As someone who digs trenches through solid clay and rubble, finding this tool and attachment has made my life so much easier.

A very underrated tool. I went with a good one, a Bosch. I have some basement drainage to engineer for a new bathroom and some concrete work around the yard. This allows concrete demo with precision so you don't have to take a sledge to a lot more floor than you need. I just got the spike bit, I have to get the spade bit for digging. I have some concrete embedded posts to remove. Very useful. Just make sure you service it. Modern tools have a service indicator light that disables the tool until you have it looked at by an authorized repair center. There are benefits of getting a good tool. More engineering for things like shock absorption (VERY important for your joints) and attachments to install a vacuum with a filter to catch particles. More amps and strikes per minute. Internal parts are durable enough to last.

Thanks for the video. I think you have provided the solution. From June to October, my Central Texas soil is as hard as concrete. I have been using the yellow pick/mattock exactly like yours for years.

Just bought this from Harbor Freight and it works perfectly. Easier than I expected. Thanks!

Glad to see I'm not the only one who does that. Started doing it 30 years ago on ground roughs when I was a plumber. Really sped up my progress.

i was looking to remove a post in rocky soil, thanks for mentioning it in your video! very helpful

Saw your other basement video and it was great. I am replacing a concrete footpath and then 150m of retaining walls and have decided that a small demolition hammer will be my tool of choice as I have clay as well. For the 35mm shank you can get a longer clay blade that makes it easier to dig down. I am going to have a go at fabricating a trenching attachment as I also need to install new drainage.

I love this man. You just taught me to overcome my worst landscaping fear.

Great project video. Thank you for the great tip.👍

That is exactly what I need. Thanks for sharing!

Genius man. Thank you, I am digging deep post holes and my auger is struggling.

Hired a pool company to replace all the plumping around my inground pool. Guys shows up with picks, electric hammers with spades, and shovels. When I came home from work those guys had dug down all the way under my pool and 10 feet down around the entire pool. I could not believe how far they had dug down this is in Arizona desert dirt with tons of rocks. Replaced all the plumbing and then they filled dirt back in put new plaster in refilled the pool in about 3 weeks.

I had a similar situation - but used a recip saw with a 12 inch heavy duty pruning blade that I also used to cut tree roots (Diablo 3 TPI) I made cuts in the soil in blocks and then used a regular shovel to lift them out....but this may be easier!

If only I had seen this years back when digging clay in my garden!

Wow, when you stepped off that higher section to the lower section I have to congratulate you for your perseverance. Using a pickaxe makes a person glad they weren't a coal miner back in the day. Thanks for the vid!

I have same HF machine and BOSCH 4” 1/2 chisels from HD. Took only 90 minutes to take all the floor tiles out from my 10X15 Bathroom (including all the wall as well). I am keeping it (lol)

thank you! i have similar hard clay on my property. now i know what to do!

I wondered why the spade was facing you, then seen how you were doing it. Good job. I got a cheap jack hammer to move hard clay in the back yard, worth it's weight in gold.

thats awesome,ty for making this video

Good on ya mate. I’m doing exactly the same thing except my Basement is solid sandstone. I bought a cheap shit jackhammer And I’ve done over 60 ton and it’s still going strong.

I used to do basement underpinning same way jackhammer load some 5 gallon buckets and carry it either to the conveyor if you’re lucky otherwise up an out to the bin. Super hard work lol

Thanks dude. Trying to dig trenches in my yard for sprinklers. Absolute nightmare. I have rock solid clay

Definitely looks like the right tool for the job lol, that must have felt so good to see that dog after fighting the pick axe haha

The was really helpful thanks!

Yep, proved this myself before ever seeing it when redoing structural support for a historical farmhouse that was being partially renovated to have it's own office.

Nice!!! Thanks!!

Orb at 2:21! Did that harbor freight hammer drill last the whole job? If so I’m impressed.

Do you think a rototiller/cultivator would have been able to break that up? I'm debating which I need for virtually the same situation.

Bruh…I’ve been digging a path out for our walkway to the house with a pickaxe and because of our Carolina clay it has been a nightmare. Great workout though lol 😂 I’m gonna have to pick in up for when we do the back patio.

Proof that not all HF tools are garbage. I have the smaller version of that hammer drill and haven't been able to kill it!

Yeeep. Love mine. Ended up with a large jack hammer too 😂😂😂

I had a similar duty hammer drill (with only hammer setting), but I had to rented 20lbs demolition hammer with same SDS shovel attachment to tunnel under a slab. It worked great on more moist clay with more plasticity. Post your finished basement)

@PoppasCottage

2 жыл бұрын

It's posted: kzread.info/dash/bejne/fKl925ehY9TXnKg.html

Useful video👍

Did you ever consider using a Ditchwitch type of trencher to trench rows into the floor up to two or three feet first? Then use the hammerdrill to finish it up.

Damn like butter

Don't forget to add grease to the hammer drill crankcase, about every 20 hours of operation! : - ) Thanks for doing this video. I did something similar, and then later ended up making my own SDS Max spade bit. We're do for an update video on this project/dig, right?

@PoppasCottage

Жыл бұрын

Yes, hoping to do an update vid on the Big Dig vid in the next few months.

@jose2226

11 ай бұрын

Can you add too much? We typically grease before we use every day

holy crap that looks like sooooo much work

wonder how this would do on saw palmettos in FL?

Could this be done in a horizontal application? I bought a house that has probably 4-5" of HARD packed mud on the basement floor from years of being ignored by a prior owner. Not trying to dig a deeper basement but I do want to get rid of what flooded in over the years. Could this tool setup be used to dig horizontally across a floor vs vertically directly down into it?

@PoppasCottage

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, you should be able to turn the shovel bit so it faces up. Best of luck.

Wow, your jackhammer is so much quieter comparing my Makita SDS jackhammer. My is like firing a machine gun in action.

My grandpa dug his whole basement out with a shovel and wheelbarrow then he put the house on stands pound the cement walls and then the floors must have taken him forever

I think this tool may be the answer in removing BAMBOO from my back yard, I've been drilling small holes with a long 1" drill bit but this has promise. I can sharpen a bit with my grinder when it gets dull. The bamboo interweaves and become so thick and tight with roots it's impossible to use a pick and shovel. Thanks!

@rphenixx

Жыл бұрын

I'm thinking of doing the same. Can break/bend regular digging bars with the strength of those interwoven bamboo roots.

@mirozen_

8 ай бұрын

@@rphenixx I need to cut through the roots of a big laurel hedge in extremely rocky soil. I'm so wondering if this tool is the solution for my problem!!!

BLESS YOU. Holy shiiiiiiit. 😂

I an digging out a crawl space under a home addition on a house I bought because the dudes literally built it on the ground. Dug for 4 hours and threw my back out. I’m gonna give this a try if it will keep me from gutting myself

Just what I needed. Would appreciate if you identify the specific spade SDS bit you bought/recommend. Also the model of the hammer drill

@PoppasCottage

3 ай бұрын

This was the Bauer 12.5 amp SDS Max hammer drill from Harbor Freight. There are some less expensive models as well now, but I haven't tried them. The shovel bit is an SDS Max clay spade, 4.5" x 17".

@ramchillarege1658

3 ай бұрын

@@PoppasCottage I went over today to look at them. Picked up the Hercules version of this 12 amp for $200. It weighs in at 15 lb, and hopefully I can handle that.. Also ordered the Bosch spade from Amazon for $50.. It 3 lbs as opposed to the HF version which is 5 lbs.

I want one! Which model is your hammer drill? I see HF has a few models. Thanks for the video!!

@PoppasCottage

3 жыл бұрын

This was a Bauer from Harbor Freight. SDS Max.

@reviewithme9913

3 жыл бұрын

@@PoppasCottage is it the 11 amp or 12.5 amp?

@PoppasCottage

3 жыл бұрын

I have an older model: 10.5 amp. Still kicking, and I loan it out to friends all the time.

@donotrobme9295

3 жыл бұрын

@@PoppasCottage I see hft has Bauer and Hercules now. I fix mains and drains below frost level and only use shovel and picks. Would love to buy one of these ASAP. What What exactly is Amps mean? One Hercules model has less amps and less weight but costs $100 more than the other Hercules. I don’t think I want the jackhammer style like I see for road construction etc, I’d want a hand held like unreal using in the basement here. Any advice would be much appreciated thx

Can we get the specs on that tool? I'm shopping for similar right now, but some are like $2000....and then some $700 and lower if from China etc. I'm just wondering if sticking to a brand name like dewalt (they have a model for $650) if this would be a safer way....or did this one you used hold up fine enough? I'm just scared to spend the money upfront.

@mgr2599

10 ай бұрын

I’d like the brand and specs as well.

@PoppasCottage

9 ай бұрын

I used the Bauer SDS Max hammer drill from Harbor Freight. Looks like they have some other models that are even less now.

Rocks? So a "ozarkian shovel"😁

Do you have a link to the spade bit you purchased?

@PoppasCottage

2 жыл бұрын

It was something like this: www.amazon.com/SPKLINE-SDS-Max-Chipping-Demolition-Hammers/dp/B083LRNH4Z/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=shovel+bit+sds+max&qid=1636577211&sr=8-8. I used a name-brand bit first but the shank broke after a few uses.

What is the name of the tool and the bits you use? Is there a gas power version?

@PoppasCottage

Жыл бұрын

The latest version of this tool is the Bauer SDS-max 11 amp rotary hammer drill, available at Harbor Freight. I just found SDS-max at Harbor Freight and online. Not sure if there's a gas version.

I do underground plumbing in michigan mostly all blue clay and the old guys made fun of me for using my demo hammer with a shovel bit. For about 1 day. Now everyone uses it 😂

that’ll save me from throwing my back out

How can that sand be so tough? It looks super easy to dig in, yet it’s not?

Can I use this to dig my backyard… grass and dirt ?

@PoppasCottage

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, should work well. Just make sure to call the hotline first to ensure you don't hit any buried utilities.

Can i ask you, what name a drill bits you use it?

@PoppasCottage

9 ай бұрын

This is an SDS max spade bit

To your comment, I can vouch that it is good for rocky soil. It is impossible to dig effectively in that type of terrain where I live.

Mag kano ba ang halaga sa gemolion hammer

@PoppasCottage

Жыл бұрын

About $200-300

Can this tool break concrete?

@PoppasCottage

11 ай бұрын

Yeah, there are bits for that

What model it is?

@PoppasCottage

3 жыл бұрын

Looks like this is the newer version: www.harborfreight.com/11-amp-1-916-in-sds-max-type-pro-variable-speed-rotary-hammer-64425.html

Curious why are you digging that in your basement

@PoppasCottage

Жыл бұрын

Here's the big project kzread.info/dash/bejne/fKl925ehY9TXnKg.html

😋