Garden spade-will I be able to weld this type of steel?

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I can't see an issue with welding it.

What have you to loose if it does not work.

I have lost count the number of spades, forks, rakes, hoes etc. I have welded or brazed up for MIS.

If it gets you out of trouble, it has saved you money and grief.

Go for it.

 

[sardine]

You can find those cheap spades all broken at the exact same place as yours in DIY stores skips, ive got three of them here i never got round to welding, one i tried but burnt through and gave up on, why they have a piece of square bar stock totally unconnected to anything tacked in there who knows ?

I think the fault is that the V shaped piece is butt welded to the sheet metal socket thick to thin and the join is where it fails, if there was a step in the V piece and a backing for the weld it might last a bit longer. Obviously mig welded by a barefooted peasant in China or India on dubious metal with farts as a shielding gas doesn't help.

 

[mart]

I know what you mean.

 

[123hotchef]

Just stick weld it. I have welded many forks and spades for the people at the local allotment

 

[pedrobedro]

Just stick weld it. I have welded many forks and spades for the people at the local allotment

I (mig)welded a collar round mine when it broke, just some 2mm wall pipe cut and bent round it and welded and it has lasted years

 

[123hotchef]

I (mig)welded a collar round mine when it broke, just some 2mm wall pipe cut and bent round it and welded and it has lasted years

The old ones are the best ones

 

[pedrobedro]

The old ones are the best ones

Daft thing is I broke it levering 3x2 slabs up and I've used it for the same job lots of times since and it's laughed at them.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Daft thing is I broke it levering 3x2 slabs up and I've used it for the same job lots of times since and it's laughed at them.

Pickaxe would be my prefered weapon for those beasties.

 

[123hotchef]

Especially the old council ones

 

[Migmac]

I have planting spades in my shed. I’ll get a picture tomorrow, give you an idea of what tree planters use. They are small, cut down border spades

 

[DAPPH]

I have planting spades in my shed. I’ll get a picture tomorrow, give you an idea of what tree planters use. They are small, cut down border spades

Mines a ladies border spade on a pitch fork shaft . I dig holes without bending my back, take two or three small easy to remove bits out the holes instead of a big spade full , due to the length of the shaft I do not use it as a crow bar.
But if your planting thousands of rooted twigs a day get an expensive , " Bush Pro planting spade " ...it's what the Candian forest planters use .

Often as not it's easier to dig a larger hole if you meet with rubble or rocks and I use my heavy square tined ladies border fork to loosen things up ( also put on on a pitch fork shaft but by me ) .
The spade was given to me by Bulldog Tools in June 1982 and now instead of being the original five inches wide by nine inches long at the blade the blade is now looking more like a lopsided Foxes glacier mint as the outer edges have worn away and now the blade is only seven inches long .

Thinking what you have said about carrying potted trees wouldn't a simple towable trailer with two handles for pulling once it's detached from the bike on the back of your bike be more advantageous . Using 18 inch dia or so wide track bike wheels on a pair of rigid front forks & tying the spade to your cross bar ( freecycle is your friend ) .

 

[Migmac]

Left hand one is a standard, right hand one cut and shaped with treads welded on. Planted thousands apon thousands of trees with it.

 

[pedrobedro]

View attachment 183471

Left hand one is a standard, right hand one cut and shaped with treads welded on. Planted thousands apon thousands of trees with it.

The one on the right looks like a Bulldog round mouth shovel. I have an old one from an army Land Rover tool kit and it gets used fro everything.

 

[Migmac]

The one on the right looks like a Bulldog round mouth shovel. I have an old one from an army Land Rover tool kit and it gets used fro everything.

It may look like it but it’s been made by myself to suit my needs

 

[pedrobedro]

It may look like it but it’s been made by myself to suit my needs

Yes I know, just commenting.