Recommend a good shovel please

[64merc]

Hey guys,
I may be doing some work around my house in the near future and I would like to finally get a decent shovel or two. Can anyone recommend a quality brand that will last a long time and not break easily?

Edit: Should I look for a certain handle material? (wood, fiberglass, etc)

 

[wrenchr]

Hey guys,
I may be doing some work around my house in the near future and I would like to finally get a decent shovel or two. Can anyone recommend a quality brand that will last a long time and not break easily?

Wife giving you trouble to!!!

 

[boiler7904]

Ames True Temper makes a lot of tools under various brands: Ames, True Temper, Kodiak, Pony, and Jackson.

Several Levels of quality available from Homeowner grade with 5 year warranty to pro grade with a lifetime warranty. All depends on what you want to spend. I just bought a couple of their mid grade tools last week - spade and transfer shovel and am happy with them so far. Also picked up a hand tamper by them too. The one thing I don't like is the rubber grips they put over the wood handles. I've already torn one of them.

I got my stuff at Lowes but you can usually find Ames True Temper stuff at Ace Hardware and other good hardware / landscape supply stores.

 

[64merc]

Wife giving you trouble to!!!

Damn, you're good!!!

 

[beardking]

It kind of goes without saying, but leave the "Bronco" brand from HD at the HD. The blades are made of too light of a guage of metal and flex a lot under use. The handles are pretty crappy and the connection of the blade to the handle works loose really quick. The only reason I have one is because someone didn't like it so much that they threw it in my back yard over my fence one day.

 

[gotmud13613]

+ 1 for the Ames, Years of service with no loose/broken handles.

 

[T56 Impala]

I had Ames stuff for years. Never one broken, loose handle or any other problem. Two shovels, post hole digger, 2 rakes and I'm sure others. I got the first shovel in 1997 in Florida. It was used and abused. Left outside for more than a year! Only surface rust (no pitting) and though the handle is faded on one side it is as strong as ever.

 

[lucasd2002]

I like these.

 

[billymade]

I don't think they are the best out there but the Craftsman line DOES have a lifetime warranty.

 

[kbs2244]

I don’t like the cushioned handles.
Doing it right often means sliding the handle through your hand.
Get a smooth handle and ware gloves.

 

[PoorOwner]

I REALLY like my fiskar steel handle shovels, I have broken many wood ones. I can really work hard with the all steel welded contruction (except for the D-handles are plastic)

http://www.fiskars.com/webapp/wcs/s...01&langId=-1&catalogId=10101&categoryId=10274

I imagine it weights a little more.. but the all steel digging shovel would be my lifetime purchase.

 

[JMURiz]

I just bought one of these from Rigid (at Home Depot). The shovel head goes about 18" up the shaft of the f'glass handle.
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/Digging-Shovel-Fiberglass-Handle/EN/index.htm

 

[HoustonPSD]

I bought some 2/$6 shovels at Northern Tool a while back. I do irrigation work on the side and these have surprisingly held up well. I don't even know the brand. I have broken everything but steel handles. I just keep these sharpened and use less leverage (aka abuse). They just planted 18 trees and 10 shrubs in my yard (thick gumbo) and they did well.

I've always liked Ames products.

 

[krusty the clown]

i prefer a shovelhead............like this

[/IMG]

 

[wilbilt]

I like the True Temper tools, actually.

I have purchased a new True Temper spade for each of my daughter's suitors.

 

[kbs2244]

Kursty:
I like your taste!
The tank is a little small, but I probably wouldn’t out last it anyway.
Wilbuilt:
Your good advice comes too late.

 

[Da Bull]

I have these from Lee Valley:

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=56798&cat=2,44813,56834&ap=1:

 

[Coach James]

True Temper #2. I've used them for years and held up well.

Coach

 

[autoclassicnut]

The best shovels I've ever been around, are the ones that someone else is holding!

 

[beardking]

The best shovels I've ever been around, are the ones that someone else is holding!

WE HAVE A WINNAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

 

[eschoendorff]

I like the True Temper tools, actually.

I have purchased a new True Temper spade for each of my daughter's suitors.

I just got that!

 

[Coach James]

Does Snap On make shovels? Probably cost $750 but would be the best the world has ever seen.

Coach

 

[dxdexter]

The best shovels I've ever been around, are the ones that someone else is holding!

Totally right.

Or the one connected to an excavator.

 

[Mr. Welsh]

I usually buy the contractor-grade stuff at HD/Lowes. They aren't anything special but they'll last for a while.

No sense in buying a really nice shovel...if it breaks just go buy another. How's that for a lifetime warranty?

Wood/fiberglass is a toss up for me. More likely to fail at the connections anyway probably. Or when you forget where you left one and drive over it with your truck or some heavy equipment. The all steel shovels are quite heavy so I avoid them, but they do look robust.

 

[Mr. Welsh]

I like the True Temper tools, actually.

I have purchased a new True Temper spade for each of my daughter's suitors.

Hey I might be interested. What else did they get?

 

[wilbilt]

Hey I might be interested. What else did they get?

A size 12 boot in the a**, LOL.

All except for the one she is going to marry next month. He actually knows how to use a shovel.

 

[Mr. Welsh]

Well I've seen your tool boxes. You've got nothing to worry about.

 

[mulepackin]

Nupla makes very high quality shovels, and hand tools of that type (axes, mattocks, etc.)