FS: Titanium Cathole Trowels are Back – Improved: 2 Sizes, “Original” 0.4 oz or “Big Dig” 0.6 oz

As a card carrying member of the Trowel troop, (And proudly in possession of the first , signed one….) I can say that these are featherweight, durable and indispensible. You won't be disappointed…. Get one!

I just sent payment for a big dig. Very excited. :D

ordered a small

Appreciate Ed's kind endorsement. Every one of my trowels is made by my hands, one at a time, with loving care. They are all collectors items, but Ed has the very rare first one ever sold. I'm sure he keeps it in a safe deposit box whenever he's not actually using it.

This time around, I've gotten 12 orders so far, with Big Dig requests ahead of The Original by 3:1.

Looks like this will be a trowel-making weekend. Will try to get as many orders out Monday as I can.

Hopefully my tools will last through the marathon. (titanium is very hard, and hard to work with – it actually dulls and chips the blades of even very high quality tools).

in for a big dig!

Hi Robert

Several comments.

I will move this thread to Gear Deals, as Gear SWAP is not the right place for it now. Good Luck!

I found that having a bit more of a point on the trowel made it dig better. See
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/myog_ti_trowel.html
for more details. The design you show looks too blunt at the tip to me.

> titanium is very hard, and hard to work with – it actually dulls and chips the blades of even
> very high quality tools).
Well, not really. It machines like stainless steel – which I admit can be a bit difficult at times, but it does machine, and does not wear tools that fast if done correctly. If you want to contact me direct we can discuss how I handle it.

Cheers
roger@backpackinglight.com

Roger –

Thanks for your support and advice. The main tool that's getting damaged over time is the metal snipper I use to cut the titanium sheeting. It is definitely not as sharp as it used to be and has a small chip along one edge, all due to working with titanium. Not enough to need replacement yet, but I think it may eventually.

I agree that a pointed shape digs better, but a blunter shape makes it faster to remove loosened soil as the hole is dug. I've been using an early prototype for about 3 years now (about half-way in size between the Original and the Big Dig) and it has worked fine for me in the East, with a few trips out West as well.

Happy to have you move the post to Gear Deals if that's a more appropriate place for it. I don't anticipate starting a Trowel Guy cottage industry, just maybe making a few once or twice a year to help fund my gear habit. Be well.

BTW – I love your reviews – very thoughtful and well written.

Hi Robert. I have one of the trowels from your first batch. Works great. Just used it yesterday in fact.

Just paid up for one of the original size hole diggers!

Cheers!

Hi Robert

> The main tool that's getting damaged over time is the metal snipper I use to cut the titanium
> sheeting. It is definitely not as sharp as it used to be and has a small chip along one edge

OK, understood.
I am going to suggest that any snips which are damaged and worn like that by cutting thin Ti sheet are not good enough. My snips do not get damaged at all, and they stay sharp.
There's consumer grade, and there's industrial/production grade tooling. Your local hardware store probably stocks only consumer grade, because that's where the market is for them. If you want to make more trowels (a good idea!), buy some serious production-grade snips. You won't regret it.

Cheers

Jacob – Thanks for your feedback. It's good to know that my trowels are being put to good use. I forgot to mention that (in keeping with the tradition of the first batch) everyone who orders a trowel will get a copy of the "Advanced Cathole Users Manual" shipped to them with their trowel.

Can't wait to give it a go!

I dig the big dig
Just ordered one
Good luck

I'm in for a Big Dig

"Can't wait to give it a go!"

Pun intended?

:)

Looks great. Can't wait to test it out.

The response has been a little much (good problem to have), but I guess that's how a cottage "industry" can begin. Thanks to everyone for their support and suggestions.

The trouble with my trowels is that they are likely to last a lifetime, unless they are lost (I've done that once, myself, so it can happen). So I don't expect that I will get rich quick with trowels, just maybe help fund a gear habit and defray some trip expenses. I could do worse, for sure.

CAN YOU DIG IT ?

I think I am going to have to break down and get a Big Dig. Great to see another Northeast Ohioan around here. Buy local! Sending payment soon.

A great addition to the colelction. Thanks,

Sent payment for a big dig. :)

One for the big dig as well! Thanks!

Pmt sent.
Thanks

Payment sent :) Thanks! Going in the gear kit for my PCT thru this summer.

6/16/11 Update:

Do not fret. I have plenty of trowels and titanium to make more. But the sooner you order the sooner that itch will go away . . .