Texas Pneumatic Clay & Trench Diggers
The TX30CD digs clay, shale, hard pan and frozen ground with the ruggedness of a paving breaker and a spade instead of a point. Two chuck sizes, and clay spades and asphalt cutters are available.
The short version
A clay digger is a 30 lb class pneumatic hammer set up to move dirt rather than break concrete: same rugged construction as a paving breaker, but fitted with a spade so it cuts and lifts clay, shale, hard pan and frozen ground. It is the tool for hand-digging around utilities where a machine cannot go or is not allowed. Texas Pneumatic builds one, the TX30CD, in 7/8 x 3-1/4 or 1 x 4-1/4 chuck. Clay spades and asphalt cutters are available — call for the steel that fits your work. Comparing brands? See the all-brands clay and trench diggers category. Breaking concrete instead: paving breakers. Backfilling afterwards: backfill tampers.
TX30CD clay digger
Texas Pneumatic TX30CD Clay Digger
Built on the same rugged 30 lb platform as the TX30 paving breaker, so parts, handling and service are familiar. Pick the chuck that matches the spades and cutters you already own — the price is the same either way.
30 lb class · 7/8 x 3-1/4 or 1 x 4-1/4 chuck · spades and cutters available
Before and after the dig
Clay digger questions, answered
What is a clay digger?
A pneumatic hammer built for soil rather than concrete. It uses the same rugged construction as a paving breaker but takes a spade or a clay tool instead of a moil point, so it cuts and lifts material out of a trench. The classic use is hand-digging around buried utilities where an excavator is prohibited or cannot fit.
Will it break frozen ground?
Yes — frozen ground, hard pan, shale and heavy clay are exactly what it is for. In genuinely frozen conditions a moil point often works better than a spade for the first pass, then switch to the spade once you are through the crust.
Which chuck size do I need?
7/8 x 3-1/4 or 1 x 4-1/4. Match whichever your existing spades and cutters use; the tool costs the same either way. If you are buying steel at the same time, 1 x 4-1/4 gives you a heavier shank for prying, which clay work tends to involve.
What steel should I order with it?
At minimum a clay spade. An asphalt cutter is worth adding if you are opening pavement before you dig, and a moil point handles frozen crust and rock in the trench. Call 1-888-883-5144 with the chuck size and we will build the list.
Clay digger or paving breaker?
If you are breaking concrete or asphalt, buy a paving breaker. If you are moving soil, buy the clay digger. Both are 30 lb class tools running on similar air, and plenty of crews carry both because a utility job needs both.
How much air does it need?
Plan on the same order as the 30 lb TX30 paving breaker, which is 49 CFM at 90 psi. Call us with your compressor and we will confirm before you order.
Digging around utilities?
Tell us the ground and the chuck size you run. We will get the tool and the right spades on the same order.