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can anyone recommend a pick axe / mattock?

AHRAHR Posts: 361
edited May 2020 in Tools and techniques
iv cut done a long laurel hedge and I need a pick axe / mattock to dig up the stumps. Iv never used one before and there seem to be so many different ones for sale. Wooden or fibreglass? What weight? 

Thanks

Posts

  • AHRAHR Posts: 361
    edited May 2020
    .
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    I've used a mattock, axe and spade to remove laurel stumps, though not such big ones as you have.  It took a long time and a lot of effort* - you've left a couple of feet of trunk, which is useful once you've managed to cut through some of the roots and can pull and push the trunk to loosen it.  If you dig round the stump with a spade you can unearth roots which you can cut through with the "axe" side of the mattock (or an actual axe).  You can then use the mattock as a lever.

    I don't have any experience of stump killer but I'm sure someone on here has...

    *but I'm under 5ft tall, female, and not in the first flush of youth...   :D  ...you may well find it easier than I did!
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Sorry, I was sure when I started to answer this there were pictures, and an additional question about stump killer...

    My mattock has a wooden handle but I don't know the make.  It came from a hardware store.  Smooth handle is important.  One side of the blade is like an axe, the other bit is at right angles to it, is maybe 4" wide and good as a lever.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I've just bought a mini mattock/pickaxe from Screwfix and am pleased with it. They did sell the full size version as well. Reasonable prices.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Fred in the Shed always talks sense, even if he can’t spell complement!

    http://www.fredshed.co.uk/alternativediggingtools.htm
    Rutland, England
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    I prefer the fibreglass shaft as it seems to absorb the impact better.
  • OmoriOmori Posts: 1,674
    I have this one which has thus far served me well:

    Roughneck ROU64152 Fibreglass Pick Mattock (2.27kg head) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003CT4DAO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CV6UEbZ18GP8T
  • AHRAHR Posts: 361
    Thanks for all of your replies. I have just ordered one similar to yours omori (the one you have is currently out of stock everywhere I looked). liriodendron after I wrote it I decided against the stump kill hence why it changed. I think the axe is the better option. 

    Thanks again 👍
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