Recommendations for clean cut spade

[nexstarneil]

IMG_20221022_144246.jpg

Black Ada Spartan stainless is superb.

[ManOnTheMoon]

Manonthemoon there's some good looking spades there

Yes, the Burgon & Ball collection includes several affordable spades that would likely do the trick for many detectorists, and detectorists on this Forum clearly do use them!

Black Ada Spartan stainless is superb.

I'm sure it is, but it is also good to see that the opportunity exists for detectorists to find suitable means within their budgets, be it from a hobby-specific source or not! Then everyone can enjoy, and be happy!

[rockfish]

Thank you all, Burgon & Ball look mint and theres a local farm supplier who stock them. The Burgon & Ball Widger looks like a useful tool.

[ManOnTheMoon]

Thank you all, Burgon & Ball look mint and theres a local farm supplier who stock them. The Burgon & Ball Widger looks like a useful tool.

For anyone else interested in rockfish's observation, here it is:

Burgon & Ball Widger

[Mattjb]

I use one of these with 4” chopped of the blade.I’ve cut a v on the bottom as my permissions are stoney. Strong ,light, mine has had plenty of abuse and still going strong. If you don’t like the yellow handle you can duct tape it.
Can’t see why people spend a fortune on some of these detecting spades!

[ManOnTheMoon]

The link to Ebay for Mattjb's "Drainage Drain Spade" recommendation.

[Ollie K]

I use one of these with 4” chopped of the blade.I’ve cut a v on the bottom as my permissions are stoney. Strong ,light, mine has had plenty of abuse and still going strong. If you don’t like the yellow handle you can duct tape it.
Can’t see why people spend a fortune on some of these detecting spades!

Thanks for recommending this- seems like a bargain! I'm happy to take the angle grinder to it for 15 notes!

[Mattjb]

[dondo]

Burgon & Ball border spade - straight off the shelf.

No angle grinding.

No ridges or "teeth".

Its a spade.

I couldn't agree more, after years o cutting welding and fabricating spades from scratch, i settled on a border spade, for me the spade has to be full size.

[Verulamium]

Been using the BA Sodbuster for around 12 years….can’t recommend it highly enough

[PortseaRaker]

just relating my experience of using this brand of spade. They are a quality well made spade but the first time I used their product , it bent sideways. I stopped using it straight away to prevent the damage getting worse. So when I took it back to the retailer one of the old timer employees was very friendly and talkative and they told me that in the last few years quite a lot of these type of products from different brands have been returned in similar circumstances. They said that the issue is that manafacturers are afraid to have the tools as sharp now as they used be in the past.
Anyway the retailer gave me a full refund, and I purchased an old spade from an allotment shop and brought it to an engineering works where they made it as sharp as a razer and made a protective cover for it as well.
Money wise it worked out the same price as the new spade and no buckling or bending.
Hoping that this gives you an alternative option

[f8met]

I used to use black Adas but gave up when 2 of them bent. My ground is clay based so can be heavy going in the summer but when they go you can't stop them and they go on to split. I now use the roughneck / draper micro shovel. Only £13 from Wickes and was always sceptical but although I have split one, my latest one has lasted me for 5 or 6 years. Looks like the design is a little better now as well. The are short but ideal if you are kneeling to enlarge the hole.

As a side note to the original post, I find wet clay sticks to everything no matter which spade you use.

[DannoSE23]

After trying various sharpened border spades,micro spades even a drainage spade as well as testing a few mates spades …I finally settled for an evolution pro cut. By far the best spade I’ve ever used. Sharpened the end on the grinder…. Cuts into the Suffolk clay with ease in summer and doesn’t clogg up in the winter wet. Cuts a great plug most the time… depending on ground. Well balanced and not heavy. Never had back ache from it. 2 of my detecting buds have got them as well after trying mine..and say the same as me.

[KevinB]

After trying various sharpened border spades,micro spades even a drainage spade as well as testing a few mates spades …I finally settled for an evolution pro cut. By far the best spade I’ve ever used. Sharpened the end on the grinder…. Cuts into the Suffolk clay with ease in summer and doesn’t clogg up in the winter wet. Cuts a great plug most the time… depending on ground. Well balanced and not heavy. Never had back ache from it. 2 of my detecting buds have got them as well after trying mine..and say the same as me.

I make you right... My Evolution Pro Cut SE is "the business".........