The Shovel Discussion Thread!

It's amazing how little you care about shovels...until you suddenly need one! :D

I would really like to see more quality rice shovels on the market. Round blade with a slight flat at the nose for root chopping and the triad of holes to break suction when digging in mud. It makes so much sense, but only a couple of companies make them, and even fewer places carry them.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I would really like to see more quality rice shovels on the market. Round blade with a slight flat at the nose for root chopping.......
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That's one thing about the forest service shovels we use at Washington Trails Association that I don't like. Those forest service shovels have a very sharp point. You can't get on top of a root to cut it. You just slide to one side. Then again, we usually have a few Pulaski's handy.
 
Will_Power said:
Been pleased with the Silky saw I picked up. Thing's a wood-processing beast.
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I just looked at a Silky on the web. I hadn't heard of them before. The construction looks very similar to the Tajima saws. The Silky 'Gomboy 240' looks almost identical to my Tajima 240. I need to try one of those Silky's. The Gomboy 300 and the Big Boy 2000 appear to be longer versions with the same construction. I bet they're real cuttin' sons of guns.
 
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I have one of the old WWII or Korean War era E-tools. The handle has a split in it; does anyone know where I might get a replacement? I've thought about getting a shovel handle at TSC and cutting it down to fit.
 
Couldn't you just take it down to a local metal shop and have them weld it?
 
The wood handle has a split in it; I think I have it wrapped with tape (haven't seen it for a while) but I'd like to replace the handle.
 
BobM77 said:
The wood handle has a split in it; I think I have it wrapped with tape (haven't seen it for a while) but I'd like to replace the handle.
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OH--ok. Yeah you could cut a normal handle down to size. Also Lee Valley carries a wire clamping too for reinforcing split handles.
 
I like shovels in the woods and use mine all the time. I'm thinking about drilling a couple of holes in my SF shovel after reading what 42 said. I do tend to dig in mud when digging near a stream for filtered water. I do it for fun mostly, same with digging a fire bed, snow shelter (It's snowing outside!) etc. The folding shovel looks cool on Lee Valley site, but it's never available. I really like the CS SF shovel I just wish it had some changes. Oh and they tend to come in bad shape.
 
I will. I'm thinking of gluing a metal washer at the end of the wooden handle, to better protect it when hammering in tent stakes. Hey 42, how do you carry a cold steel sf shovel on hikes? I've tried several ways now with nothing satisfactory. By hanging it on my belt in it's sheath it smacks my leg as I walk.
 
On hikes I carry my hori hori, usually, but if I were to carry the SF Shovel I'd lash it to my pack.
 
What? You mean because I misread the post and suggested welding wood? :p
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
What? You mean because I misread the post and suggested welding wood? :p
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No, no. I didn't mean it sarcasticly at all. It should be easy enough to find some piping of some sort that would mate to the shovel to get welded together. I just had never thought of that.
 
Ah--gotcha. If you can, try to find a good TIG welder, and leave the bead on the piece. It'll be uglier than grinding it down, but it'll be stronger, too.
 
I was thinking of a hori hori. Something more substantial than a plastic spade for cat holes. But not as big as my sf shovel. Any suggestions?
 
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