Got a picture?

The legal defense banquet is a week away and I saved one for each of my nephews. Very unlikely they will appreciate them so maybe I better dig one out.

Is having a sharp end important for checking ice safety or is it only important if using it to chop through ice?

A sharp one is better if you want to know how thick the ice actually is and not just "safe" to walk on.
If you are on thick ice and want to find the beaver runs a hollow aluminum pike pole with a feed hook on one end is best.

A piece of Leaf spring off a truck makes the best spud. I made a bunch here, Most make their own, and spring steal ones are are quite popular here.

I might attempt a version this spring in the shop

SlydogX find someone in the mining community and the drilling shafts make excellent diggers. They are threaded so you take them apart to get into your toboggan and the diamond drill tips really cut with their shape. Wrap with sideline fish rope and the shock effect is reduced. When it goes through a fish hook will catch the rope for the recovery. The steel in the flex- drilling rods of the oil fields are not very good.They are too wonky when you start to cut.

If your going to a old spring steel, take them to a high school and with a plasma cutter the students will practice the cuts like in 160users spuds shapes. You need semi's springs for the width of his.

Sure glad you are planning Jurrasic......can you carry a Inreach spot so we can all watch you on Tman.

With 3 feet of ice the 8-9' threaded together chisels do come in handy putting the hole in with the overhead swinging.

I've made several and I like them heaver that most folks for pushing ice plugs from dive holes. I made a few with handles of 5/8 rebar worked ok if shorter. Bounces and vibrates some in longer handle so up the bar size to 3/4 or 1 inch depending on what I could scavenge.. I like a piece of old leaf spring if can get it for blade. One I have right now has just plain steel works ok if you don't get into wood or sand in ice. does need to be constantly touched up to stay sharp. The ones I'm using right now have a funny end maybe can take some pic. it's not as aggressive as the 160 end. Which I will say I like the look of. Ends like that keep the blade from walking side ways if ya don't hit perfect straight every time.

Have used and carried a spud for years. I have learned a way to lace the strap to your hand that makes for a solid carry and chopping. Yet lets you ditch the spud in seconds god forbid ya fall threw ice. Putting any strap/rope loop around or over your wrist working around water or on ice for me is a no no. Maybe I can get the kid to help me and make a little video of the strap wrap?? Pretty simple really.

Mac

Hexagon stock is a good start.

You're luc and y to own one Patfundine

The “bling” on it was priceless too!

Somewhere in the world there are 2 miniature spuds that are close replicas of 160s. I believe he has one. I made them with leaf springs from a golf cart, as a joke. Some lucky trapper purchased one at a benefit auction in Barnum.

I have one of a similar design that works well for me. I won it in a raffle. A friend's dad made it in the RR shops where he worked. Heavy, but it sure goes through the ice. If I hit the ice hard ahead of me with this and it does not go through, then I can walk safely on it.

One of the miniatures is in my living room along side of a mini pack basket and some #0 traps.

patfundine

Did you plasma cut them wicked cutters or mill them? Reading this got me all interested in maybe making a new spud for my self. Even though I don't use a spud much.. Thing is I got a brother in-law teaches high school shop..now called Tec-ed. He always looking for things for the kids to do and has many that like the outdoor type things the can use. Anyway I'm thinking making one them cutter heads would be a good milling project for some kid. Of course he could have the kids make a couple one for me too. I'm sure he has kids that would occasionally use a spud. I'm not sure if he has a forge in his class room. If he does I could see him having the kids harden the steel too.. he is the kind of shop teacher I wish I'd have had.

Mac

One eyed trapper that is a chisel. Great ice chopper indeed

They were done with a plasma cutter. The double inside bevel is far harder than everyone thinks!

I didn't have the luxury of a plasma cutter, when I built the two I made. I will say that grinding the cutting edge on those really sucked. I do have access to a plasma cutter now, I don't think I have access to a plug in big enough for it though.

Why not make 3 small needle bar points and weld them together for a head like that.Might be easier-I don't know though.I'll ask my welder.