What's your shovel?

[2LaneCruzer]

I've got several shovels; none of which I had to buy. I have a couple old rusty ones I inherited from my Dad, and one really good one that the plumber left me maybe 20 years ago...and while we're at it, I had a garden fork with a fiberglass handle; it lasted a couple years until my Grand son got hold of it. My new one has a wooden handle. Most of my yard and garden tools are turn-of-the-century stuff bought at the auction or garage sales 50 years ago. In fact, when I think about it, a considerable number of my tools were ones I purloined from my Dad; ones that I found on the street, in the parking lot or were left by workmen. Some I found in old cars, etc.

 

[oosik]

I think I have 4 - maybe 5 shovels. Nothing fancy. Have them spaced around the property - near the house. Don't have to walk a mile to get a shovel.

 

[RNeumann]

I've got a few rogue tools and like them a lot. Recently my goto shovel had an unfortunate incident between a tree and my tractor It wasn't anything great, just the best I could judge the big box store had.

Looking for some quality shovels, recommendations? USFS shovel worth it or the way to go?

The USFS “lady point” isn’t the best general purpose shovel. I too use and have purchased several Rogue tools- nice stuff for fire fighting and yard work.
This sounds like a cop out but I have to try them.....so I go to HD. Some of the Razor Backs are too heavy for me and some are too flimsy. My last one was an Ames sort of middle of the road with regard to cost.
If I couldn’t try them I’d get one from a place that sold firefighter tools (like your Rogue) and avoid the Lady Point.

 

[Thomas]

Still have round and square shovels bought from Sears 30+ years ago when they sold good stuff.

 

[4570Man]

Flat bottom shovels are useless for digging unless it’s in sand. They’re useful for scooping material off a hard surface.

 

[ultrarunner]

Moms favorite was a Sears bought her for Mother's day about 40 years ago... the shovel has to be balanced just right.

So many are simply crudely made for a lack of a better word.

My contractor friends only use steel handles now as the crews will break anything else in short order...

A well made tool is a thing of beauty... subscribed.

 

[Jstpssng]

Flat bottom shovels are useless for digging unless it逞ｴ in sand. They豎*e useful for scooping material off a hard surface.

There's a difference between a shovel and a spade. The latter is what I used for pit digging trees. After using one for a while, I very rarely pick up a pointed shovel now.
The attached photo is the cheap one that I have, although it wasn't inexpensive. It's the one that I keep in the truck, and that I grab if I have some work to.

 

[4570Man]

There's a difference between a shovel and a spade. The latter is what I used for pit digging trees. After using one for a while, I very rarely pick up a pointed shovel now.
The attached photo is the cheap one that I have, although it wasn't inexpensive. It's the one that I keep in the truck, and that I grab if I have some work to.

Maybe in moist dirt free of roots. Around here you can’t penetrate rock hard dirt with a flat bottom piece.

 

[ultrarunner]

Maybe in moist dirt free of roots. Around here you can’t penetrate rock hard dirt with a flat bottom piece.

I never used flat bottom shovels until I watched someone that works with a shovel all day... he said flat bottom is the only way to go and then showed me a flat bottom is the same as a spade if you angle it to one corner...

Since then I only carry a flat bottom on the truck... better for snow, clean up etc... not so good down a hole...

 

[Jstpssng]

That's what we used to dig trees with, before everybody had Vermeer spades. It's easier to cut tree roots with one, which is necessary when you're digging landscape plants. I've pit dug 20' stems, once they laid over into the burlap it took 3 guys to manhandle them and prep the root ball. The guys who know what they're doing will spend a day digging one 40 year old tree for someone who wants that instant landscape look.

 

[bunyip]

Flat bottom shovels are useless for digging unless it’s in sand. They’re useful for scooping material off a hard surface.

And despatching snakes...

 

[bigtiller]

There's a difference between a shovel and a spade. The latter is what I used for pit digging trees. After using one for a while, I very rarely pick up a pointed shovel now.
The attached photo is the cheap one that I have, although it wasn't inexpensive. It's the one that I keep in the truck, and that I grab if I have some work to.

That is what I call a garden spade. It's my first choice for a lot of jobs also. Cant it a little when the digging is tuff.

 

[wngsprd]

I've broken a number of wooden handle shovels, both flat and round point, so a couple of years ago bought the red fiberglas handled round point shovel from Ace. Been real happy with it, so bought another this summer to keep down at the bridge, where I "play" in the sand and gravel in the creek.

 

[Deere Dude]

I bought a steel handled spade 45 years ago and is still my go to shovel. Sturdy and easy to use. I also have 3-4 wood handled spades and 1 fiberglass spade but when I do to the garage to get one, the steel one is generally my choice because it is easiest to use as far as less deforming and bending of the handle or spade portion when cranking on it. I understand it is not unbreakable but will still outlast my others even with much harder use.

 

[drssg]

I've got a few rogue tools and like them a lot. Recently my goto shovel had an unfortunate incident between a tree and my tractor It wasn't anything great, just the best I could judge the big box store had.

Looking for some quality shovels, recommendations? USFS shovel worth it or the way to go?

Most of my shovels came from my dad's garage after he passed away. To my memory, he had them for all of my life. One of them had an unfortunate incident with my front-end loader, and I broke the handle. It made me kind of sad to think about all the time that shovel lasted before I got a hold of it. At the same time, I don't want to lock them away as keepsakes. I want to use them like he did.

I try to be more patient and deliberate in my actions. Even as an obnoxious teenager, I was secretly impressed by the quantity of work Dad could get done by slowly and persistently plugging away at something.

 

[ultrarunner]

My Grandfather was like this into his 80's on the dairy farm...

He long ago turned over operation to my uncle but he worked each and every day... except Sunday after morning milking...

Always fixing things... head out with his shovel with hickory handles he had honed to maintain the water bars, mend fences, gates, keep the boundary markers in good repair...

It was not until after he was gone did the full impact sink in at just how much he got done each day...

 

[Fuddy1952]

My grandfather next door used a steel grain scoop for a shovel. Dad and I would be shoveling gravel or dirt with shovels, grandad using that scoop. Dad would always say he was killing himself!

 

[k0ua]

I try to use this one when ever possible. It is really a back saver. Hydraulics are a wonderful thing.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I like my square shovel with a long fiberglass handle. Recently Princess Auto had a sale and I thought I got a great deal, same shovel with a long wooden handle. Thick and heavy! Also bought a ten tine bedding fork, same handle. Also too thick and heavy over the D handle one I had (and my lady friend used to dig potatoes!). My old one cost seventy bucks and was hard to find. I kind of flew off the (D) handle when I saw what she had done to it!