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Gold Prospecting
Do It Yourself (DIY) Projects
DIY Plug Digga Spade plans with stick on template and instructions
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<blockquote data-quote="Greenhornet_au" data-source="post: 299445" data-attributes="member: 8767"><p>Looks great, </p><p></p><p>Did you use the template I put up ?</p><p></p><p>I would have left more metal under the 'treads' to support them, but I weigh 113kg LOL</p><p></p><p>Just slip the template down a bit, the spade will be a little wider under the treads and more supporting metal too.</p><p></p><p>Did you grind a cutting edge on the front, cant really tell from my view of the finished product.</p><p></p><p>As you have found Spades are hardened already, drill bits dont like them, so no I have never tempered them</p><p>too cheap to go thru all that anyway.</p><p></p><p>I only use cordless tools to do this work, so mobile without cords.</p><p></p><p>Finally, how long did it take you, roughly ? And did you enjoy the process ?</p><p></p><p>Got a trick for you with the drills, buy some cheap masonary drill bits and grind the same 'cutting edge' onto them as a standard HSS bit.</p><p>Engineering shops have done this for years to drill hardened steels.</p><p>The tungsten tips will hold up well if a good cutting edge is ground onto them.</p><p>Run them a little slower than the HSS bits, dont try to 'punch' them thru, not too much push on these bits while drilling/cutting.</p><p></p><p>I got this trick from a mate that used to make and service 'press dies' for Simpson Pope.</p><p></p><p>Good job Scott.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Greenhornet_au, post: 299445, member: 8767"] Looks great, Did you use the template I put up ? I would have left more metal under the 'treads' to support them, but I weigh 113kg LOL Just slip the template down a bit, the spade will be a little wider under the treads and more supporting metal too. Did you grind a cutting edge on the front, cant really tell from my view of the finished product. As you have found Spades are hardened already, drill bits dont like them, so no I have never tempered them too cheap to go thru all that anyway. I only use cordless tools to do this work, so mobile without cords. Finally, how long did it take you, roughly ? And did you enjoy the process ? Got a trick for you with the drills, buy some cheap masonary drill bits and grind the same 'cutting edge' onto them as a standard HSS bit. Engineering shops have done this for years to drill hardened steels. The tungsten tips will hold up well if a good cutting edge is ground onto them. Run them a little slower than the HSS bits, dont try to 'punch' them thru, not too much push on these bits while drilling/cutting. I got this trick from a mate that used to make and service 'press dies' for Simpson Pope. Good job Scott. [/QUOTE]
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Gold Prospecting
Do It Yourself (DIY) Projects
DIY Plug Digga Spade plans with stick on template and instructions
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