enough to get mine cut down into a shield shape and have a blade ground onto it,it cuts turf,roots etc like cutting through butter,
Why spend a lot when under a tenner is more than sufficient !!😁👍
Hope this helps!!

thanks kind sirs this is were forums are worth there weight in gold I'd never of thought of a standard spade !!!! thanks again

Your welcome, that's what the Detecting Wales forum is all about,it helps us all👍

Here's my 2 spades.  Now a spare, kept in the boot, the Draper Mini and it's big Brother the Wilko stainless and customised border spade,

Border spade £13,  nice swivel soft plastic handle £3.50,  Johns labour priceless   ::)

. If you're taller person long angled v head it's cuts

Better ;)

thanks all i now have a better idea of what i need my little black ada looks positively puney now ha ha

In 2004 when I first started the hobby, I used a fold up army spade.

Then bought a stainless steel border spade for about £20 or thereabouts, got out an angle grinder and produced a point.

By buying a good quality spade I am still using it to date, in fact I was just looking at it because over the years of digging into stony ground has now rounded the point and it could do
with re pointing.

My spade has done an awful amount of digging over the years, and it has an orange handle too.

Buy quality, look after it and it will last you.  ;)

why do you prefer the wilko is it because its longer and is there much weight difference ?

Wilkos' offer the best price for a half decent stainless spade.  The border spade is narrower than the ordinary full size one so, yes it's lighter. I'd say it's lighter than most of the custom bought detecting spades on the market as well.
Can't remember what the over-all length of my spade was but it was too long for me.  Hence my comment about Johns' labour.  He took off the wooden handle, cut the shaft down and re-fitted it with the one I bought.
You probably wouldn't have to go to that much trouble but you would want to get the head re-shaped and sharpened to cope with the rough grass, roots etc that we dig through.

thanks i will get one this weekend

Well at least if you pick one up you'll get a good idea of weight and length and how it feels to you. Don't recommend one with a T handle though, they're more difficult to carry.

Good luck.

For the last 6 years I've used one of these...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IOA9ZU4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=AQPVMNNS97CC1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IOA9ZU4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=AQPVMNNS97CC1)
like Val's it's been shaped slightly to aid digging it's made of boron steel which makes it very, and I do mean very, light but strong enough to carry a 25 year guarantee (obviously if you grind it the guarantee is voided) unfortunately it's not considered gardening season by the shops so choice and price is a bit limited. ;)

Can't see the weight difference being much of an issue to you  ;D

Me ??? no it wudnt to me but im thinkin of me bird... cause im getting her to do the digging    ha ha ha no jus thinking a lot of hills here so dont want to be overloaded

Tell you what I find useful.  John gave me one of those hook thingies off his workbelt that he never used. It clips on your belt and I hook the spade on it when I have a ciggie. 

Good idea !!! I don't smoke but when finds are few and far between it would save swinging it round and free my hand up for slippery slopes  :D

Need  youre spade to help on slippery slopes to keep your feet !

wouldnt buckle it on lol

i am new as well to detecting but a friend took me out on thursday and he laughed at the spade i brought with me. it was the only one i had. great for mixing concrete but far to wide for detecting so he lent me his spare spade and it was down to B&Q today to buy one like he lent me. .
Also discovered i need to bring waterproofs with me because we were detecting in between showers on thursday in howling winds but at least i found 2 old pennies which made my day as well as rubbish.
 

Well done David, we all have to learn (as I still am)as to what to wear,what to wear for footwear, how many layers to wear! What detector, what type of headphones! What coil ! what pointer !and yes,what spade! I don't think that anyone when they start off in this fascinating hobby, realises what is entailed.
But the main thing is,get out there,get detecting,and even more important enjoy it,and remember, this the Detecting Wales forum is a BRILLIANT platform to gleam virtually all the information you need,all you have to do is ask,and someone will be able to offer good metal detecting advise.
Good Hunting 👍

thanks for the reply. yes theres a lot to learn and i have been reading lots of posts on here but lots of them are double dutch to me right now so its persevere but thankfuly i have a friend that is already giving me advice.