[Womble1]

Hi all,
        Anyone have any opinion on the Back Saver Spades ie are they worth the money & do they actually work. I have seen the video demo on their site what I did notice was that he only digs a small spit at a time, does this confirm my thoughts that the spade may not be as heavy duty as it is made out to be.
                                                                               Dave.

[Aunt Sally]

One of my plot neighbours has one and I must say it is brilliant. 

You do dig a small spit at a time and it makes it like cutting through butter.  I've had a go and it really is easy and efficient.  I'd buy one if I didn't own a fully working Worzel 

[mumofstig]

I'd buy one if I didn't own a fully working Worzel 

[richyrich7]

There the old wolf terrex auto spade. I used to have one brilliant till I snapped the spring arm    I'd have another one if I didn't have a rotavator 

[MoreWhisky]

Just had a look at the video for the wolf one Richy. Intresting tool if it works as good as it makes out. How long did the spring last?

Shame about the £107 price tag to.

[richyrich7]

Well my uncle had it for years then I had it for a good 5-8 yrs on top of that. And to be honest it was my own fault abusing it trying to dig too big a s-od in one go  that bust it.
My uncle insisted he could dig his whole plot within a day easy with it. It's just getting used to the action of digging with it etc.

[Womble1]

Thanks for the info might just give one a go.
                                                                      Dave.

[richyrich7]

Just remember don't try to take big clods in one go 6" each time is ample, but then when I dig I usually go for about 6" anyhow, these days learnt my lesson the hard way broken spades and bad backs 

If you digging into uncultivated soi, I would advise you to dig a trench with a conventional spade 1st then after that use the backsaver so you can work into that. 

[oldbean]

If you digging into uncultivated soi, I would advise you to dig a trench with a conventional spade 1st then after that use the backsaver so you can work into that. 

I'd advise you to read Bob Flowerdew's books and other authors on "no dig" methods and save yourself LOADS of work.