Do You Sharpen your Digger?

[Idaho PRB]

I just won a new Minelab Digger from the contest and was admiring it last night. All I have ever used before this was a garden spade that I bought at Lowe's. I have always sharpened the spades I use and find that they work so much better and are less work to use when sharp. The Minelab Digger is not as dull as the spades I have had and has a nice slick coating ,like powder coating on it, which makes me reluctant to sharpen it as i would be exposing uncoated metal. How many of you use them as they are (Lesche, Minelab or similar) and how many like to sharpen the cutting edge (not the point).

 

[wvrick]

I don't

 

[McDean]

I've sharpened/ modified most of my diggers, but I've never had a dedicated namebrand detecting digger... if it were me, I would take to the field a few times and see how it performs out of the box. You could always sharpen it later...

HH

 

[psyvad]

I've had the same Lesche digger for several years and sharpen the edges with a metal file every few times out -- really makes a difference.

 

[NebTrac]

I've used files and sometimes a 4

 

[Idaho PRB]

Thanks everyone I just decided to go ahead and sharpen it. I have really enjoyed how nicely my other tools have worked for me when their sharp. I plan on another hunt tomorrow at another sidewalk strip (weather permitting) and I'll report back on the first trip with my new Minelab Digger.

 

[coolhandluke]

Not yet. I've barely stared to wear the paint off of the edges.

 

[detectorfreak74]

file it down like a big shovel only file one side ( the back side )

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Yes - I grind a needle sharp point on my Lesche digger for Winting hunting - this makes it a lot easier to get through the frozen ground !
But you must dig wide - if the tip hits a good find - it will ruin it for sure.