Types of Shovels: Comprehensive Guide

Types of Shovels: Comprehensive Guide

While buying tools for your toolkit, garage, or workshop, you can find
yourself across a wide range of hand tools. As you would expect, these
tools are made for all kinds of usage depending on the buyers. Although, a
few hand tools are highly universal that can be used for a wide range of
applications making them a must-have for any toolkit.

One such hand tool that you will find in almost any garage is a <a
href="http://www.gloryspade.com/shovel/" target="_self">shovel. Whether
you are working around your home or at a job site, there are a lot of cases
where you might need a shovel. Although, even while buying a shovel, you
can find a lot of different types, which can be quite confusing for a lot
of buyers. In that case, make sure to check all the different types of
shovels stated down below to easily pick the best one for you:

Now that you know that shovels are highly versatile in general, this
means that they get used for a wide range of applications. And while you
can use any normal shovel for multiple things, you will not get the best
results. Instead, you should go through the following different types of
shovels and pick the one made for your specific use case for the best
results:

1. Digging Shovel

Whenever you are talking about shovels in general, a digging shovel is
most likely what comes to your mind. As per the name, such a shovel is used
for digging up soil for gardening and other applications. To offer high
functionality, these shovels have a decently sharp blade for easily cutting
through soil and other things present in the ground. You will also find a
high grip collar handle with most digging shovels for easily moving
hardened soil if needed. But even if you are going with a digging shovel,
you will the following three types of blade options to choose from:

A) Square Digging Shovel

SQUARE DIGGER

As per the name, a square digging shovel has a flat and straight blade
end which makes it useful for edging and making trenches. You can also use
a square digging shovel to move shrubs and bushes if needed. Since the
blade is completely straight and rigid, it can be a great option for
digging up hardened soil.

B) Pointed Digging Shovel

Round Point Shovel

With a pointed digging shovel, you can work in tight spaces as well as
in a part of soil that has a lot of roots and rocks. Because the blade is
curved at the front, you can also scoop up loose soil with ease in
comparison to a square digging shovel.

C) Round Digging Shovel

ROUND DIGGER shovel

A round digging shovel has a completely dome-shaped blade at the end,
which is generally used for gardening. If you want to move small plants,
shrubs, and flowers, then this can be a great option as the round blade
does not cut the roots. Similar to a pointed digging shovel, a round
digging shovel is also ideal for loose soil and not hardened soil.

. Edging Shovel

Edging Shovel

As per the name, an edging shovel is made for highly specific usage. To
be exact, you will have to use an edging shovel when you wish to create
edges in the soil. This is generally ideal for gardens where you might want
to distribute the solid of your garden into different parts for different
plants and flowers. In comparison to most other shovels, an edging shovel
has a very unique-looking blade which is similar to a half-moon. Since this
type of shovel uses a very thin blade, you can easily use them alongside
fences, sidewalks, garden borders, driveways, and other places where you
have to create a precise edge.

3. Trench Shovel

Trench Shovel

You can also go with a trench shovel if you are looking for highly
specialized shovels to be used in your garden or backyard. Just per the
name, a trench shovel is used for making trenches in any given area. To
make sure that your trenches are deep and straight at all times, a trench
shovel uses a long and narrow blade. This blade has a sharp pointed end
along with a concave design resulting in almost a triangle-shaped blade.
The angled design of a trench shovel allows it to quickly move a lot of
soil for quickly, making trenches wherever you need.

How To Use A Round Head Shovel In The Garden

Gardeners know that the right tool, used in the right way, can ensure
success on every task. We treasure our tools like a chef treasures his/her
knives. <a href="http://www.gloryspade.com/shovel/round-shovel/"
target="_self">Round point shovel uses extend past digging to scooping
and are useful in transplanting, trenching, moving compost or mulch and
many more applications. Taking care of the tool will extend its life when
its edges are kept sharp and the shovel clean and dry. Rounded shovels
usually have a beveled edge to help penetrate tough soil situations. They
may also have a point to push into soil. The edges are curved to facilitate
scooping. Handles are the height at which most people stand and can be
ergonomically angled. Grips are often cushioned to prevent blisters. These
specialized tools are widely available at any big box store or garden
center. It is important to choose one which will last. Wooden handled tools
often break on big jobs. The attachment of the scoop to the handle should
be welded securely. Since it is one of the most popular tools, using round
point shovels for many tasks makes it a work horse of the garden. Good
construction and sturdy fabrication will make these tasks a little lighter.
What is a Round Point Shovel Used For? Rounded shovels are a bit like a
Ginsu knife. They may not slice, dice and julienne, but they can cut, dig,
scoop, lift and chop through hard soil. These are invaluable tools for any
gardener. Taking care of the tool is essential to its long life. Always
rinse the shovel and allow it to air dry before putting it away. This
prevents rust that will destroy the metal over time. Every spring, bring
out the shovel and use a whetstone or hand held file to sharpen the edge.
That will make breaking through tough soil much easier. Keep handles dry if
they’re wooden, and occasionally sand them to remove any splinters. Rub
with linseed oil to protect the wood.

Choosing Shovels For Gardens: What Shovel Do You Need For Gardening

The sheer variety of shovels available in gardening and hardware stores
can be confusing. Fortunately, most garden <a
href="http://www.gloryspade.com/shovel/square-shovel/"
target="_self">shovels fall into a few common categories, each intended
to be used for specific garden tasks. If you’ve ever wondered “what
shovel do you need for gardening,” this article will help answer your
question. Before learning about the common types of garden shovels, it is
helpful to know the parts of a shovel. From top to bottom, you will find
the grip, then the handle, which varies in length, with longer handles
better suited to digging deep holes and shorter handles better suited to
precise tasks. Next is the collar, where the blade is fastened to the
handle. At the bottom is the blade, typically made of metal or, in some
cases, plastic. The flat portion at the top of the blade is called the
step. The step allows you to use your foot and body weight to push the
shovel into the soil, which is much easier than using just your arms! The
blade and tip, also called the point, come in different shapes depending on
the type of shovel.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);
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A brief history of the pick axe

Pre-history

Ancient Persian Susa <a href="http://www.gloryspade.com/pickaxe/"
target="_self">pick axe The pickaxe is thought to be one of the
oldest tools used by mankind. Its use can be traced back to prehistoric
civilizations, and has been associated with everything from cultivation of
land to mining and war over the centuries.

Ancient history

Ancient Elam city of Susa being taken by Assyrian soldiers The
relief opposite shows Assyrian soldiers taking the ancient Elam city of
Susa (2700-539BC) and depicts them using pickaxes and crowbars to destroy
and loot the city.

Middle age warfare

Polish winged hussars horsemans pickaxe The horseman's pickaxe
was often called a war hammer and was a weapon used through the Middle Ages
across Europe by cavalry in war.

The main use of the horseman's pickaxe during battle was to tear
cavalry from their mounts.

Another one of its uses was as a means to pierce thick armour or mail
that a standard sword was unable to penetrate.

Middle age war hammer However, the horseman's pickaxe has
several drawbacks as a weapon. Its heavy weight made it unwieldy and easily
avoided by the enemy.

Injuries caused by the horseman's pickaxe were small and rarely
fatal, and if swung with too much force, the weapon could become stuck in
the victim or their armour, and be difficult to retrieve.

19th Century railroad construction

Railroad construction with the use of a pickaxe Railroad pickaxes
are the most common type used today. They get their name from their use in
constructing The Great American Railroad between 1850 and 1890, which
connected the rest of America to the once wild west.

Mining

Pickaxe being used in a coal mine A mandrill, also referred to as a
miner's pickaxe is used in traditional mining, or old-school mining, as
it is a mining method involving the use of basic manual tools, like
pickaxes.

This type of mining was employed throughout the world up to the early
1900s. It is still a mining method employed in some countries today, such
as Colombia, Peru and parts of Africa.

Tips For Using a Machete

Cutting and trimming with hedge shears will help keep exuberant growth
under control, but sometimes you need a tool with more heft and more bite
— a machete. Backyard swashbucklers, take up your blades: with a <a
href="http://www.gloryspade.com/" target="_self">machete (sometimes
called a cutlass), you're not just taming the blackberries, you're
wielding a tool with traditions.

A machete is a powerful tool for clearing brush. In the tropics,
machetes are ubiquitous, all-purpose tools: they have been used to carve
trails through tropical forests, to slash out clearings for crops, to crack
open coconuts and slice papayas, and, of course, as imposing weapons. Use
your machete to keep the peace with weeds and brush in your garden, or to
serve watermelon with a flourish. Use it with care and respect: it is a
razor-sharp tool.

When you use it:

Dress for the job, in sturdy shoes, long pants, and work gloves.

Cut in front of yourself.

Take big swings, leading with your elbow, so the blade meets the stems
and stalks at an angle and slices through them. Never reach out to one side
or the other to make quick clean-up cuts in such a way that the blade is
moving toward your legs.

Keep your free hand well out of the way. Never grab a fistful of brush
with one hand and swing the machete with the other; some users recommend
holding a stout forked stick in your free hand for this purpose.