All about shovels

An ordinary shovel is one of the oldest human tools. The history of this tool begins since the primitive man invented to use an ordinary stick in his daily life, with the help of which it became much more convenient to tear the ground in search of edible roots. The origin of the word "shovel" is associated with the fact that initially it was the scapula of a large animal that was attached to the stick, making it much easier to dig and loosen the ground. Over time, the shovel has evolved, adapting to the needs of developing humanity, but retaining its former name.

A shovel is a tool without which it is impossible to imagine the work of not only a summer resident or a builder. This tool must be present in the arsenal of miners, firefighters, janitors and a huge number of people of all kinds of professions. If we talk about the shovel in the form in which we are used to using it, then initially it was made of solid wood. In this case, the working surface was given a flat shape. The convenience of such a device was appreciated by representatives of many crafts, for example, bakers still use such a shovel.

Later, with the development of blacksmithing, the shovel had a copper-plated working part., later they began to bind it with iron for greater strength and ease of use. Gradually, the entire flat part of the tool began to be made of iron, since such shovels were sharper, more convenient to use and more durable. Shovels have so firmly taken their place in human life that they have found application not only in agriculture, but also in military affairs, construction, mining and in many other areas.

A modern shovel, or as it is also commonly called - a scoop, is an all-metal tray with a handle planted on it. The length of the stem, as a rule, should reach the armpit of an adult. The size of the scoop according to GOST is 235x275 mm (the width of the titanium shovels is 300 mm), the weight without the handle is 0.92 kg.

Depending on what material the shovel scoop is made of, it is customary to subdivide them into several types.

• Of steel. This is a product made of ordinary sheet metal, equipped with a stiffener for strength. The most common and inexpensive type of this tool.
• From rail steel. This type of shovel is made of a special steel saturated with carbon, which has a very high strength with a relatively low weight of the product. For cases where a high elasticity of the product is required, for example, for carrying out work with maximum load, shovels made of rail steel using the double hardening method are used.

• Titanium. This tool has a light weight, moreover, in contrast to steel shovels, it has low metal adhesion, which allows you to work with wet soil without the adhesion of dirt on the coating of the product. It is not cheap, but this disadvantage is compensated by the ease of use, neat appearance, matte finish of the product, durability and absence of scratches.
• Made of stainless steel. This is the most common garden shovel.A stainless steel product has a higher fracture resistance than plain steel, while being easy to sharpen.

• Aluminum shovel. It is used for snow removal or for work with light bulk materials.
• Made of plastic. The shovel made of impact-resistant plastic is common among landscaping workers, mainly used in winter. Has a wide bucket and curved sides. It is a very light tool, but not very durable. The canvas is solid or reinforced with stiffening ribs; there are options with a comfortable cutting edge. Convenient for clearing snow.

By purpose and specificity, the following varieties are distinguished.

• "American". An interesting feature of this tool is the unusual curved metal blade. Digging with such a blade is much easier than with a traditional bayonet shovel, and since the blade is Teflon coated, no soil sticks to the shovel. Another convenience is a protective foam ring, which is put on the handle, thus avoiding calluses.

• Miner's (coal). The coal scoop is widely used by miners. It is made of special thin sheet steel and has a concave shape, which makes it easier to work with coal and rocks.

• Sand scoop (another name - LSP). The product is used for work with bulk materials: for loading sand or expanded clay. It can also be used for work with low density soil.

• Concrete scoop. This type of shovel is made of durable rail steel, the design includes sides. Wide enough to mix all kinds of mortars, shape the edges of the work area and clean hard surfaces if necessary.

• Crushed stone scoop. This product has curved canvases at the edges and a slightly recessed shape. It is convenient to scoop up crushed stone or gravel with such a scoop. Equipped with two stiffening ribs and has a sharp top, which allows you to effortlessly immerse the scoop in hard materials.

• Reinforced shovel. This is a type of crushed stone shovel. The product is reinforced with stiffening ribs, which makes it possible to work with clay soils and heavy materials.

• Fire scoop. The tool is made of durable steel or alloy and has an elongated handle for ease of use when clearing debris. The intrinsically safe bronze shovel is a must-have attachment to the fire shield.

• Sapling scoop. This is a must-have tool for any gardener. Regardless of the type of material from which it is made, such a tool has an elongated and narrowed blade, bent at the top, so that it is more convenient to rest against the edge with your foot when digging holes for seedlings.

• Snow shovel for the car. Familiar to all car owners, this small paddle is usually made of polypropylene, weighs on average up to 500 g, has a lightweight handle with a plastic coating, has a small width of the working part (about 20 cm), without taking up extra space in the trunk. The folding version is especially convenient.

• Shortened scoop. This is another type of shovel that is familiar to drivers and is designed for work in confined spaces. This tool is very compact, easy to store in the car trunk.

Among the manufacturers of shovels, one can note such brands as:

• Gigant;
• Truper;
• Inforce;
• Fiskars;
• Zubr.

The Gigant brand for the production of hand tools and garden tools entered the market in 2015 and took one of the leading places, combining ergonomics and advanced technologies of enterprises in this industry in Europe and Asia in its products.The development of tools for this brand is based on the statistics of customer wishes and reviews. Surveys formed the requirements for the product, which ultimately led to full compliance with the consumer's needs. The tool of this brand is produced at modern enterprises in China and Russia. A feature of this brand of shovels is the unique shape of the handle and handle, due to which the load on the hand is significantly reduced.

Truper was founded just over fifty years ago in the heart of Mexico. Today it is a leading company producing tools for all kinds of purposes. The range of products includes about five thousand items, and Truper shovels are considered the most popular working tool in Latin America. The main priorities of the company are quality, durability and reliability of products. The manufacturer produces a full range of shovels, ranging from sand and crushed stone shovels and ending with "American".

Inforce entered the instrument market in 2015. This is a Russian company whose motto is "High quality is the guarantee of reliability!" The company's products are very diverse: the manufacturer produces working tools from a spatula to a welding machine. Inforce shovels are a combination of a stable balance of price and quality, since the cost of products does not depend on currency quotes.

Fiskars was founded in 1949 in Finland and today is one of the most successful tool manufacturers in Europe. The brand is known worldwide precisely for the manufacture of agricultural implements. The assortment is updated annually, complemented by new products from a wide variety of materials. The Fiskars brand pays great attention to household items and kitchen utensils: all kinds of shovels and shovels for the convenience of doing daily chores, gardening and gardening. The Fiskars name has become a pledge and synonym for high quality products.

The company Zubr ("Zubr") stands out among the rest with a wide range, low price and durability of products. The company was founded in 2005, when the universal drill saw the light, which was especially popular among ordinary buyers and was distinguished by high functionality. Later, when the range of products was significantly increased, the company was able to enter the international market. The production of various shovels is one of the priorities for this brand, therefore the buyer is offered a fairly large selection of them.

When choosing a shovel, you should pay attention to the type of blade from which it is made, the handle and the tulle. The shank, which is the main working part, should not have chips or cracks and should be well planted on the shovel itself. You also need to pay attention to the attachment of the handle and the tool. It is best if the handle is secured with bolts or a tie ring. In the event that there is no fastener at all, the product will not serve you for a long time.

The shovel with which you intend to work should be 10 cm below your shoulder, and your fingers should be free to wrap around the handle of the tool. You should also pay special attention to the way the tool is stored. Any of the shovels will not last long under the influence of rain, heat or snow, therefore you need to store the tool in a closed room, such as a garage, shed, etc. Also, your tool will serve you much longer if at the end of the work you clean it from dirt, lubricate it to prevent corrosion and sharpen the cutting edge of the tool.

For information on how to choose a shovel, see the next video.