A more better digging bar - much more

bananimal · 04-14-2011, 12:01 PM

Using the Pitangodiego digging bar, as I call it, was driving me crazy. To cut out big pups had to use a ladder and a sledge hammer to cut the pup from the mama.
So I went to my local welder with a sketch and he knocked out this.......

Dig bar with foot assist

Put a small wheel chock behind the bar

Chock wont slip cause base is grooved, and rubber surface that normally contacts tire keeps bar from slipping too!

Whalla - depupping made easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dean W. · 04-14-2011, 12:04 PM

My bananas aren't that big right now and they're still a pain to dig. That looks like it would make easy work of it.

MediaHound · 04-14-2011, 04:20 PM

(clapping) very nice

chasbear · 04-14-2011, 05:06 PM

Wow! That system looks really cool, and its cordless too, right?

raygrogan · 04-14-2011, 05:11 PM

Great inventions - the cool bar and using the chock - long time problem.

kaczercat · 04-14-2011, 05:19 PM

wonderful !!

pitangadiego · 04-15-2011, 08:49 AM

I was too cheap, I just use a piece of 2 x 4 for my chock. The chock does help prying them up when you soil is soft.

john_ny · 04-15-2011, 08:57 AM

In the first picture, is the tip of the blade (the part pointing up, in that picture) sharp? I have a similar bar, (without the foot assist) but the tip is kind of rounded, and I don't think it would be much good for cutting through anything.

momoese · 04-15-2011, 10:21 AM

I'm going to have to weld some square tube onto my bar now! Thanks for the idea

bananimal · 04-15-2011, 10:51 AM

Thanks guys! If you make your own make sure to place the foot bar far enough from the blade, but not too far, to dig deep enough, but not too deep. And you need to weld the gribbit bar at 45 deg for support.

My pic shows the blade tip with rust. When I need to dig I have an 8" Delta grinding wheel to resharpen. You got to go sharp John. Mentioned Delta cause it never broke down in 30 years.

Jon - Go to Harbor Freight and get a rubber wheel chock! Real cheap - lasts a long time!

Chas - no batteries either - just Miller Lite to run the digger.

pitangadiego · 04-15-2011, 01:14 PM

Yes, the point is sharp. You are trying to do two functions with one tool: 1) cut the pup away from the parent corm and 2) pry the pup out of the soil. The sharp edge is for cutting, and the blade and general "beefiness" of the shaft are for prying.

ChuckT · 04-15-2011, 02:24 PM

You've re-invented the tree planting bar, available at any forestry supply

e.g. Musser Forests, Inc. - Product Info

or

Sheldon Hill Forestry Supplies Inc.: OST Tree planting bar

Been using one for 30 years planting Christmas tree seedlings.

bananimal · 04-15-2011, 03:01 PM

Chuck -- If I had seen this OST Planting bar first I might have considered it. Got the idea for the dig bar from Jon when my narrowest irrigation shovel was cutting off way too many roots. The need for my foot assist developed cause the dig bar has no handle and is 6ft long.

My bar is sold/designed for removing bushes or trees. It's the 2" blade that makes the difference in keeping the most roots on the pup. And the 6ft for leverage.

Soon planting trees is coming up for me. Persimmon, peach, mango, jaboticaba and lemon trees. Again the small OST won't work out. Will be using a big shovel to move this Florida muck sand. And the pots run from 15 gal to 30 gal. Where's my energy drinks???

Dan

pitangadiego · 04-15-2011, 08:24 PM

The tree planting bar is not long enough or strong enough for prying. They are meant only to make a hole big enough to slip a small seedling into the soil.

If you have never tried to remove a decent-sized, well-rooted pup, it is hard to understand what it takes.

When you use the chock to help you pry the pup out, you are gaining a lot of leverage, but you also need something that is strong enough to take the force that you develop by pushing down on your "pry bar". 3/4 Galvanized pipe is insufficient. 1" was fairly respectable.

This tool in about 1" solid steel.

bananimal · 04-15-2011, 11:32 PM

Jon ----- Talking about digging out large well rooted pups. Got a Gardenweber neighbor who offered me a Jamaican red and a big Siam Ruby pup. But I had to go over and dig them out myself.

I actually put a slight bend in my 1" solid steel dig bar getting that JR pup out. Soil was very dry and roots were huge. The bar is still serviceable though.

ChuckT · 04-16-2011, 05:46 PM

thnks for the heads up. I've never had to dig out a banana pup, but I do have a digging bar thats 1" steel. If you live in Maryland and garden you have to have one. Our soil here is rocks, and clay, and more rocks, with occasional shale thrown in for flavor.

pitangadiego · 04-16-2011, 09:03 PM

Bananimal, Mine isn't perfectly straight, anymore, either, but I just turn it over the next time and "straighten it out". It is still "the" tool. Used is again today.

Abnshrek · 02-04-2014, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananimal

Using the Pitangodiego digging bar, as I call it, was driving me crazy. To cut out big pups had to use a ladder and a sledge hammer to cut the pup from the mama.
So I went to my local welder with a sketch and he knocked out this.......

Dig bar with foot assist

Whalla - depupping made easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's pretty Awesome Dan.. :^)

JCA433 · 02-05-2014, 06:23 PM

If you dig around here you need a jackhammer or augar! Digging the planting hole can be very very labor intensive even with jackhammer. Recently, my neighbor had an augar available and dug some holes. This favor saves me from the really tough work breaking up the soil and excavating.

bananimal · 02-05-2014, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCA433

If you dig around here you need a jackhammer or augar! Digging the planting hole can be very very labor intensive even with jackhammer. Recently, my neighbor had an augar available and dug some holes. This favor saves me from the really tough work breaking up the soil and excavating.

I guess you live in an area with So FL zone 10 calcareous limestone. Good luck. A quarter stick of TNT will give you a nice hole to fill with good stuff. I've seen the big old trees my cousin has is Homestead and the roots are all surface running. Still great for avocado and mangoes and lychees.

04-14-2011, 12:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
bananimal Member bananimal's Photo Gallery Location: Port St Lucie, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: 10a Name: Dan Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,512 BananaBucks : 570,871 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,688 Times Was Thanked 4,979 Times in 1,509 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	A more better digging bar - much more Using the Pitangodiego digging bar, as I call it, was driving me crazy. To cut out big pups had to use a ladder and a sledge hammer to cut the pup from the mama. So I went to my local welder with a sketch and he knocked out this....... Dig bar with foot assist Put a small wheel chock behind the bar Chock wont slip cause base is grooved, and rubber surface that normally contacts tire keeps bar from slipping too! Whalla - depupping made easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

04-14-2011, 12:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,279 BananaBucks : 239,892 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,325 Times Was Thanked 2,130 Times in 972 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 300 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more My bananas aren't that big right now and they're still a pain to dig. That looks like it would make easy work of it. __________________

04-14-2011, 04:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-Man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,261 BananaBucks : 2,027,945 Feedback: 66 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,856 Times Was Thanked 5,086 Times in 1,353 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,086 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more (clapping) very nice __________________ Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

04-14-2011, 05:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
chasbear Banana Explorer chasbear's Photo Gallery Location: Bukidnon Province, Philippines Find me on the map! Zone: Equatorial Name: Charles Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 189 BananaBucks : 19,070 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 153 Times Was Thanked 210 Times in 65 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 26 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more Wow! That system looks really cool, and its cordless too, right? __________________ Read more about my SOUTH EAST ASIA ADVENTURES Current Conditions at our Provincial Capital:

04-14-2011, 05:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
raygrogan raygrogan's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 250 BananaBucks : 10,467 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 125 Times Was Thanked 314 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 17 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more Great inventions - the cool bar and using the chock - long time problem.

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04-14-2011, 05:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
kaczercat kaczercat's Photo Gallery Location: Southern ON Find me on the map! Zone: 5b 9b Name: Matt Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,874 BananaBucks : 223,492 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,116 Times Was Thanked 2,111 Times in 750 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more wonderful !! __________________ Matt

04-15-2011, 08:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,488 BananaBucks : 132,610 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,729 Times in 929 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more I was too cheap, I just use a piece of 2 x 4 for my chock. The chock does help prying them up when you soil is soft. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

04-15-2011, 08:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
john_ny Member john_ny's Photo Gallery Location: Staten Island, NY - southernmost county in NY State. Find me on the map! Zone: USDA7- Sunset34 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,014 BananaBucks : 618,240 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,057 Times Was Thanked 2,284 Times in 832 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 37 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more In the first picture, is the tip of the blade (the part pointing up, in that picture) sharp? I have a similar bar, (without the foot assist) but the tip is kind of rounded, and I don't think it would be much good for cutting through anything. __________________ John

04-15-2011, 10:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 3,513 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more I'm going to have to weld some square tube onto my bar now! Thanks for the idea

04-15-2011, 10:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
bananimal Member bananimal's Photo Gallery Location: Port St Lucie, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: 10a Name: Dan Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,512 BananaBucks : 570,871 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,688 Times Was Thanked 4,979 Times in 1,509 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more Thanks guys! If you make your own make sure to place the foot bar far enough from the blade, but not too far, to dig deep enough, but not too deep. And you need to weld the gribbit bar at 45 deg for support. My pic shows the blade tip with rust. When I need to dig I have an 8" Delta grinding wheel to resharpen. You got to go sharp John. Mentioned Delta cause it never broke down in 30 years. Jon - Go to Harbor Freight and get a rubber wheel chock! Real cheap - lasts a long time! Chas - no batteries either - just Miller Lite to run the digger.

04-15-2011, 01:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,488 BananaBucks : 132,610 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,729 Times in 929 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more Yes, the point is sharp. You are trying to do two functions with one tool: 1) cut the pup away from the parent corm and 2) pry the pup out of the soil. The sharp edge is for cutting, and the blade and general "beefiness" of the shaft are for prying. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

04-15-2011, 02:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
ChuckT ChuckT's Photo Gallery Location: Maryland USA Zone: 6B Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 36 BananaBucks : 12,669 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 38 Times in 15 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more You've re-invented the tree planting bar, available at any forestry supply e.g. Musser Forests, Inc. - Product Info or Sheldon Hill Forestry Supplies Inc.: OST Tree planting bar Been using one for 30 years planting Christmas tree seedlings.

04-15-2011, 03:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
bananimal Member bananimal's Photo Gallery Location: Port St Lucie, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: 10a Name: Dan Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,512 BananaBucks : 570,871 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,688 Times Was Thanked 4,979 Times in 1,509 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more Chuck -- If I had seen this OST Planting bar first I might have considered it. Got the idea for the dig bar from Jon when my narrowest irrigation shovel was cutting off way too many roots. The need for my foot assist developed cause the dig bar has no handle and is 6ft long. My bar is sold/designed for removing bushes or trees. It's the 2" blade that makes the difference in keeping the most roots on the pup. And the 6ft for leverage. Soon planting trees is coming up for me. Persimmon, peach, mango, jaboticaba and lemon trees. Again the small OST won't work out. Will be using a big shovel to move this Florida muck sand. And the pots run from 15 gal to 30 gal. Where's my energy drinks??? Dan

04-15-2011, 08:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,488 BananaBucks : 132,610 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,729 Times in 929 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more The tree planting bar is not long enough or strong enough for prying. They are meant only to make a hole big enough to slip a small seedling into the soil. If you have never tried to remove a decent-sized, well-rooted pup, it is hard to understand what it takes. When you use the chock to help you pry the pup out, you are gaining a lot of leverage, but you also need something that is strong enough to take the force that you develop by pushing down on your "pry bar". 3/4 Galvanized pipe is insufficient. 1" was fairly respectable. This tool in about 1" solid steel. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

04-15-2011, 11:32 PM	#15 (permalink)
bananimal Member bananimal's Photo Gallery Location: Port St Lucie, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: 10a Name: Dan Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,512 BananaBucks : 570,871 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,688 Times Was Thanked 4,979 Times in 1,509 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more Jon ----- Talking about digging out large well rooted pups. Got a Gardenweber neighbor who offered me a Jamaican red and a big Siam Ruby pup. But I had to go over and dig them out myself. I actually put a slight bend in my 1" solid steel dig bar getting that JR pup out. Soil was very dry and roots were huge. The bar is still serviceable though.

04-16-2011, 05:46 PM	#16 (permalink)
ChuckT ChuckT's Photo Gallery Location: Maryland USA Zone: 6B Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 36 BananaBucks : 12,669 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 38 Times in 15 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more thnks for the heads up. I've never had to dig out a banana pup, but I do have a digging bar thats 1" steel. If you live in Maryland and garden you have to have one. Our soil here is rocks, and clay, and more rocks, with occasional shale thrown in for flavor.

04-16-2011, 09:03 PM	#17 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,488 BananaBucks : 132,610 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,729 Times in 929 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more Bananimal, Mine isn't perfectly straight, anymore, either, but I just turn it over the next time and "straighten it out". It is still "the" tool. Used is again today. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

02-05-2014, 06:23 PM	#19 (permalink)
JCA433 Location: Homestead, Florida Zone: Zone 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 330 BananaBucks : 85,813 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 162 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: A more better digging bar - much more If you dig around here you need a jackhammer or augar! Digging the planting hole can be very very labor intensive even with jackhammer. Recently, my neighbor had an augar available and dug some holes. This favor saves me from the really tough work breaking up the soil and excavating.

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