When working on a personal plot, many different tools are used. In addition to hammers and hacksaws, a shovel almost always comes into play. Along with a bayonet, a shovel is also used. It is needed when it is necessary to transfer or load a large amount of bulk materials. Also, the tool significantly speeds up the process of transferring or removing rock (material). At first glance, it seems that the situation with shovels is very simple, but when going to the store, many gardeners are lost in the choice.

Features of shovel type shovels

Shovels are in great demand in any construction and farming activity. This is primarily due to its large width, as well as rather large capacity. In this regard, the tool allows you to take a large amount of bulk material in one removal.

Soviet shovel

Scoop shovels, like any tool, have various modifications adapted for a particular type of work. For example, there are tools of this type with increased strength, fireproof, lightweight, etc.

The main components of the shovel type:

  • working canvas;
  • tulle;
  • stalk.

For the manufacture of the handle of a shovel, wood, metal, plastic, or combined options can be used.

Important! From a shovel with a wooden handle, the arms and back are less tired, since it is quite flexible and dampens the load. The steel tool is very durable and has a long service life. The plastic is lightweight, but freezes and gets slippery in winter.

The handles can have various coatings on the surface that prevent hand slippage, icing, increase the hand grip area, etc.

In addition, the shovel can also have a rail handle, which folds and unfolds if necessary. This version of the tool is very compact and fits in a car trunk.

Tuleyka is a transitional part between the working blade and the handle. The most important thing in this part is its angle of inclination. The ergonomics of the entire instrument in turn depends on it. So, the larger this angle, the less tired the hands and back of the worker will be. The angle can be up to 40 ° in some models.

This can be medium hard steel

The working blade itself can be made of various materials. This can be steel of medium hardness and strength, high-strength steel, alloys of non-ferrous metals (titanium or aluminum), plastic. As a rule, shovels made of steel of normal quality do not last long, since they have low wear resistance and strength.

A stainless steel tool will last much longer than the previous one. Titanium alloy shovels combine high strength and low weight. It cannot be said that a titanium shovel is much stronger than a steel one, since these materials are close in ultimate strength. However, the weight of a titanium product is significantly lower than that of a steel product; therefore, the specific strength (strength per weight) of a non-ferrous alloy is higher. At the same time, the wear resistance of titanium is significantly lower than that of steel.

Note! The opinion that a titanium product is much stronger and more durable than a steel one has firmly settled on the Web today, but this is completely wrong. A titanium shovel is simply lighter, it is more comfortable to work, but at the same time, its properties are higher than that of a tool made of polymer materials.

Types of shovels of the shovel type and features of their use

Bayonet shovel

There are about 10 varieties of shovels. The most popular and common ones:

  • A shovel designed for sand (sand or LSP shovel). In fact, this is the most familiar shovel for most, which is oriented to work with sand and bulk materials of medium density. For dense soil, such a tool is already of little use. It is especially convenient to carry out unloading and loading operations with such a shovel. This also includes a shovel, which has a wide working part, but is otherwise similar to an LSP shovel.
  • Shovel for working with concrete. It has bumpers at the edges, allowing you to collect a large amount of solution at a time. In addition, it is convenient for her to knead the solution. The sides of the shovel are reinforced, which allows this tool to clean surfaces from hard rocks and materials. With such a shovel, you can shovel coal deposits, a layer of hard clay, and so on.
  • Crushed stone shovel, she's a rock shovel. This option includes some of the features of a bayonet tool and a shovel. That is why it can penetrate hard rocks with minimal effort, it can unload heavy and hard materials such as crushed stone. The sheet-like shape with a depression in the center prevents free-flowing mixtures from waking up. To increase rigidity, the shovel has two central stiffeners. Some kind of model is a pick-up shovel and a pick-up shovel, which are inferior in scale to the working part.
  • The excavator's shovel has a slightly narrowed part of the blade towards the end. Like all previous models, it has a cavity for a set of rocks. Supplied with a durable plastic handle. A variation of the same lineup is the shrew shovel.
  • The shovel is a fire-fighting shovel - an essential element of any fire shield. It is designed to quickly supply sand to the combustion center. The tool has high strength, which allows them, if necessary, to break wooden partitions, roofs, etc. The handle of such a shovel is made of hard wood (ash, hornbeam, birch, maple) without knots or their minimum amount.
  • Shovel for planting seedlings. The narrow but long blade is bent towards the handle so that it is comfortable to lean on it with your foot.
  • Shovel for cleaning snow. This is a wide shovel made of plastic or aluminum. It is lightweight, but at the same time strong, since there are stiffening ribs on the blade of the shovel. The tool edge for increased wear resistance can be with a hardened steel plate. A three-sided aluminum shovel also belongs to the means that allow cleaning from a large area. A distinctive feature of the tool is a high tailgate that allows you to rake in a significant amount of snow in one pass.
  • Small shovel for motorists. This model is needed by car owners to remove snow from the road from the car. They are made entirely of plastic, so the product weighs about 500 g and does not take up much space in the trunk.

Small shovel for motorists.

  • Avalanche shovel. This version of the tool stands out as it is used in specific conditions. Typically, these shovels have a foldable handle so the tool can fit into a backpack. The handle is made of lightweight aluminum and titanium alloys. The working part is made of high-strength plastic. The main task of such a shovel is not to let you down at a crucial moment.

Proven models and manufacturers of shovels

Shovel in the car

Recently, the following tools have been most popular:

  • Fiskars company produces very high quality shovel and bayonet tools. Many people say with confidence that this particular Finnish company is the undisputed favorite in this segment.The shovels have high ergonomics, are supplied with a plastic handle, the blade has a corrosion-resistant powder coating, which prevents soil from sticking to the tool.
  • A good option for a snow removal tool is the Bogatyr shovel. The model has a wide lightweight plastic sheet, equipped with two central and several lateral stiffeners. A handle is installed on the shank of the handle, which makes it easier to work when removing snow.
  • Shovel Knight. This option also applies to a snow removal tool, however, it has a small size, which allows it to be carried in the trunk of a car. The working blade itself is made of plastic with a steel plate on its edge. Aluminum handle with anti-slip coating closer to the working part. The small width of the shovel, but rather serious depth, allows you to remove a large layer of snow at a time.
  • The Lambada shovel has two stiffeners on the side of the handle, which makes it very stiff. For the manufacture of the canvas, special plastic is used, which is not afraid of low temperatures and retains high strength properties. The wood handle has a handle at the end for easy use.
  • Shovel Strong for cleaning snow not in vain got this name. It has very pronounced stiffening ribs that stand out massively above the surface of the working blade. The lightweight plastic handle is firmly fixed with a pair of screws in the deep seat of the blade.
  • Shovel shovels Bison are in great demand among consumers due to a large assortment, as well as high reliability. They are completed with plastic and wooden handles. The shape of the working part varies widely (from the garden version to the snow removal). The tuleyka has a pleasant slope when working, which makes work easier.
  • Probably many already know that the manufacturer Gardena is very tightly pressing on Fiskars, creating excellent competition for them. The company makes a very high quality stainless steel scoop tool. The handle is metal, a comfortable angle of inclination of the crown, an anti-slip coating on the handle, a removable horizontal handle at the end of the handle - these are all about Garden's excellent shovels. The downside is the high price, but a quality tool is never cheap.
  • Shovel Centroinstrument. The masters say about this model that it is made very soundly. Sturdy and ergonomic handle at a good angle to the tip. The shovel blade is made of high-strength, wear-resistant spring steel, which is a huge plus when working with hard rocks and dense soil.

Important! Shovels should be stored in dry, ventilated areas. Before this, the working part of the tool should be cleaned of soil, rock, free-flowing mixtures and, if possible, apply an oil layer to it. It will protect the tool from corrosion damage.

Thus, shovels are simply indispensable for construction, earthworks, loading and unloading bulk materials. They allow you to move large volumes of materials quickly and efficiently. Modern snow shovels are very convenient, allowing you to quickly clear large areas of snow. It is also important that manufacturers take into account the ergonomics of work, making them convenient and easy to use.

Traditionally, high-quality tools can be purchased from Fiskars and Gardena. Domestic manufacturers also produce shovels of decent quality, which compare favorably with the above costs. There are plenty to choose from!