Because a shovel is not considered a high-tech construction tool, most gardeners do not choose it with the necessary care. However, this is the main mistake, because if you do not pay due attention during the purchase, in the future you will not be able to allocate time for rest, making it easier for yourself to do various work with the land, or, most importantly, to get real pleasure from this process.
In order not to make irreparable mistakes, below we will pay attention to an important issue: how to choose a shovel today and consider the various techniques used in the production of such, at first glance, simple equipment.
Before you decide to buy any shovel, you should definitely look at what are the most common types of this tool today, their features and various characteristics.
Absolutely all shovels are usually divided into different types depending on the material from which they are mainly made and the shape of the bucket.
Types of shovels
If you want to buy one shovel for yourself in the near future, then you need to opt for a bayonet shovel, since it can be ideal for performing almost any work in the garden. With it you can easily trim edges, dig up the ground or even dig a ditch.
Even if you have a walk-behind tractor, you can’t do without a shovel, since you still can’t find a better assistant than it if you need to dig up a small area.
Today, shovels can most often be found in stores of two types:
- with a rectangular blade;
- with a slightly rounded blade.
If you have to dig up already processed, loose soil on your site, then it is better to choose a tool of the first type, since shovels, even with slightly rounded blades, are better suited for working, for example, on virgin soil or even hard soil.
Scoop shovels for work in the country
The main difference between shovels and bayonet shovels is the shape of the tray, that is, the metal tip. It is located at an angle of 120 degrees to the handle, which makes it easier to work with selection, transfer, and collection of anything. With the help of such a shovel, many processes take place at the dacha: removing garbage, transferring manure or compost, applying fertilizers to the soil, collecting sand, gravel into heaps, and so on. There are also shovels, which are designed for snow removal; they are wider and their base is reinforced.
By and large, at the dacha there should be two types of shovels at once, and this is the minimum, that is, both bayonet and shovel shovels should be ready in the barn, you never know what you will have to do tomorrow.
You should choose shovels for your dacha area carefully, paying attention not only to the appearance of the gardening tool, but also to the quality.
Pay attention to the handle - the handle of the shovel. It should be made of good, dried wood without knots, preferably from deciduous wood. The handle should be a comfortable size, ground, perhaps with a Y, D or T-shaped handle for easier handling.
Metal tip - tray, it is advisable to choose from medium-thick metal, with a protective coating, durable and high-quality, with convenient attachment to the handle, preferably with a standard hole size for it.
What to look for when buying a shovel?
Any good shovel should in any case be strong, sharp enough, and wet soil should not stick to it when working. Today, this equipment is made from a variety of materials, from the familiar steel to titanium.
Steel shovels are considered almost a standard, and when purchasing them, it is important to pay attention only to how high-quality the material is. If the steel is strong, then you don’t have to worry, since the shovel will not bend under any conditions.
This construction tool has other advantages: it is much less susceptible to corrosion compared to shovels made from other materials, and also does not require frequent sharpening.
Shovels made of inexpensive stainless steel are slightly inferior to steel ones, since they bend in practice, and are completely unsuitable for working on hard ground. Shovels made of a material such as aluminum, in principle, should not be considered as an option for a future purchase.
If your budget allows, you can buy a shovel made of high-quality titanium. It will be much lighter in weight than steel, and, among other things, it will not bend. The only negative is the high cost, so you should think carefully in advance whether you really need this particular type of shovel.
Scoop shovels are used mainly when working with gravel, sand or other bulk materials. If you need to level the surface of a garden plot or form a ditch, then they are best suited.
A garden shovel is used for digging and replanting various shrubs and perennial trees. They will also come in handy when turning your garden soil and creating paths and flower beds in the garden.
Special shovels for ditches are used by housewives if it is necessary to dig a narrow and small ditch or to clean the trenches that already exist on the site. Its advantage is that it can also be used to replant shrubs or even trees without any problems.
In addition, today in construction stores you can also find special shovels for cleaning trenches and drains, which are called trench shovels. Housewives often turn to them when replanting greenery.
They are not a budget option, so if you are not the type of person who replants something in your garden every day, the next option is best.
Universal shovels are multi-purpose tools that are designed to perform absolutely any type of work. Their main advantage is ease of storage if there is no free space in the apartment or house.
After looking at the photo of the shovel, you will see that they can easily fit even on a standard-sized garden cart or even be stored right in the trunk of a car. Often used by professionals when working with large quantities of cement or by tourists when traveling.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that any shovel is a construction tool for daily use, so it would be wrong and, on top of everything else, expensive to change it often. It is more logical to spend money once on a shovel that is convenient for you, rather than trying to replace its blade or at least the handle with incredible frequency.
In addition, purchasing a quality shovel will automatically ensure that you put minimal strain on your back, which will help you stay healthy.
How to make a shovel for a cop with your own hands?
Making a high-quality shovel for digging with your own hands is very simple. The photo shows such a simple homemade shovel for a cop, which is made from an ordinary bayonet shovel. It is better to use a Soviet-made tool as a workpiece, because it is presumably made of higher quality steel than modern tools sold in hardware stores.
Homemade shovel for a cop
Using a grinder, we give the shovel the desired shape, attach the handle, sharpen it and, if desired, make a cover. The shovel bayonet in the photo was originally longer, but it broke right behind the stiffening rib, so it had to be shortened, which had almost no effect on convenience. The narrower lower part of the bayonet allows you to dig with less effort and high accuracy, and the wide upper part allows you to press comfortably with your foot. The shovel handle should be selected based on your height and ease of transportation. In my case (height 182 cm), its optimal length is about a meter. Among the disadvantages of the shovel in the photo, one can highlight, perhaps, a protruding stiffening rib located near the cutting edge, which is why the tool may not be very willing to bite into the ground.
