Mole Spades

[Matt 160]

What does everyone use?

 

I've got some ancient mole spuds here, but they cost too much to risk for day to day work.

 

For the last few years I've been using a 'junior' spade, which is very well made from Stainless Steel, but is a little short.

 

I've also got one of the new spades from Cheftain Forge here, which I don't much like. When I contacted Cheftain Forge to discuss it they've made me something that is much better.

 

So what does everyone else use? I have to admit that about half the runs that I open up I just use my hands. I tend to find that I damage the runs much less lifting the turf off the top rather than digging into them.

[micckey 106]

There is loads of spade you could use for moles ,,, Try metal detecting spades ... all stainles or other metals sold in many sizes ..

[tegater 789]

Being one of the dreaded amateur catchers running only 20-30 traps at a time I use either a trowel and/or a small glock spade.

 

I expect that this wouldn't work that well large scale but its ok for what I need.

It would be interesting to see some pics of some of the tools people are talking about.

[TOMO 24,843]

Even when I have had a hundred traps running,,, I don't like spades,, I youse a trowel,,,, and ile be honest now, after I have probed and found wich direction the tunnel is running,, I stick my big finger through the hole enlarge it, then tare it up with my hands,,, of course this is not possible all the time,, but for the most part it's hands and trowel

[Le Braconnier 49]

As another dreaded hobbiest I had a spade cut down from an old border spade. It is exactly the width of a Duffus trap but has a full sized handle. A bit heavy to carry a long way, but that's what the Chinese tractor is for.

[Butler 396]

I use a small bulldog spade but before that it was a home made job.

[moxy 617]

I have a standard spade which I cut and fettled with a grinder to the width of a Barrel trap

[d6k 11]

I use a Big knife, picked it up from a car boot works really well here's a video of it in action.

 

[Matt 160]

Nice video D6k

[smiles40 24]

I have a standard spade which I cut and fettled with a grinder to the width of a Barrel trap

exactly what i did

[earth-thrower 490]

What does everyone use?

 

I've got some ancient mole spuds here, but they cost too much to risk for day to day work.

 

For the last few years I've been using a 'junior' spade, which is very well made from Stainless Steel, but is a little short.

 

I've also got one of the new spades from Cheftain Forge here, which I don't much like. When I contacted Cheftain Forge to discuss it they've made me something that is much better.

 

So what does everyone else use? I have to admit that about half the runs that I open up I just use my hands. I tend to find that I damage the runs much less lifting the turf off the top rather than digging into them.

Interesting post Matt,like yourself i discovered the mole spade made by chieftain forge.Liked the look of it from the photo,took a chance and sent for one.Was a bit disappointed with it though,its far too heavy duty for the job.(especially if your still a foot soldier ,like myself LOL) Its good your getting one customed.I think the guy once repaired some original 'molespuds', a moleman brought to him.He based his design on these.

[leegreen 2,099]

Bricky trowel, hands and sometimes a old bread knife if on nice turf.

[earth-thrower 490]

What does everyone use?

 

I've got some ancient mole spuds here, but they cost too much to risk for day to day work.

 

For the last few years I've been using a 'junior' spade, which is very well made from Stainless Steel, but is a little short.

 

I've also got one of the new spades from Cheftain Forge here, which I don't much like. When I contacted Cheftain Forge to discuss it they've made me something that is much better.

 

So what does everyone else use? I have to admit that about half the runs that I open up I just use my hands. I tend to find that I damage the runs much less lifting the turf off the top rather than digging into them.

Interesting post Matt,like yourself i discovered the mole spade made by chieftain forge.Liked the look of it from the photo,took a chance and sent for one.Was a bit disappointed with it though,its far too heavy duty for the job.(especially if your still a foot soldier ,like myself LOL) Its good your getting one customed.I think the guy once repaired some original 'molespuds', a moleman brought to him.He based his design on these.

Forgot to ask,the 'junior' spade you acquired ,was it the one from 'Joseph Bentley ' by any chance ?

[Matt 160]

Forgot to ask,the 'junior' spade you acquired ,was it the one from 'Joseph Bentley ' by any chance ?

 

[moley 115]

got to say , if you boys are trapping with loads of traps in wet weather , you gonna have a hell of a job with trowels and knives, they soon get clogged up and hard to grip,a t handled mole spade can be hard enuff to work with