evolution of the shovel

During the Neolithic Era and the early Bronze Era people used shovels made of an ox's shoulder blade in Britain while the Chinese were using spades that closely resembled our shovel of today as early as 1100 B.C. Eskimo's utilized the bones of whales and walruses as shovels to make igloos and for carving ice.

When was the first shovel invented?

3,000 – 1,000 BC approx.) Recent discoveries of Bronze Age tools have provided further evidence of prehistoric mining practices and the extraction of metal from its ore. A wooden shovel – discovered at Alderley Edge copper mines in Cheshire – has been dated back to approximately 1750 BC.

Who invented the spade shovel?

Our Story. The Spear Head Spade® garden shovel was designed by 85-year old Daniel Mathieu. With 2 artificial knees and 2 artificial hips, he found it increasingly difficult to dig and cultivate his garden. In fact, it was so painful he thought he would have to give up his favorite hobby.

What is the classification of shovel?

A shovel is a tool for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials, such as soil, coal, gravel, snow, sand, or ore. Most shovels are hand tools consisting of a broad blade fixed to a medium-length handle. Shovel blades are usually made of sheet steel or hard plastics and are very strong.

Why do American shovels have no handles?

A shovel (US: “scoop”) has a wider blade and raised rim, to “shovel” (ie, lift and carry) more loose material - like a spoon. ... A straight handle without a crosspiece makes this harder to use, because of the weight of the material on the blade will cause a twisting moment about the handle, which needs to be controlled.

What Is a Number 2 shovel?

Once, round point shovels came in many sizes: 0, 00, 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. Today only the four smallest – 0 through 2 – are made, of which the No. 2 (with a head of about 9”x12”) is most common.

What is a garden shovel called?

Garden Shovel

Also known as: garden spade, garden trowel, hand shovel, hand trowel. A garden shovel is a small, short-handled gardening tool often erroneously called a garden spade. They have a pointed cutting edge and tend to have a V-shaped or rounded blade to improve scooping.

What does Spade mean sexually?

to flirt with a person. Go away.

What is an Irish shovel?

Sneeboer Celtic Shovel / Spade

The shovel has a broad 'ace of spades' head which is concave in cross section which means that you can get a lot of material onto the head, and an angle between the head and shaft so it is easy to push the head into piles of 'stuff' and to lift using only arms and legs and not ones back.

What is difference between shovel and spade?

A spade is shorter and has a flat blade, while a shovel is longer, angled, and its blade is curved into more of a scoop. ... Spades are best for cutting into sod, edging, or digging trenches—anything that requires a sharp, straight edge.

What is a skinny shovel called?

Trench shovels are also often called post hole shovels due to their long, narrow blades that fit well into these types of holes to help clean them out.

What is a pointed shovel called?

Trench shovels have a long and narrow blade with a pointed tip, and the blade is set at an angle.

What is a transfer shovel?

Sand, soil, or debris -- Jackson^® transfer shovels can move it all. Our consumer and commercial transfer shovels are perfect for moving loose garden material, sand, top soil, and more.

Should you sharpen a spade?

Digging with a sharp shovel and spade will make your gardening and landscaping days much easier! Most shovels come with a dull edge so it is best to sharpen them right away and touch-up the edge once in a while just as you do a kitchen knife to keep it sharp!

What is a solid shank shovel?

Most homeowner-grade shovels and spades employ hollow-back construction. "Construction-grade" tools are usually solid shank. These terms refer to how the manufacturer forms the socket to join the blade and handle. Solid-shank tools have both blade and socket forged from a single bar of metal.

What type of steel are shovels made from?

Most steel shovels are made from either: Carbon steel , which offers supreme strength. Manganese steel (contains approximately 13% manganese), a material highly resistant to wear and high-impact shock. Stainless steel (contains a minimum of 10.5% chromium), which is highly resistant to scratching and rust.

What is the purpose of shovel?

Shovel is a tool used to dig as well as to move loose, granular materials (like dirt, gravel, grain, or snow) from one spot to another. Spade is a tool used for digging straight-edged holes or trenches, slicing and lifting sod, and edging flower beds or lawns.

How long is a normal shovel?

The standard length of a shovel is usually about 1.2m (48″) overall, although this will vary according to the size and shape of the blade and socket. Those taller than 1.8m (5 ft 10) may find a shovel of 1.4m (4 ft 6) plus in length more suitable…

How wide is a shovel?

Compliance

Blade Length	12"
Blade Width	9-1/2"
Handle Length	48"
Handle Material	Fiberglass
Handle Type	Straight

What does shovel mean?

1 : a tool with a long handle and broad scoop used to lift and throw loose material (as dirt or snow) 2 : as much as a shovel will hold a shovel of sand. shovel. verb. shoveled or shovelled; shoveling or shovelling.

What is a drain shovel?

A drainage shovel is used for digging long, narrow channels for drainage pipes, irrigation work and for laying cables. ... Its slim shape means that less soil will be taken out, giving a neat finish to your trench digging.