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spade recommendations?
Hello,
I broke our spade trying to dig out some roots. In the past I have always bought a cheap fork and spade set from somewhere like B&Q. Are all spades created equal or are the expensive ones better in some way? I see some are carbon steel and others are stainless steel. I imagine stainless steel is less likely to rust but in my experience, the carbon steel ones have not rusted but perhaps that's because they haven't lasted long enough to rust! What about forks? I always seem to bend the tines but as with the spade, that is user-error abusing them to when digging out roots. Are there any with more robust tines? One last question: border spades and digging spades. Is the border spade just a slightly smaller version of the digging spade? Which do you use, or do you have one of each? Thanks, Stephen. |
spade recommendations?
In article ,
Stephen wrote: I broke our spade trying to dig out some roots. In the past I have always bought a cheap fork and spade set from somewhere like B&Q. Are all spades created equal or are the expensive ones better in some way? Some are, but the increasing dominance of marketing and a few huge companies means that most are merely more gimmicky. If you want a stronger spade, you should try to get to a traditional agricultural supplies merchant. I haven't bought a tool from one in ages, but they are more likely to be stronger and heavier than the ones sold for domestic use. Ditto for forks. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
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spade recommendations?
Stephen wrote in
: Hello, I broke our spade trying to dig out some roots. In the past I have always bought a cheap fork and spade set from somewhere like B&Q. Are all spades created equal or are the expensive ones better in some way? I see some are carbon steel and others are stainless steel. I imagine stainless steel is less likely to rust but in my experience, the carbon steel ones have not rusted but perhaps that's because they haven't lasted long enough to rust! What about forks? I always seem to bend the tines but as with the spade, that is user-error abusing them to when digging out roots. Are there any with more robust tines? One last question: border spades and digging spades. Is the border spade just a slightly smaller version of the digging spade? Which do you use, or do you have one of each? Thanks, Stephen. http://tinyurl.com/7dbdces I have had the previous model for 4 years now, and it has been used to dig out tree stumps. It is a one piece design and WILL NOT break, even if you use it as a crowbar as I have. I have bounced on it to get tree roots out.B&Q sell it but will be cheaper at the builders merchant. Don't confuse similar ones with rivets joining the spade to the handle, they WILL break under pressure although better than wooden handles. I think mine will outlast me. A border spade or fork is used where a full size tool will not fit the area which is being dug, also possibly used by the less strong gardeners, children or elderly for example. There is not a fork in the world where the tines will not bend under pressure. You can straighten a tine with the aid of a piece of steel piping or conduit(not copper because it is not strong enough). My personal thoughts are to buy an indestructable spade and a cheapish fork. Hope this helps Baz |
spade recommendations?
On 06/03/2012 11:22, Baz wrote:
wrote in : Hello, I broke our spade trying to dig out some roots. In the past I have always bought a cheap fork and spade set from somewhere like B&Q. Are all spades created equal or are the expensive ones better in some way? I see some are carbon steel and others are stainless steel. I imagine stainless steel is less likely to rust but in my experience, the carbon steel ones have not rusted but perhaps that's because they haven't lasted long enough to rust! What about forks? I always seem to bend the tines but as with the spade, that is user-error abusing them to when digging out roots. Are there any with more robust tines? One last question: border spades and digging spades. Is the border spade just a slightly smaller version of the digging spade? Which do you use, or do you have one of each? Thanks, Stephen. http://tinyurl.com/7dbdces I have had the previous model for 4 years now, and it has been used to dig out tree stumps. It is a one piece design and WILL NOT break, even if you use it as a crowbar as I have. I have bounced on it to get tree roots out.B&Q sell it but will be cheaper at the builders merchant. Don't confuse similar ones with rivets joining the spade to the handle, they WILL break under pressure although better than wooden handles. I think mine will outlast me. A border spade or fork is used where a full size tool will not fit the area which is being dug, also possibly used by the less strong gardeners, children or elderly for example. There is not a fork in the world where the tines will not bend under pressure. You can straighten a tine with the aid of a piece of steel piping or conduit(not copper because it is not strong enough). My personal thoughts are to buy an indestructable spade and a cheapish fork. Hope this helps Baz The plastic handled jobs I saw in Wilkos for £6 something looked pretty strong. I think Screwfix do them too. |
spade recommendations?
On 06/03/2012 16:38, stuart noble wrote:
The plastic handled jobs I saw in Wilkos for £6 something looked pretty strong. I think Screwfix do them too. I bought a pair of cheapish plastic ( fibreglass tube AFAICT) and stainless steel jobs. The steel bits are fine. The plastic bits cannot cope with levering out roots. Four Candles anyone ? |
spade recommendations?
On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:57:59 +0000, Paul Luton
wrote: On 06/03/2012 16:38, stuart noble wrote: The plastic handled jobs I saw in Wilkos for £6 something looked pretty strong. I think Screwfix do them too. I bought a pair of cheapish plastic ( fibreglass tube AFAICT) and stainless steel jobs. The steel bits are fine. The plastic bits cannot cope with levering out roots. Four Candles anyone ? Get one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-Ch.../dp/B0001IWJ4Q Gets roots in a jiffy as you get some really long leverage. Great for levering out metpost spikes, lumps of concrete around fence posts, anything heavy. Also makes mincemeat of heavy clay/stone sub-soil. Cheers, Jake ======================================= Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay. |
spade recommendations?
On 06/03/2012 16:57, Paul Luton wrote:
On 06/03/2012 16:38, stuart noble wrote: The plastic handled jobs I saw in Wilkos for £6 something looked pretty strong. I think Screwfix do them too. I bought a pair of cheapish plastic ( fibreglass tube AFAICT) and stainless steel jobs. The steel bits are fine. The plastic bits cannot cope with levering out roots. Four Candles anyone ? Hm. I did wonder about that. These handles seem to be solid rather than tubular, but I couldn't swear to it. |
spade recommendations?
Jake wrote in
: On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:57:59 +0000, Paul Luton wrote: On 06/03/2012 16:38, stuart noble wrote: The plastic handled jobs I saw in Wilkos for £6 something looked pretty strong. I think Screwfix do them too. I bought a pair of cheapish plastic ( fibreglass tube AFAICT) and stainless steel jobs. The steel bits are fine. The plastic bits cannot cope with levering out roots. Four Candles anyone ? Get one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-Ch.../dp/B0001IWJ4Q Gets roots in a jiffy as you get some really long leverage. Great for levering out metpost spikes, lumps of concrete around fence posts, anything heavy. Also makes mincemeat of heavy clay/stone sub-soil. Cheers, Jake ======================================= Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay. Did anybody follow this link I posted? http://tinyurl.com/7dbdces If not then I urge you to. Best bit of kit I ever bought. Expensive I know but will last a lifetime, and some more. Baz |
spade recommendations?
On Mar 6, 8:43*am, Stephen wrote:
Hello, I broke our spade trying to dig out some roots. In the past I have always bought a cheap fork and spade set from somewhere like B&Q. Are all spades created equal or are the expensive ones better in some way? I see some are carbon steel and others are stainless steel. I imagine stainless steel is less likely to rust but in my experience, the carbon steel ones have not rusted but perhaps that's because they haven't lasted long enough to rust! What about forks? I always seem to bend the tines but as with the spade, that is user-error abusing them to when digging out roots. Are there any with more robust tines? One last question: border spades and digging spades. Is the border spade just a slightly smaller version of the digging spade? Which do you use, or do you have one of each? Thanks, Stephen. Have a look round a car boot sale. The heavier the spade, the stronger it will be. They made indestructable spades back then. Just watch that the handle is OK. Failing that, the builders merchant. Again, heavier is better. A good one is expensive. I had an SS one. It was crap,it broke after about two years. |
spade recommendations?
On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:37:39 +0000, Jake
wrote: On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:57:59 +0000, Paul Luton wrote: On 06/03/2012 16:38, stuart noble wrote: The plastic handled jobs I saw in Wilkos for £6 something looked pretty strong. I think Screwfix do them too. I bought a pair of cheapish plastic ( fibreglass tube AFAICT) and stainless steel jobs. The steel bits are fine. The plastic bits cannot cope with levering out roots. Four Candles anyone ? Get one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-Ch.../dp/B0001IWJ4Q Gets roots in a jiffy as you get some really long leverage. Great for levering out metpost spikes, lumps of concrete around fence posts, anything heavy. Also makes mincemeat of heavy clay/stone sub-soil. Cheers, Jake ======================================= Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay. A reasonable facsimile can be obtained from Wickes for about £16. Regards JonH |
spade recommendations?
On 03/06/2012 06:55 PM, Baz wrote:
Did anybody follow this link I posted? Dead link for me, Baz, I'm afraid. |
spade recommendations?
Emery Davis wrote in news:9rn739FslU1
@mid.individual.net: On 03/06/2012 06:55 PM, Baz wrote: Did anybody follow this link I posted? Dead link for me, Baz, I'm afraid. Sorry to hear that. Go to B&Q site and search for Fiskars Power Digging Spade. That ought to do it. Baz |
spade recommendations?
In article ,
Jake wrote: On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:59:10 +0000, wrote: I bought a pair of cheapish plastic ( fibreglass tube AFAICT) and stainless steel jobs. The steel bits are fine. The plastic bits cannot cope with levering out roots. Four Candles anyone ? Get one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-Ch.../dp/B0001IWJ4Q Gets roots in a jiffy as you get some really long leverage. Great for levering out metpost spikes, lumps of concrete around fence posts, anything heavy. Also makes mincemeat of heavy clay/stone sub-soil. A reasonable facsimile can be obtained from Wickes for about £16. Mine fell, indirectly, off the back of a fire engine (well it was a clearout of the garage of a recently deceased fireman). The Amazon link was the first I came across. However, make sure if you buy one "cheap" that it is hardened and tempered carbon steel. I've seen one, made of simple galvanised low quality steel, shatter and spring into the air. Mine was left in the garden when we moved in. It is slightly bent - and, no, I did not do that :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
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