Get a proper gripping spade it will make life really easy. Plus you cannot break them unlike the shoddy spades you find at most garden outlets.

<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Shevek</cite>What's a gripping spade?</blockquote>

A gripping spade is used to dig a drainage trench in clay. Regional variations exist but the newcastle is pretty standard. Blade is narrow only 3-4 inches wide but 18 inch to 2ft long. Bulldog leaflet below shows range.

http://www.bulldogtools.co.uk/products/construction/spades/

Bulldog are not cheap but then they do last longer than a lifetime. One of my spades belonged to my grandfather and is still in daily use.

Posted By: bot de pailleTry to be careful, people getting buried by collapsing deep foundation holes and trenches are one of the safety risks on a building site. Not to be taken lightly.

Thanks, and heeded. I sound a bit casual having some mates round to dig a hole but we'll also have builder of 40-50 years experience on board as well (my old man). We're digging one at a time and shoring up.

Personaly I always found a pick axe most useful for digging out clay, then use the spade to throw the clay out the hole.

True, I made good use of a mattock when I was digging trial pits.

Posted By: renewablejohnhttp://www.bulldogtools.co.uk/products/construction/spades/" rel="nofollow" >http://www.bulldogtools.co.uk/products/construction/spades/

Seems Bulldog's where's it's at.

If the hole is that small there will only be room for one man at a time (* two holes obviously). Best plan other jobs for those waiting for their turn to go down the mine so they don't drink all the beer :-)

EDIT: Just noticed your wrote "We're digging one at a time and shoring up." So may only be one man digging at a time after the first few feet if you are using spades?

I think your biggest problem is getting it out of the hole. Last time I dug clay we bagged it in the hole and carried it to the disposal point. You'll be removing nearly 6 m3 of clay which will increase in volume to about 8 m3. Moving that lot should keep your lucky lads busy.

'An Officer and a Gentleman'?

Surely a power tool, not mattock, to break the clay up, then shovel it out?

Posted By: marktimeI think your biggest problem is getting it out of the hole. Last time I dug clay we bagged it in the hole and carried it to the disposal point. You'll be removing nearly 6 m3 of clay which will increase in volume to about 8 m3. Moving that lot should keep your lucky lads busy.

I was thinking bucket and rope bug sack's probably easier

Posted By: joe90Wet clay can be cut like cheese. see :-
http://www.screwfix.com/p/spear-jackson-cable-laying-all-steel-shovel/23950#rating_link_anchor" rel="nofollow" >http://www.screwfix.com/p/spear-jackson-cable-laying-all-steel-shovel/23950#rating_link_anchor

from a review:-
"Using this spade to dig trenches in narrow places and to remove clay in thick slices.
It feels strong to use and does not give any signs of bending....it's from the "neverbend" range by Spear and Jackson although this is not obvious from the product write up.

Thanks for this one. Sounds good. Bit jarring on the hands perhaps but better than breaking.

Shevek, It really depends on whether the clay has any stones in it and how wet it is, if not then it wont be jarring because you get nowhere hitting soft clay you have to cut it like cheese, a bit like cutting peat, in some ways this is eisier than ordinary subsoil. Let us know how you get on.

We might have to go the mini digger route.

Just had a look at the weather and it's still low, going to be -5º over night in North London. Organising the rabble around the weather will be difficult.

Been busting my ass to make sure everything's in place to get going on 23rd only to be thwarted by the weather!

<blockquote><cite>Posted By: joe90</cite>How deep will a mini digger go?</blockquote>

depends whether it falls into the hole.

My 3 tonne digger will easily dig 2.5 mtrs but it is advisable to use a bog mat at the edge of the hole otherwise you end up with the digger falling into the hole you have just dug as the side collapses.

So based on weather, possible delay to party wall award, hassle of re-organising everyone for a different date, and H&S risks we're considering a mini digger now.

How can you tell how deep they'll dig? This one for instance, couple of metres?
http://www.erento.co.uk/hire/construction-machines-building-site/plant/mini-digger/7147400627.html

<blockquote><cite>Posted By: willie.macleod</cite><blockquote>get your friends to barrow the concrete from the wagon to the hole if they want to help but make the digger do the digging work.</blockquote>
Good point. Our cheapest (by far) concrete quote comes from local concrete supplier just around corner but they don't have pumps.

Posted By: joe90Just ask whoever you are hiring the digger from how deep it will dig!

That's novel

Yeah access is a problem. We only have a narrow path available down the side of our terrace neighbour.