What's your shovel?

[sea2summit]

I've got a few rogue tools and like them a lot. Recently my goto shovel had an unfortunate incident between a tree and my tractor It wasn't anything great, just the best I could judge the big box store had.

Looking for some quality shovels, recommendations? USFS shovel worth it or the way to go?

 

[MossRoad]

Yard sales or Goodwill/Salvation Army stores. :thumbsup:

 

[bunyip]

Bought SWMBO a stainless shovel, really slick and not much sticks to it and very easy to clean, bit expensive to buy of course.
Every silver lining has a black cloud.

 

[bcp]

I have a half dozen cheap around the property so I'm never far from one. I buy whatever is on sale, or a good 2nd hand one.

But my serious shovel for real work is a Fiskars.

Amazon.com : Fiskars Long Handle Round Point Steel Digging Shovel : Shovel Handle Replacement : Garden & Outdoor

Bruce

 

[4570Man]

Here’s mine.

 

[Fuddy1952]

A landscaper friend only has steel handle shovels for his crew. I broke an Ames brand fiberglass one a while back and they sent me a replacement which has a steel handle so I recommend Ames.

 

[sea2summit]

Yard sales or Goodwill/Salvation Army stores. :thumbsup:

Believe me I keep a sharp eye out

Pretty sure the wife is going to cut me off if I bring home one more "built a hundred years ago, good for another hundred" tool

 

[sea2summit]

I have a half dozen cheap around the property so I'm never far from one. I buy whatever is on sale, or a good 2nd hand one.

But my serious shovel for real work is a Fiskars.

Amazon.com : Fiskars Long Handle Round Point Steel Digging Shovel : Shovel Handle Replacement : Garden & Outdoor


Bruce

That's essentially the one I busted. It had seen the so many miles (over more than eight years, probably more than 10) the fiberglass was actually beginning to delaminate:thumbsup:

 

[sea2summit]

Here’s mine. View attachment 572057

Yours is slightly larger than mine...wait, that didn't come out right

 

[sea2summit]

A landscaper friend only has steel handle shovels for his crew. I broke an Ames brand fiberglass one a while back and they sent me a replacement which has a steel handle so I recommend Ames.

Doesn't wear on your hands?

 

[goeduck]

I like the ones with wider spots to put your foot on when you step them into the ground. Ames is one of my better ones, I stay away from the cheapo models.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I always wear leather gloves. I have a JD backhoe also...not that big either! It's a 7.5, enough to bury a body

 

[bcp]

That's essentially the one I busted. It had seen the so many miles (over more than eight years, probably more than 10) the fiberglass was actually beginning to delaminate:thumbsup:

The Fiskars shovel has an oval steel handle.

Bruce

 

[newbury]

I had a Sears Craftsman filled back shovel, from about 1970 to 1983, supposedly heavy duty. That was my favorite. Broke it, took it back for a replacement, all they would offer me was a standard cheap regular shovel. That cured me of buying Craftsman for the "lifetime warranty".
Now I just buy "specials". About 2 years ago Lowes or Home Depot had a "price mistake" on some decent long handled shovels, $2@, and I bought a half dozen.
Still prefer my Woods BH70 backhoe, but that cost more than $2

 

[Diggin It]

The BH sure made it a whole lot easier to plant a dozen trees than a shovel would have.

But I also go for the cheap $10 ones. They last a few years even with me leaving them outside most of the time, exposed to the elements. Eventually the handles break off and I'm left with only the business end. Since I can't find replacement handles for less than the price of a new one, I'm getting quite a collection of the business ends.

 

[Jstpssng]

I like a straight, flat bottom "digging spade". I had a really good one that I bought for about $10 at the discount/salvage store chain, but I made the mistake of letting somebody borrow it and she insisted that I gave it to her. Then I bought a "Bully" Made in USA... the first time that I used it I folded the blade over.
But I prefer my 750 Woods.

 

[sea2summit]

The BH sure made it a whole lot easier to plant a dozen trees than a shovel would have.

But I also go for the cheap $10 ones. They last a few years even with me leaving them outside most of the time, exposed to the elements. Eventually the handles break off and I'm left with only the business end. Since I can't find replacement handles for less than the price of a new one, I'm getting quite a collection of the business ends.

You don’t say


Still want a shovel :thumbsup:

 

[Gary Fowler]

The BH sure made it a whole lot easier to plant a dozen trees than a shovel would have.

Since I can't find replacement handles for less than the price of a new one, I'm getting quite a collection of the business ends.

I found that weird also. How can Lowes sell a new shovel cheaper than it sells just a wooden handle. I ended up just throwing one of my shovels away and buying a new one because it was cheaper than a new handle. I also don't use them much because the backhoe is much easier on the back, but a good shovel is handy around buried PVC pipe to uncover it without breaking.

 

[charlton289]

My favorite shovel is attached to my GC 1705 and I call it my 15,000 dollar wheel barrow but I get most of my hand shovels from yard sales or we have called trade lots which is a fancy name for a town yard sale in the town/ YMCA parking lot. They sell other peoples junk and you can find some good deals on somethings and get took on others.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Few yrs ago i decided to put new handles on my old broken shovels. Now i got a lot of good ones. But the BH is my favorite.