Bayonet shovel - we reveal the secrets of the protagonist of earthworks!

Today, old tools have been replaced by new, modernized types of shovels of high quality. In order for the version of the tool you have purchased to be able to cope with any types of soil, be suitable for transplanting plants, digging the ground and help you cope with the task as quickly as possible and with minimal effort on your part, you must responsibly approach its choice before buying. The right choice of the best shovel, be it a bayonet or a shovel, will help to do a lot of work, without undue stress on the back and arms - this is a good buy.

How to choose a shovel

We decide on the type of shovel that you need. Some shovels are used in industry and construction, others in the garden and in the garden, others are indispensable in the hike and on the road. Decide for what purpose you need a shovel, this will greatly facilitate your choice.

The main types of shovels by field of application

• For garden and vegetable garden Garden shovel universal for various tasks on a suburban area. Has a rectangular tray bent forward, resembling a scoop. The shank is sometimes equipped with a transverse handle.
• Ripper shovel for loosening the soil without turning it over.
• Digging shovel for digging up the top layer of soil, chopping up roots.

If you need a multifunctional shovel for a suburban area, look at the garden shovel. It has the classic shape of a bucket and a handle, so it is convenient for long-term digging of the garden and work in the garden. Loading and unloading shovels have a specific design, therefore they are used in a very limited kind of work. The advantage of small-sized shovels is that you can take them with you on the road.

We have known her since childhood - history of the issue

The shovel is a tool that we are all familiar with from early childhood. It was her parents who bought us to have something to do in the sandbox. Likewise in the history of mankind, a tool with digging functions has been present since time immemorial. The only difference is in the materials from which this human assistant was made at different stages of existence. In prehistoric times, a scapula of a large animal or a fragment of elk horns was used as a digging or raking tool.

Later, the bone was replaced by a tree. The main part was also made from it - a tray, it is also called a blade or bayonet, and a handle called a handle. At some point, in order to increase the efficiency of the work, the wooden digging device began to be hammered with iron for strength.And over time, the tray of the shovel for earthworks became metal at all. As for the cuttings, most of them are still made of wood.

Shovel design

• Folding shovel thanks to its compact folded size, it is convenient to put it in the trunk of a car or take it on a hike.
• Bayonet shovel for excavation work in agriculture. It has a flat, pointed shape, equipped with steps on top. Ideal for digging up packed soil, turf.
• Soviet shovel the blade resembles a rectangular bucket. Such a shovel is intended for working with bulk materials, crushed stone, sand, gravel, coal, grain, snow. With its help, it is convenient to mix concrete mortar.
• The telescopic shovel allows you to adjust the length of the handle depending on your height. This reduces the stress on the spine during prolonged work.

Characteristics of the main types of shovels

Selection Tips

Of course, keeping the entire arsenal of existing types of shovels is not always advisable. If you have a small area, a bayonet shovel is most likely the best option.

Finding the right one is not difficult, because this design rightly remains the most common. Its versatility covers almost the entire range of gardening work: digging planting holes, digging up plants for the winter, harvesting.

When choosing, the type of soil on the site plays an important role. Different blades are suitable for their type of soil: loose earth, sand are dug up with a shovel with a rectangular blade.

Rounded and pointed will perform best on hard and clayey ground.

The metal must be at least 1.5 mm thick and the blade must be sharpened. Place the tool in the working position and push down on the bucket: it should not bend.

The "American" allows you to bend less, which reduces back stress and facilitates the work process. The handle and the bucket of such a shovel are connected at a slight angle, while the handle is slightly curved. Some people may find this configuration unusual and therefore less convenient.

Choose inventory for your own height. The optimal height is at the level of the wearer's shoulders. In some cases (when working with heavy soil) it should be shorter, up to the bend of the elbow joint. Just trim off the excess.

For men, massive models with a long, wide bucket are suitable; lighter options are best used by women and adolescents.

Don't forget to get a holder. In order not to puzzle over which one is better to choose, do it yourself: you can find many ideas on the Internet.

That's all the simple tips. We hope that the chosen shovel will serve you faithfully for more than one year.

Bucket material

• The steel shovel is durable, strong but heavy.
• Titanium shovel stronger and lighter than a steel shovel, has low adhesion (wet soil does not stick), durable sharpening. Resistant to aggressive environments, has a pleasant appearance. Disadvantages: titanium metal, although strong, but brittle; low weight is a disadvantage in cases where you need to do shock movements; high price.
• Rail steel shovel high strength thanks to double hardening, elasticity, self-sharpening blade. Lack of great weight.
• Plastic shovel lightweight and cheap, but short-lived.
• Aluminum shovel durable, corrosion resistant, very lightweight but expensive.
• Wooden shovel lightweight and inexpensive, but vulnerable to moisture.

If you are looking for a reliable tool that will last for many years and you are not on a budget, a titanium shovel is the best choice. The classic steel shovel is an inexpensive and reliable alternative, although not as convenient.An aluminum shovel is optimal for removing snow. Plastic and wood are cheap, but unlikely to last more than one season.

Stainless steel

The corresponding product is non-corrosive and fracture-resistant.

Compared to low-carbon steel, stainless steel weighs less, which is why unscrupulous manufacturers save thematic material and release thin blades, which, on the one hand, makes the products even lighter, on the other hand, it only contributes to rapid wear.

Therefore, stainless steel and carbon steel are more welcomed by a shovel, which is subjected to less stress when cutting into the ground, because the latter is predominantly soft or sandy.

Handle material

• Wood is the most affordable option, has a relatively low weight, but low durability.
• Aluminum - reliable and lightweight handle, does not lend itself to corrosion, the disadvantage is high price.
• Carbon fiber (Fiberglass) - The fiberglass handle is strong, reliable and very lightweight, does not corrode, but is expensive.
• Steel - The handle has good strength and durability, but it also weighs a lot.
• Plastic - such a handle is very light, but fragile.

If you want your inventory to be easy to use and durable, pay attention to a shovel handle made of fiberglass or aluminum. If these options are expensive, a classic wooden handle will do. Look out for options with an ergonomic handle. For example, the Fiskars telescopic shovel adjusts the length of the handle, which allows you to adjust the tool for optimal performance.

Leaf steel

Along with the titanium sample, the spring is expensive. But it is springy and easier to grind.

With a Teflon coating, such steel is completely suitable for digging in wet soil. True, the relatively large weight of the spring product will make the user rest more often.

For reference. You can tell the quality of metal by sound. When tapped, the one-piece profile emits a loud ringing, while the hollow one is muffled like a bucket.

Shovel manufacturers

• Tsentroinstrument is a Russian company that produces garden tools using modern technologies.
• FIT is a Canadian manufacturer of high quality garden tools.
• Master Amaz is a domestic manufacturer of affordable inventory.
• Bison is a Russian brand that produces high-quality and reliable tools.
• Revyakino - inexpensive shovels of decent quality from a Moscow company.
• Fiskars is a Finnish company, one of the world leaders in the production of shovels and garden tools. The peculiarity of the models of this manufacturer is high-quality steel, handles made of fine wood, modern composite materials, excellent design and ergonomics.

Domestic shovels are much cheaper than Western models and are of good quality. If you are on a budget, then pay attention to this particular option. If you don't want to compromise on reliability, then the Fiskars shovel is your choice. Many years of experience of the Finns made it possible to bring the design of the tool to perfection, it does not get dull, you do not get tired with it even after a long work, such a shovel will serve for many years. She's really worth her money.

Which shovel is better?

So, which shovel is better? Decide for what purpose you need this inventory. Depending on this, select the type of shovel and the type of its construction. When choosing, pay attention to the quality and material of the working part. Shovel handle an important element affecting usability. Consider also the brand; domestic manufacturers offer affordable goods; the tool of Western companies, for example Fiskars, is truly high-tech and reliable, and will last for many years.