Best shovel brands

[wjjeep]

Is Nupla Tools still in business? No Facebook posts since early 2020, last online catalog I was able to find was 2019, and their website has been inaccessible (for me anyways).

 

[isb cornbinder]

Today True Temper continues U.S. manufacturing operations for , and assemble, package, and distribute True Temper tools for sale throughout the country and abroad. True Temper is the best of the best.

 

[neophyte]

Is Nupla Tools still in business? No Facebook posts since early 2020, last online catalog I was able to find was 2019, and their website has been inaccessible (for me anyways).

It looks like Nupla is owned by “SaundersMidwest”, which also owns Ullman (the manufacturer of hook and pick tools), Hisco (a shovel brand), Saunders (a manufacturer of aluminum, plastic, and chipboard document holders), Midwest (a manufacturer of modeling woods from Bass Wood and and Balsa Wood such as you might get from a Craft store), and Milestones (some sort of Craft Mosaic kits that you would also get from a craft store).
One of the “Nupla” Trademarks is listed as “Dead”, but two others are still listed as “Live”.

 

[tjpavlov]

Well, this was a timely thread for me. My trusty Craftsman fiberglass digging shovel gave up the ghost this weekend. I emailed Craftsman just to see what would happen. I received a quick response back, asking for a photo of the shovel. I send off a snap and.... my email bounced back. Inbox is full.

So I guess I am in the market for a shovel. Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread!

 

[gfd_703]

Bluegrass IB2 is all the grave diggers would use when digging by hand. I sold them when in the hardware business. TrueTemper still makes them but you will hardly ever see one in a store. Just out of most people's budget. It is a flat back solid shank shovel. No hollow pocket on the back where the handle attaches. It is flatter profile with less curve in the pan. Made more for digging rather than shoveling loose material. I buy every one I find at estate sales and auctions. Sharpen them like a knife. I have some that are 1/2 the size they were originally due to years of sharpening. Thise are actually my favorites. You will throw rocks at anything else if you ever get one

 

[WisJim]

The shovels that we have ended up keeping and using are mostly Ames and Tru-temper (and maybe some others) that I have gotten at farm auctions or garage sales over the years. Most of the shovels that I bought new were much inferior to older ones, with handles that have crooked or sloped grain so they break easily, stamped metal parts that wear quickly, bend, and sometimes break. I haven't been impressed with the new ones that I have looked at in area stores, but I can't judge other brands that I haven't looked at in person.

 

[bb29510]

the contractor choice here is razor backs, I use HD cheapy because people take them off my truck

 

[toolmiser]

I wrecked my good shovel a couple years ago. I used to be able to find decent ones at a garage sale, but wouldn't you know if you want one, there was none to be found.

 

[neophyte]

I wrecked my good shovel a couple years ago. I used to be able to find decent ones at a garage sale, but wouldn't you know if you want one, there was none to be found.

People probably tossed the old shovels because “better” shiny new ones were so inexpensive.

 

[speed bump]

If you want a nice heavy duty shovel then a forest service firefighters shovel is a good answer.

Personally I don't typically go after really heavy duty shovels because the goal is to move dirt not shovels. The only exception would be something I used for clearing ice or roots where I am going to use it as a pry bar/cutting tool.

 

[Outahere]

This morning I drove to my local North 40 store and bought a Bully long handled (fiberglass) shovel for $47 plus tax. Its blade is available in closed back and open back versions; I chose the closed back.

The Best Shovel

The right shovel can last a lifetime in the garden.

www.nytimes.com

...The Bully also has a superior blade. It is made of thick 14-gauge steel...

...Its handle is a hybrid design. The Bully’s handle is unique among shovels we tested. It consists of a polypropylene core wrapped in high-strength fiberglass. (An outer polypropylene layer prevents any of the glass fibers from escaping—they can cause irritation.) The result is a superstrong handle that’s also lightweight and rot-proof. Whereas solid fiberglass handles have an unpleasant tendency to whip or shudder on impact, resulting in sore hands, the Bully’s hybrid handle absorbs shock almost as well as solid wood...

...Its socket is strong. Just above the blade, you’ll see another feature not found on any other shovel we tested: a welded “I-beam” on the arch of the blade-socket transition. It adds stiffness and strength under heavy loads. The socket itself extends almost a foot up the handle, spreading digging forces over a large area, and is both glued and riveted in place...

 

[Ton ton]

This morning I drove to my local North 40 store and bought a Bully long handled (fiberglass) shovel for $47 plus tax. Its blade is available in closed back and open back versions; I chose the closed back.

The Best Shovel

The right shovel can last a lifetime in the garden.

www.nytimes.com

They work well until someone flattens bully tools dirt shovels with a heavy piece of equipment.

 

[sparky 1971]

As far as I'm concerned, the best shovels out there are the kind someone else is using. I don't care what the brand is, it's been proven that none of them will fit in my hands.