Leon Fisk wrote:

If I remember correctly you are just itching to use a "new" welder. If
you could procure a piece of steel long enough to satisfy your depth
requirement and maybe 4 to 8 inches wide you could just weld a pipe
handle to it and save some bucks ;-)

You do remember correctly 8-)

I've thought about trying to weld something together but am having
difficulty deciding just what....

Trying to pry a slot with a single blade does not work with a shovel,
the soil is too elastic and the prying "stretch" of a single blade can't
overcome the rebound sufficiently. A blade half an inch thick might be
pried enough to yield a three quarter inch wide slit, which could work.
Cutting two slits and lifting the sod between needs considerably more
width to lever out the plug.

I just tried a ramming tool made with half inch iron pipe having an
elbow and short nipple at the end. Using a slide (post) hammer it's
possible to punch a dent that's an inch or two deep and holds its shape
well enough to let the dripline fit in. The nipple keeps the dents
aligned and holds the old dent open while the new one forms. A well-
shaped tool of similar pattern might have promise. The pipe fittings
are wider than needed, but a weldment could be tailored for a better
fit and even curved for going around corners. If the soil is wet the
hammering doesn't seem too hard, at least in small increments......

Another respondent pointed out that 2000 feet is a very long way
to trench by hand, no matter how small the trench. The truth of
that observation is beginning to dawn. The power machines suggested
are all so big there'd be very little left of the lawn by the time
I got through. One choice is to bury only sections of the dripline
where it's an obstacle and save the rest for a more clever idea if
it ever comes along.

Thanks to all for reading and sharing your thoughts!

bob prohaska