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#1
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How to break a spade
About 20 years ago I bought a full-size stainless steel spade (made by
Griffin). It hasn't had a great amount of use. Today I was trying to dig up an old variegated Euonymus. Its roots were somewhat entangled with those of a 30-years old Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii' (which was cut down on Friday). I got half the Euonymus roots cut through, then using one of the Ellwoodii roots as a lever point, pushed down as hard as I could on the spade. There was a loud crack, and something gave. I thought the plastic handle of the spade had broken, but it was fine. The Euonymus was still in the ground. Pulling out the spade, I was amazed to find that the blade had split horizontally about 3/4 of the way across, an inch or two below where it became the shaft. How could this happen? Stainless steel isn't brittle, and having split, why didn't it split all the way across? Anyone had a similar experience? -- Jeff |
#2
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How to break a spade
On 19/11/2012 18:43, Jeff Layman wrote:
About 20 years ago I bought a full-size stainless steel spade (made by Griffin). It hasn't had a great amount of use. Today I was trying to dig up an old variegated Euonymus. Its roots were somewhat entangled with those of a 30-years old Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii' (which was cut down on Friday). I got half the Euonymus roots cut through, then using one of the Ellwoodii roots as a lever point, pushed down as hard as I could on the spade. There was a loud crack, and something gave. I thought the plastic handle of the spade had broken, but it was fine. The Euonymus was still in the ground. Pulling out the spade, I was amazed to find that the blade had split horizontally about 3/4 of the way across, an inch or two below where it became the shaft. How could this happen? Stainless steel isn't brittle, and having split, why didn't it split all the way across? Anyone had a similar experience? Almost. I once used a 'Neverbend' fork from Woolworths (not their brand, though) and attempted to remove roots from some form of Cuppressus. Unknowingly, I had inserted the fork below a buried stone slab ... 'Neverbends' never bend .. they snap. Since I was a 7.5 stone weakling at the time, I took it back to Woolies and was given a replacement. I blush to think of it now, but I couldn't afford to replace it then. Can't explain your stainless steel break, though, unless there was a latent metal weakness from manufacture. It's undoubtedly out of its guarantee period, so looks like you'll have to spend some dosh. What a shame. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
#3
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How to break a spade
On Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:43:42 +0000, Jeff Layman
wrote: About 20 years ago I bought a full-size stainless steel spade (made by Griffin). It hasn't had a great amount of use. Today I was trying to dig up an old variegated Euonymus. Its roots were somewhat entangled with those of a 30-years old Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii' (which was cut down on Friday). I got half the Euonymus roots cut through, then using one of the Ellwoodii roots as a lever point, pushed down as hard as I could on the spade. There was a loud crack, and something gave. I thought the plastic handle of the spade had broken, but it was fine. The Euonymus was still in the ground. Pulling out the spade, I was amazed to find that the blade had split horizontally about 3/4 of the way across, an inch or two below where it became the shaft. How could this happen? Stainless steel isn't brittle, and having split, why didn't it split all the way across? Anyone had a similar experience? When I first moved here, 21ish years ago, a friend bought me a set of stainless steel spade and fork as a housewarming present. Cannot remember the brand now save that it was a quality one. The spade blade snapped like yours within a few months and the fork tines buckled even more quickly. The friend returned them and got a refund (bought me something else). I went out and bought a cheap set from somewhere; paid little more than a fiver for the pair. I still have them though the fork tines are a little bent. Conversely, I've gone through 3 sets of stainless steel spades and forks - spades snap, fork tines bend too easily. Cheers, Jake ======================================= Urgling from the East End of Swansea Bay where sometimes it's raining and sometimes it's not. |
#4
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How to break a spade
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message ... About 20 years ago I bought a full-size stainless steel spade (made by Griffin). It hasn't had a great amount of use. Today I was trying to dig up an old variegated Euonymus. Its roots were somewhat entangled with those of a 30-years old Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii' (which was cut down on Friday). I got half the Euonymus roots cut through, then using one of the Ellwoodii roots as a lever point, pushed down as hard as I could on the spade. There was a loud crack, and something gave. I thought the plastic handle of the spade had broken, but it was fine. The Euonymus was still in the ground. Pulling out the spade, I was amazed to find that the blade had split horizontally about 3/4 of the way across, an inch or two below where it became the shaft. How could this happen? Stainless steel isn't brittle, and having split, why didn't it split all the way across? Stainless isn't brittle like cast iron, it won't shatter into pieces, but it will (depending on the grade) crack or break rather than bend. As to why it stopped when it did, that's probably as far as the crack had got when you eased off and removed the force. Steve |
#5
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How to break a spade
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message ...
About 20 years ago I bought a full-size stainless steel spade (made by Griffin). It hasn't had a great amount of use. Today I was trying to dig up an old variegated Euonymus. Its roots were somewhat entangled with those of a 30-years old Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii' (which was cut down on Friday). I got half the Euonymus roots cut through, then using one of the Ellwoodii roots as a lever point, pushed down as hard as I could on the spade. There was a loud crack, and something gave. I thought the plastic handle of the spade had broken, but it was fine. The Euonymus was still in the ground. Pulling out the spade, I was amazed to find that the blade had split horizontally about 3/4 of the way across, an inch or two below where it became the shaft. How could this happen? Stainless steel isn't brittle, and having split, why didn't it split all the way across? Probably due to metal fatigue. It's like breaking a piece of wire by bending it back and forth several time until it breaks! You have probably unknowingly bent it at that point many times before and it bent back. This time it didn't:-) Mike |
#6
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How to break a spade
In article ,
Muddymike wrote: "Jeff Layman" wrote in message ... How could this happen? Stainless steel isn't brittle, and having split, why didn't it split all the way across? Probably due to metal fatigue. It's like breaking a piece of wire by bending it back and forth several time until it breaks! You have probably unknowingly bent it at that point many times before and it bent back. This time it didn't:-) And, actually, most stainless and high-tensile steels ARE brittle compared to most mild steels. They will get fatigue first rather than work-hardening, which is what the latter usually does. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#8
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How to break a spade
Chris J Dixon wrote in
: wrote: In article , Probably due to metal fatigue. It's like breaking a piece of wire by bending it back and forth several time until it breaks! You have probably unknowingly bent it at that point many times before and it bent back. This time it didn't:-) And, actually, most stainless and high-tensile steels ARE brittle compared to most mild steels. They will get fatigue first rather than work-hardening, which is what the latter usually does. Indeed. There was a time, when standard car exhausts were a lot less durable than they now seem to be, that stainless steel replacements were available, at a price, with warranty for as long as you owned the vehicle. The small print laid down conditions relating to the state of the engine mounts. If there was a failure, it hadn't corroded, but had simply been shaken apart. Chris I remember my dad buying a ss exhaust for his Triumph Dolmite in the 80's. What a mistake. It cracked every time after numerous replacements. In the end he reverted back to the origional mild steel type. Baz |
#9
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How to break a spade
Martin wrote in
news I remember my dad buying a ss exhaust for his Triumph Dolmite in the 80's. What a mistake. It cracked every time after numerous replacements. In the end he reverted back to the origional mild steel type. I bought one from Kwikfit in Ramsgate in 1983 after a holiday of having a normal exhaust welded and repeatedly breaking on a near new Ford Escort. It all started with a Hovercraft crossing on a nice sunny day. The first guy who welded it, in Dover, told me that he had lots of broken exhausts on cars that had been on the Hovercraft. We had it welded again at a motorway service place near Malmsbury on the M4 and then again in Padstow. In Ramsgate we decided to buy a new exhaust and the guy sold us a stainless steel exhaust for the price of a normal steel exhaust. It was still OK when we traded the car in two years later. Two very different experiences. Possibly differences with engine mounts and gearbox? Ford used to use a differential(rear drive) and Triumph used front wheel drive on later models. A bit like Morris, Austin and later, British Leyland did back then, engine and gearbox as one unit and all of them now do that.This doesn't explain why a rear drive SS would be working and not cracking. But I would bet that all the research would have been front wheel drive later on. Baz |
#10
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How to break a spade
On 19/11/2012 18:43, Jeff Layman wrote:
Thanks for all the replies. Most interesting to see others know of problems, too. I probably will get another SS spade, but won't push it beyond its limits this time! -- Jeff |
#11
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How to break a spade
Jeff Layman wrote in news:k8gia3$jqb$2
@news.albasani.net: On 19/11/2012 18:43, Jeff Layman wrote: Thanks for all the replies. Most interesting to see others know of problems, too. I probably will get another SS spade, but won't push it beyond its limits this time! I would not be without my Spear & Jackson all metal spade. http://tinyurl.com/7dbdces I have used it as a crowbar to take out large tree roots and bounced on it with all my weight. The best garden tool I ever bought. You will NEVER break it. Baz |
#12
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Quote:
Regards, Lannerman. |
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