From which tree are cuttings for shovels made? How to make an excellent shovel handle without significant costs. How to choose the right handle for a shovel
Scoop shovels are specialized for work where they must withstand heavy loads. They are not suitable for working in the ground, but they can be used perfectly when working with bulk materials such as sand, crushed stone, and coal. Sometimes these types of shovels are used when clearing snow.
Shovel shovels most often have aluminum handles. Snow shovels are often made of lightweight plastic, which have one special feature. If the handle of a bayonet shovel and a garden shovel are straight, then the handle of a shovel is curved and has a handle at the end.
How to make a handle for a shovel?
Making a handle for a shovel is not a difficult or time-consuming task. With perseverance and dexterity, even a novice carpenter or carpenter can make such a necessary thing for the household.
To make a cutting, you must have a strong board or slab, a circular saw, an electric plane, a hand plane, a screwdriver, and self-tapping screws.
Using a circular saw and an electric planer, the board is processed to obtain a rectangular shaped batten, the cross-section of which will be approximately 3 x 4 cm. If desired, you can leave the cutting rectangular in shape. When performing certain types of work, a rectangular handle can be convenient.
Unlike a round handle, it will not slip in your hands and “twist”. If you don’t want the first option, use a hand plane to round the corners, and at the same time sharpen the end of the handle; while working with the plane, you need to apply the pointed end to the bayonet of the shovel - in case it turns out to be thin for the bayonet, you can “screw it up”, thus all the work.
Working with a plane
Continue working with the plane on the block until it can fit halfway into the groove of the bayonet. During the work, it is already noticeable that the groove is located at an angle and does not have the same depth. The shavings are removed from the handle again.
The end of the handle will also have to be beveled towards the blade of the shovel, otherwise it will prevent the tool from digging the ground. How to attach a handle to a shovel? If the block is sharpened correctly, there will be no problems with this; the handle will fit two-thirds into the shovel without effort. All that remains is to drive it into the end of the groove with strong blows against something solid.
We fix the stalk
For reliability, you need to secure it with a self-tapping screw, or with an ordinary nail. Now we need to do the final touch. The shovel is inspected again and the irregularities are processed with sandpaper, the handle is coated with colorless varnish.
A universal tool - a household assistant is ready.
In this article, the reader will learn the importance of the handle for a shovel, how to choose a finished product, and get acquainted with the manufacturing technology of this part of the tool.
What master would deny the indispensability of such a simple tool as a shovel in everyday life, and especially in the process of construction and repair work? When the base of the shovel is strong, the tool does its job properly, and few people pay attention to defects in the handle. But if the cutting suddenly turns out to be too long/short, shaky, and threatens to dry out, then it becomes completely impossible to work.
Brief recommendations for choosing a wooden handle for a bayonet shovel
The mistake of many craftsmen is that often in a hurry, they buy the first factory cutting they come across and try to attach it to an existing bayonet. The result is not always positive. In order not to spoil the tool, it would be nice to know that ordinary shovels are divided into 3 types: type P, type B and type U. Naturally, the metal blade and linings differ in thickness, size and require different cuttings. Knowing the type of bayonet shovel you have, you can safely go to the store where they will select the right type of handle for you.
Small tips will be better remembered if they tell you not what a high-quality cutting should look like, but what it shouldn’t look like. So, on the surface the following are not allowed:
- cracks,
- wormholes
- notches,
- chips,
- bitches,
- flakes,
- rot
The product must have an even, uniform color and a smooth surface. Varnish coating is allowed.
A few words to the summer resident and gardener
As for hoes, weeders and cultivators, the situation with them is simpler. This category of tools is manufactured in accordance with GOST 19598-74, therefore the length of the shovel handle is strictly regulated. There are 3 types of hoes: hilling, weeding and universal. The length of the handle for each type is 1200, 1300, and 1400 mm, respectively. Weeders are also classified into loop (PP), with a zigzag blade (ZL), with a straight blade (PL), and combined (K). The length of the cuttings for PP and PL will be 1200 -1400 mm, for ZL and K - 1100 mm. And finally, the handle for cultivators is most conveniently made with a length of 1200 mm. Now that the technical information is behind us, it will be much easier to purchase a cutting for your garden assistant.
WITH soviet family
Due to their specialization, shovels are required to withstand significant loads. They are not suitable for working in the ground, but they do an excellent job with bulk materials: sand, crushed stone, coal. Sometimes this type of shovel is used for snow removal. Among scoops, you can most often find aluminum shovel handles. Snow removal tools are often made of lightweight, durable plastic. This species has one more feature. If bayonet and garden shovels are usually straight, then scoop shovels have curved handles and handles with a handle at the end.
DIY shovel handle
And now we come to the part of the article that the most creative readers have been waiting for. We dare to assure you that the process of making cuttings for shovels is not particularly complicated or labor-intensive. With a certain perseverance and dexterity, even a novice master can do such a necessary thing.
You should have at your disposal: a strong board or slab, a circular saw, an electric plane, a hand plane, a screwdriver, and a self-tapping screw.
From what you have read above, you already know what defects should not be present in the finished cutting, so you can get an idea of what kind of board to take for the future product.
Using a circular saw and an electric planer, we process the board into a rectangular strip.
Its cross-section will be approximately 3 x 4 cm. At this stage there is one interesting point - you can leave the cutting rectangular. For some types of work, a rectangular handle may be more convenient. Unlike the round handle, it does not slip so much in your hands and does not try to “get out of the way.” If you are not inclined to the first option, use a hand plane to round the corners and gradually sharpen the end of the handle. From time to time you need to apply this pointed end to the bayonet. It is better to remove less wood and then sharpen the handle a little, than to make it too thin and ruin the whole job.
We continue to sharpen the block until it can fit halfway into the bayonet groove. During the process, you have already noticed that the groove is located at an angle and has unequal depth. We remove the shavings from the handle in accordance with this unevenness.
The end of the handle also needs to be beveled towards the blade of the shovel, otherwise it will prevent the tool from entering the ground. How to place a shovel on a handle? If you have sharpened the block correctly, there will be no problems with this; the handle will fit two-thirds into the shovel without much effort. All that remains is to drive it to the end of the groove with strong blows on a hard surface.
The result, for reliability, needs to be secured with a self-tapping screw. In the absence of one, you can use a regular nail. Now you can add the finishing touch. We examine our creation again and sand all the irregularities, cover the handle with transparent varnish. The universal housekeeping assistant is ready. If desired, you can attach a handle to the other end of the handle.
A shovel is one of the most indispensable tools, both in the life of a gardener and in many working professions. During work, first of all, attention is paid to the base of the shovel; if it is sharp and strong enough, then working with it is much easier, but defects in the handle remain aside. However, if suddenly the cutting is very long or, on the contrary, too short, shaky, the wood threatens to dry out, then it is absolutely impossible to work, and labor efficiency is reduced to zero. In addition to the usual wooden ones, there are also aluminum handles for shovels. They are renowned for their greater durability and resistance to erosion. In this article we will talk about how to make a shovel handle.
How to choose the right handle for a shovel
The main problem for craftsmen when choosing a handle is haste, as well as often ignorance, since they choose the first one they come across and already at home there are quite great difficulties in attaching the handle to the bayonet. In order to avoid making such mistakes, you should at least become familiar with the types of shovels in general terms.
There are 3 types of garden shovels:
- digging;
- excavation;
- universal.
In each of these types there are significant differences in the thickness, dimensions of the metal sheet and lining, and therefore the handle must be selected based on these parameters.
First of all, when choosing a factory cutting, you should pay attention to defects, which in the future will significantly affect the productivity and durability of the product:
- rotten places;
- knots;
- flakes;
- cracks;
- notches;
- wormholes;
- chips.
The surface of the cutting should be smooth, even, with a uniform color. It is recommended to pay special attention to the coating - it should be varnish or paint, which prevents accidental splinters from getting under the skin, and also protects against premature deterioration of the material and environmental influences.
Wood selection
Despite the widest range offered by the construction and gardening market, there are several reasons why it is worth making a shovel handle with your own hands. Firstly, for the manufacture of shovel handles in industry, low-quality material is often used, namely wood waste. You can control the process at each stage of production and make a cutting from the highest quality and durable wood.
Secondly, manufacturers often do not pay due attention to drying the product, as a result of which deformation and cracks occur as it dries. The optimal moisture content of purchased wood should not exceed 15%. If you suspect excessive moisture in a purchased product, you can dry it yourself, however, even in this case, defects due to the low quality of the raw materials cannot be ruled out.
Thirdly, the handle is turned as universally as possible using a machine for use with any tool. As a result, it does not fit deep enough into the shovel and requires manual adjustment.
Often, sellers carefully disguise all sorts of defects to increase the price of the product. It is not so easy to identify this on site, but during operation, over time, they begin to appear and cause great inconvenience.
In addition, there are difficulties in determining the material from which the finished product is made. After all, not everyone is able to professionally distinguish one type of wood from another, but the cost of the product largely depends on this factor.
Undoubtedly, most often, handmade products are inferior in aesthetics to industrial ones, but with a competent approach they will be a hundred steps ahead of them in functionality, convenience and quality. To get a strong and comfortable handle for a shovel, it is better to start with the selection of material. The strength and appearance of the finished product depends on it.
The main types of wood that can be used to make shovel cuttings:
- pine - despite the fact that the material is quite easy to process and, due to impregnation with resins, is not afraid of moisture, it has a very short shelf life, since it is very fragile, with low density. At the same time, a large percentage of products on the market are made from pine, since it is a cheap and easy-to-process type of wood;
- birch is quite strong, inexpensive and easy to process. Its main advantage is its ability to withstand heavy loads. The best option for making cuttings;
- beech - very similar in quality to birch, but requires longer processing, since the resin content is minimal and additional protection from moisture is required;
- poplar is a light type of wood that behaves well when processed and is characterized by sufficient strength and durability;
- oak is the strongest of all materials, but very heavy in weight, and therefore handles for shovels are rarely made from it - the tool must be light enough to be comfortable to work with. In addition, oak is quite difficult to process manually, and the cost of such a cutting will be unreasonably high.
Thus, of all types of wood, birch is best suited for making cuttings for shovels. This material can be found without much difficulty at a sawmill or on the market. It should first be checked for cracks, rot or other defects. It is advisable to choose raw materials with a minimum number of knots or without them at all.
The length of the shovel handle should be given special attention. It is optimal when the length of the product reaches the worker’s shoulder, which, according to rough calculations, is 140-180 cm. However, this value may vary depending on individual preferences, the height of the person and the purposes for using the shovel in the future, because a handle that is too long can cause some inconvenience in operation .
How to make a shovel handle
The classic shape of the shovel handle is round. It is ideal if the work involves rotation in your hands. Most of the products on the market are round in shape, but there are also square cuttings. They are less popular and are used solely as desired. In the instructions described below, we will talk about making a round-shaped cutting. With basic carpentry skills, any patient and hardworking owner can handle the job.
Required tools:
- plane;
- wood saw;
- hammer;
- sandpaper;
- antiseptic impregnation;
- glue;
- clear wood varnish or paint.
Making a handle for a shovel occurs in several stages:
- First you need to select the material from which the cutting will be made. In order for the finished product to be perfectly even, you should choose a board or branch twice as thick as the expected diameter of the shovel handle. Carefully inspect it for bends, branches, knots and other defects.
- Next, you should dry the wood well for 15-20 days in the sun. If you use a special blank, you can skip this step.
- Using a plane, you should remove all excess and bring the blank to the required volume of wood, level it to the level and align it along the axis with scrolling movements.
- Thus, you will get a rough workpiece, which should then be sanded. If you have a special grinder in the tools at hand, this greatly simplifies the work. If you don’t have a sanding machine, you should first go over the blank with coarse sandpaper, and then sand it with fine-grained paper.
- At this stage, you need to re-inspect the workpiece, since sanding removes a significant layer of wood, and hidden defects can be identified and removed.
- If you are not using a special purchased blank, then you should soak the handle with an anti-corrosion suspension and allow it to dry for 24 hours.
- The final step is to coat the cutting with varnish or paint. To do this, you need to go over the entire area in 2 layers. Apply the second layer after the previous one has completely dried. This process is optional, but it allows you to increase the service life several times. In addition, the varnish coating reduces the risk of getting your hands caught during work.
How to put a shovel on a handle
A lot depends on how well the shovel is mounted on the handle. First of all, ease of use and productivity.
This process can be divided into several stages:
Finally, we suggest watching a useful video that shows in detail the process of making a wooden handle for a shovel:
Not a single farmer, summer resident or rural resident can do without rakes, shovels, hoes and other cutting tools. Cuttings will always be in demand and their production is a wonderful business idea that can be implemented even at home with a small start-up capital.
The demand for cuttings is especially high from March to September - throughout the entire growing season. But even in winter, such a product is quite in demand, as it is purchased for snow shovels.
This article will discuss in detail the process of creating a business using cuttings. We will study materials for production, equipment, draw up a business plan and talk about other nuances.
For each type of instrument, cuttings of a certain diameter and length are made.
- For shovels: diameter 40 mm;
- For hoes and hoes: diameter 30 mm;
- For rake: diameter 25 mm;
- For brooms: diameter 25 mm;
- For mops: diameter 25 mm.
Shovel cuttings are in greatest demand. The most common lengths are 120 and 130 cm.
Important! Finished cuttings must comply with regulatory documents and GOST standards (have the appropriate length and diameter).
Material for cuttings: what kind of wood are cuttings made from?
The most common is deciduous wood, for example, alder, ash, birch, hazel. Pine and other conifers are used quite rarely, since they contain a large amount of resin, quickly absorb moisture, and the cuttings from them are heavy and fragile.
For production, it is necessary to select high-quality material, with a minimum amount of knots and rot.
Depending on the material used, cuttings are divided into 3 varieties:
- Top grade. The product has no knots.
- First grade. A small number of knots with a diameter of no more than 3 mm are allowed.
- Second grade. The size of knots on such cuttings should not exceed 7 mm.
Where to look for material
There are many options, these could be sawmills, forestries, your own plot, etc. For example, you can write out boards and saw them on a sawmill into bars measuring 50x50 mm - these will be blanks for future products.
For cuttings, wood can be used that is no longer suitable for making boards, timber and other commercial materials. The main thing is to ensure that the raw materials are of high quality, without rot, with a minimum of knots.
What you need to start a business producing cuttings
In fact, you don’t need much, but you still have to invest, because 
a product that will fully comply with all standards cannot be produced manually in artisanal conditions. Therefore, first we are looking for a room.
Mini workshop
To organize a small production, you do not need huge areas. It will be enough to find any suitable premises: a dry shed, a garage, etc. The area is calculated based on the dimensions of the equipment and the volume of produced and stored products.
If you are planning a larger-scale production, you will need an area of about 100 sq. m. 4 people can easily work in such a room.
The process of making cuttings is quite simple, so hiring highly qualified personnel does not make sense. It is enough to train future employees to operate the machine and set aside some time as a trial period.
Naturally, the room must be supplied with electricity, as well as good ventilation.
Equipment
Making cuttings is an almost completely mechanized process and consists of four main stages:
- Initial processing of raw materials;
- Giving the product a round shape;
- Grinding;
- Stitching one end into a cone, rounding the other.
Wooden cuttings are produced using a number of units, in particular:
- Circular saw: from 100 thousand rubles;
- Cylindrical grinding machine: from 70 thousand rubles;
- Machine for sharpening one end and rounding the other: from 55 thousand rubles.
The cost of equipment can also vary downwards, because you can look for used machines and then you can start a business producing cuttings with minimal investment.
You can also reduce costs by making machines yourself. The video clips below show the assembly processes of such units.
Business plan for the production of cuttings
So, we have a room and it needs to be equipped with machines, the total cost of which will be about 225 thousand rubles. Costs for raw materials may vary, it all depends on average prices in your region and on the planned production volume.
During a season, a small enterprise can produce about 10 thousand cuttings. One product costs approximately 20-40 rubles, depending on the size, and its cost will be about 6-7 rubles.
Thus, during the season you can earn from 140 to 340 thousand rubles, taking into account the cost of material.
By the way, the profitability of such a business will be very low if cuttings are made, for example, only for shovels. It is necessary to expand the range; products of various diameters and lengths are produced.
Of course, without established sales channels it will be difficult to achieve such income; this issue should be given special attention before starting work.
Where to sell products
The big advantage of business on cuttings is the demand for products. We are always ready to purchase quality products:
- Supermarkets;
- Construction and manufactured goods stores;
- Fairs, markets, etc.;
- Administrative organizations;
- Schools, kindergartens, universities, colleges, etc.;
- Farms;
- ZHEKI, HOA;
- Military units;
Useful video
Making cuttings on a machine
The process of working on a cylindrical grinding machine
Below in the comments you can leave your feedback about this business idea. We wish you success in all your endeavors!
Making wooden cuttings is a great business idea!
