Pick Adapter for Water Line Trenches
by Thinkenstein in Workshop > Tools
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Pick Adapter for Water Line Trenches
At times I have had to dig long, narrow trenches for water lines. The pointed end of a pick is a good tool for that, but the pick doesn't remove the dirt as it breaks it up. I solved that problem by making a chisel shaped adapter that fits on the pointed end of the pick. Besides letting me remove the dirt as I dig with it, it also extends the tip of the pick to let me dig deeper trenches.
The adapter is a piece of 3/4" diameter EMT galvanized electrical conduit pipe. It is easy to forge it into shape with a hammer and anvil (or suitable anvil substitute).
The wide blade end of the pick digs a trench that is wider than necessary for laying 1/2" pipe, so it wastes a lot of energy to do the job. This pick extender makes digging narrow trenches a lot easier.
Forging the Tip Extender
Cut a section of 3/4" EMT electrical conduit pipe about 5" long.
Stick the pointed end of the pick into one end of the pipe and hammer the pipe down to make a tight fit over it. You can tap it off with a hammer if it gets stuck on the end of the pick -- which it should.
Turn the pipe section around and flatten the other end.
Weld the pinched end and sharpen it with a file or grinding wheel. If you have no welding equipment, you can probably use it as it is, if your ground is not too hard.
Stick the pointed end of the pick into one end of the pipe and hammer the pipe down to make a tight fit over it. You can tap it off with a hammer if it gets stuck on the end of the pick -- which it should.
Turn the pipe section around and flatten the other end.
Weld the pinched end and sharpen it with a file or grinding wheel. If you have no welding equipment, you can probably use it as it is, if your ground is not too hard.