What are shovels and spades?
A shovel is a tool for lifting and moving loose material such as soil, sand, gravel or mortar. Its blade is dished in the middle and often has slightly raised edges so the material stays on it. The shaft is sometimes slightly cranked to make a full load easier to lift. A broad, flat shovel for building materials is known in Dutch as a bats.
A spade, by contrast, is made to cut into the ground. Its blade is squarer, narrower and heavier, with a fairly straight, sharp bottom edge and very little dish. The top of the blade often has a turned-over edge or tread for your foot, so you can use your body weight to dig. There are also hybrid tools: a sturdy shovel that can handle some spade work.
| Shovel | Lifts and moves loose material such as soil, sand, gravel or mortar; blade dished in the middle, often with slightly raised edges |
|---|---|
| Spade | Cuts into the ground; blade squarer, narrower and heavier, with a fairly straight, sharp bottom edge and very little dish |
Application
Which one when?
- Spade: digging over soil, lifting turf, cutting straight edges, transplanting, digging holes and trenches, cutting through roots.
- Shovel: moving soil, sand or gravel, loading a wheelbarrow, shovelling mortar or concrete.
Tips for choosing and using:
- Handle length: overall length is usually between about 90 and 120 cm. Choose a length that lets you work upright without bending far forward.
- Blade: hardened steel or stainless steel with a sharp cutting edge. Some spades have a V-shaped or serrated edge that cuts through roots more easily.
- Shaft-to-blade joint: a long, riveted socket lasts longer than a short one; this is where cheap tools break first.
- Lift with your legs: put your foot on the spade, lift with bent knees and never twist from the back with a full load.
- Small loads: half a shovel of wet clay or sand is heavier than you think; overloading is a classic cause of back injury.
- Care: clean the blade after use, keep the edge sharp with a file and treat a wooden handle with linseed oil now and then.
Related Terms
- Bats shovel
- Gravel
- Clay
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