/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>1595037
Wood for dildos, because it's so much classier than fiberglass. They just have more character.

I got wood but there are always two kinds of ppl, I guess.

So I've allways wondered, why does american shovels come with handles for a broomstick?

>>1595127
cuz they cheap and why would buy expensive tools for the mexicans I'm gonna hire.

>>1595127
Because a shovel and a spade are not the same things. A shovel is primarily used for moving loose material from one place to another. It needs a handle that is long for better reach and can be easily rotated. Having a 'broom handle' makes this easy. You can dump the contents of a shovel with a twist of the wrist without adjusting your grip because your hands are in the same plane. While they can be used for digging in harder soils they are not the best at it.

A spade is for digging in hard soil and often has a sharpened point (if triangular in shape) or a sharpened blade (if square). They generally have a D-handle or T-handle to allow for maximum effort when digging. That said, their handles are generally much shorter (you can easily put one hand on the socket and one on the handle) and they are not as easy to rotate because of the way you hold the rear handle. Because your hands are not in the same plane you have to adjust your grip on the rear handle to twist it away from you and the short handle means you can't throw the dirt as far.

OP's picture is a square shovel. It is just for picking up loose material like dirt or rocks and moving it someplace such as a wheelbarrow or bucket. They are complete shit for digging in anything but the loosest materials. Like a pile of sand or loose dirt. A pointed shovel can be used for digging but it is not great at it. The handle is too long, which makes it awkward to use, and the rounded end reduces the strength you can put into a digging motion. My picture is of a T-handle spade. It has a much shorter handle and is meant for digging holes in harder ground or cutting sod/roots.

If you were digging a hole big enough to stand in you would want a spade. You would also just throw the dirt out of the hole, generally with an over the shoulder motion. That way you never have to change your grip. Once the hole is dug you would use a shovel to put the dirt into a wheelbarrow and cart it away.

>>1595037
When prying stumps and rocks out of the holes I dig, I’ve broken a few wooden ones. Would suggest Fiberglas in those uses.

>>1595127
What the fuck is that thing for? It looks more like a street sweeper than a regulator. The plows and the broom are all wrong for ballast.

>>1595206
I use a pick for that kind of work. I feel like it's an under appreciated tool.

>>1595136
A very informative answer. Thank you!

>>1595245
It's fir maintaining railroad tracks, usually has a big plow in the front. It's also used for removing the hordes of raindeer that get run over. The crane is handy.

>>1595321
What I'm saying is that the broom and side plows and everything are not robust enough to work as a regulator. You need a shield for the broom at the front unless you want to fling rocks everywhere(which is fun albeit dangerous).

>>1595322

>>1595324
We'll that looks more like a grader. That thing isn't for plowing snow is it? Or does it do both?

Perhaps Sweden is just fucking weird when it comes to railroad equipment.

>>1595326
It's called a regulator. That broom at the front and the plows are for moving the ballast.

I guess yours is just for snow. We don't use anything like that in the US.

>>1595332
Heavy snow in the west is cleared with a rotary snow plow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuX4G3znpDE

Lighter snows are cleared with a wedge plow. Picture related.

They are also used out east for 'heavy snow'. IE 'lil bitch' snow. If you can see the top of a semi truck above the snow but you still think its a lot of snow, its 'lil bitch' snow. When you can't even see the tops of the trailers anymore, then it's really snowing.

>>1595568
I'm familiar with N. American railroads, amigo. That little contraption he posted is what there is no equivalent of.

>>1595598
It is a rail sweeper mounted to the front of a ballast regulator. Here is a USA version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FS6TIqtx3E

>>1595037
fiberglass is pretty much always better. biggest downside is that they often can't be replaced

>>1595611
>biggest downside is that they often can't be replaced
https://www.homedepot.com/p/True-Temper-36-in-Replacement-Fiberglass-Handle-2036100/202057450

I recently bought an axe, sledge, and wedge for chopping some wood. All wood handle. In the first hour the handle of the sledge broke (missed my swing and the wedge hit the handle, my bad) but it was still a pain in the ass. I returned it and went to Home Depot, husky sells a sledge with fiberglass handle and it was actually cheaper then the wooden one. Work wonders on the rest of the wood

>>1595604
A regulator and whatever Swedish thing he posted are completely different. You're a clown and only looking at the superficial similarities. You can't sweep with that nylon bristled broom. It won't hold up and there's no shield to prevent the ballast from getting flung everywhere. The plows are also shaped wrong and wouldn't let you pull ballast up.

Metal handles are superior for shovels, spades, rakes and pretty much all of the garden equipment

>>1595037
Metal...

When it breaks weld 1" electric conduit to it and go on.

I have 7 shovels, 9 rakes, and a slew of other shit I'll probably never use. Dug the ends out of scrap i was gathering and hauling off anand welded the straight pieces of conduit to them. Sucker rods work well also. Use the box end for a handle and the rod will put extra qeight down if you are really trying to dig in with a rake or something

>>1595042

>he doesn't cast aluminum cocks...

Step up or sit down son.

>>1595568
This.

Im from Texas and only seen snow a couple times. Went to New York and got pics standing next to car tops prople qere driving around. It's fucked

>>1595611

>not that finerglass is aids after the gel coat wears/weathers

polypropylene handle represent
basically indestructible

polypropylene shovel represent
basically indestructible

>>1595136
You'll also notice that the shovel in the OP has tabs on the top of the shovel head, while the spade does not.
If you need to apply any amount of vertical force to a shovel, you don't apply it through the handle, you stomp on the tabs to drive it instead.

>>1595136
When moving even loose sand it's easier to have a handle, you always have to apply some force to stick it in. Stepping on the shovel is too fucking slow. Like this either you have to go slow or your hands will hurt after moving a considerable amount of material.

>>1597735
This my dumb ass went to use a shovel that had been outside for who knows how long.
Stuck it in the ground and proceeded to get 1000s of fiberglass slivers.

wood is classy man. it feels nice too

>>1595136
Nicely put. Although, I know no one who would use a spade to dig a hole for a tree vs. a pointed shovel.
mine is forged from a single piece of steel and is not sold at corporate shit holes.

Obviously there are many applications but I only use Spades for edging, skimming sod off the soil and cutting roots of a plant I am moving.
-t. Based farm owner

I prefer wood handles on everything because the wood absorbs the sweat from my hands.

itt: noobs

>>1595611
If fiberglass handles sit out in the sun too long, the resin coating breaks down, and the fiberglass handles will shed fiberglass into ones hands.
Fiberglass splinters suck.

What about splitting mauls? Wood or fiberglass?
Also, if anyone knows where to get one that's heavier than 8 pounds and full length please let me know.

>>1604655
Steel... get a monster maul. Or don't, I don't care. But man do those ever work well.

>>1604657
Huh, never considered that. I guess because every store by me only carries wood or fiberglass. I'll look into monster mauls, thanks.

>>1604657
Fuck steel handles, 0 shock absorption