[RichardA]

My favourite spade was made by my grandfather (who was a blacksmith) for his father who was a farmer and very tall. Ash T handle, hand forged and well worn, well loved in its life. Linseed oil on the shaft every year, cleaned and oiled every time it gets put away. I can't take it off the hook without re-hearing my grandfather telling me 30 years ago to look after.
It is getting very thin in the blade and unless I retire it soon I will break the blade which I don't want to do. I really would like to get something special to take its place. I am 6 foot 3 tall and dig all my plots by hand. I quite love to dig in fact. Can I ask please that people share with me their wish list for a spade if money was not the limiting factor. Is the Sneeboor long spade worth the money for example.??
Not been able to try one as never seen one on display. I quite like Joseph Bentley tools but their spade is a bit short for a long streak like me. Any ideas.
Many thanks,
R

[Brambles]

If money were no object...  Would it not be possible to have one especially made, just like the one that  Grandfather made?  Then THAT one could be passed on to child/nephew or someone that would appreciate just how special our tools can be.

[RichardA]

Lovely thought. Not sure the skills or interest are still around or if that will best take advantage of advanced technology and newer materials such as stainless steel.
R

[shaun]

bulldog do a long T handled spade richard

[oldbean]

Lovely thought. Not sure the skills or interest are still around or if that will best take advantage of advanced technology and newer materials such as stainless steel.
R

Stainless is not necessarily better. Carbon steel is much tougher and can take a sharp edge. Can you post a picture?

[RichardA]

Really is a straightforward tee handled spade just a bit taller than most and now it is paper thin and of sentimental value
R

[Larkshall]

If you really do need a longer spade, I suggest that you get a handle turned up by a turner to the length you want, putting a plastic "D" handle on the end. You could probably use either a pick handle to be turned or even try a pitch fork handle (from an agricultural merchant) which may not need turning, only cutting to length and the taper and handle end cutting to fit.

[RichardA]

Thanks, it is the blade that is getting very thin that is the worry unfortunately.
Has anyone bought a new spade recently taht they have been pleased with?
R

[siandc]

I used to do gardening/ landscaping and general building and upto about 5 years ago broke EVERY stainless spade I owned. Stainless is by its nature a brittle alloy!
Carbon steel is strong but I broke one of them the other day too, it was a Wilko special though 
I've had a drainage graft for donkeys years and it's never failed me. My advice would be to check out a local tool shop or builders' suppliers as they do a range of heavy duty spades in a wide variety of shapes. Many of them are metal handled though which are extremely strong but may be too short for you. It could be an option to buy a spade and then a "t" handle, I'm sure you'll find one, you could then cut the metal handle down and fit the t handle to it. Personally if I was going to do down that route I'd leave the metalas long as possible and shave down the wooden handle so it fits tightly inside the metal tube with as much length as you can manage, that way you'll have the wood re-inforcing the metal.

[RichardA]

excellent advice and deeply appreciated. I too have and use a cable layers graft which is a close cousin to a true drainage graft. Luckily most of my soil is loam and I only hit clay embedded with chalk and flints very occasionally which is when the narrow graft comes out.
I am somewhat torn between making this special myself and perhaps getting a  sneerboer but their stockists are all web based. Arn't the webpages useless-- I asked one what length a spade on offer was and reply came back -- we don't know. As you say perhaps be patient and poke about in every toolshop I come across. Wife will be pelased.
Thanks again
R

[Buzzy bee]

Hi

I am a welder, well agricultural engineer actually, but have worked as a welder in the past, with a local Blacksmith for a time too.  He makes knives and axes and I believe he is getting more into this side of things, not sure as no longer work with him.

I would definateley find someone to make a spade for yourself, there are people around with the experience, it is just a matter of finding them, if you have the patience to go into all these tool shops, you will surely find the right man to make you one!  Then it will be really special, fit just right, last for years and years and finally be comfortable to use!

I have a few old spades, a few of my grandads and they are great tools to use, just they are a little small, as I am over a foot taller then he was, still like to use them ocasionally.  I collect old tools, mostly woodworking or metal working but when looking for these at fairs or carboots, auctions etc, you often see garden tools, so if you want to buy something, try antique fairs and the like.

Cheers

Dave

[celjaci]

check out erichunter.co.uk

They have conventional spades with 32in shafts instead of usual 28in
Also 'continental ' spades with long straight shafts which could be cut to suitable length and fitted with a plastic D handle

[Buzzy bee]

Hi

Continental straight shaft handles, hate them with a pasion, a guy I did some work for used nothing else, and they really make everything hard work in my oppinion!

Cheers

Dave