Thedillestpickle Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 It's all done. I've made some tree-planting shovels in the past but this one is my masterpiece. It is a beast 27 inches long and 1.5 Kg. If I work my hardest I could be putting 250 000 trees in with this shovel this summer. I'll post some update photos at the end of this summer to show how it weathered the storm. Thanks to all who showed interest and offered advice! Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I've heard of and used short handle spades but . . . Deb has a larger key chain! Do you have any videos of these things in use? I'm having trouble wrapping my head around what kind of advantage a spade that short has. Even if it was just weight packing it around that's negative leverage if you with it pry at all. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Special Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 On 3/20/2016 at 10:06 PM, Frosty said: Going to take another shot at it. Spades and shovels are at least medium carbon steel and doing what you wish isn't a just heat it and bend it operation. The sockets are hardened tapered, curved, thin wall tubing with a slit full length. The original bend is done in a closed die forging press, about 1:44 in the video below. Also note the professiona blacksmith using tools specifically designed to make shovels spends about 2x the time forging the socket than the blade. Frosty The Lucky. Are they? That's good news. I usually end up with busted ones that people are tossing for general purpose steel and the handles to cut down for hammers. Silly me, I never thought to test what obviously must be a hardening steel. I forsee numerous repurposings in my very near future.... You wouldn't have much leverage with that thing, but if it was soft enough ground or you pushed it two handed....there's times I definitely would have prefered that shovel to the standard issue E-tool. Last random thought, anyone ever try the Bealer method of cutting and welding two sheets together to form the shovel and socket? Might be faster than forging and rolling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedillestpickle Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 If your shovel is too long you have to bend your elbow or twist your torso in an unnatural way. You already have to reach into the dirt anyways so it helps if you are already bent over far enough to reach the ground(which you likely won't be if you are working with a longer shovel). Here are two examples of tree-planting. www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9wPTwlGGJshttp://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/22252128/pov-camera-mounted-shovel-treeplanting.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 250,000 trees in a season! 21st century Jonny Appleseed. I'd hate to be the one to lug all them to you. Happy Planting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Got it! Head wrapped around itty bitty short spade handle now. Makes sense. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klorinth Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 That is an absolutely amazing shovel that your friend made. Beautiful! Yours is very nice as well. I preferred a little longer handle and a smaller blade. Light and fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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