I found an old forged shovel buried in a sandbar of the Arkansas River in Colorado. Made in England. Have no idea how old it is. Handle was broken. Restored it and cut the handle to make an old style T handle. Far nicer tool and much stronger than the cheap stamped Chinese tools you buy at the big box stores. Great video. Thanks for posting this.
At scout camp I remember the old fire shovels they kept by the rakes, buckets and sand. Specifically how heavy they were. Dad said they were the same shovels from when he was there, in the early 70's, and they might have been old then.
I've been watching your bike videos, but I went way back in your catalog today to watch this OG video because I just picked up two old shovels by the dumpster and wanted to make them useful again. Thanks & keep up the good work :)
I love the fact you restore just plain tools and other common stuff. You see all the fancy tools and stuff on the other chanels but I cannot for even one second recall any channel that has restored a simple spade. Well done, I wish you got more views. Ive restored a few hammers myself, including a cross pein that I use DAILY for removing stuck on brake rotors(probably a 36 oz hammer)
Great video. I was afraid that I was the only one with a shovel problem. I can't help but to rib you about the Chinese plastic handled hammer you used in the restoration. 😀
Love to watch hope you find some really old tools, the kind that nobody knows what they are, or how they work. Be sure to include kitchen, and farm or butchering. I will be watching!
A couple of years ago I purchased a fiberglass handled shovel from home depot. First use snapped the first quarter of shovel head clean off! Returned for refund. Few days later found a couple "old" shovels at garage sale and never have any issues and they weigh about half as much.
I dont understand how simply cleaning and painting it has made it better at shoveling dirt. Or is it about making it more visually desirable and thus used more?
Tiredof Allthis Firstly he cleaned up the rust and contaminants off the head to begin with , if you allow rust to stay it may contaminate more of the metal making it structurally weaker He then polished the head , this allows less holes to be on the metals , the deeper the pits the more likely they are to rust which is why you may see very rusty cast iron but a knife in the same conditions may look better because the polish prevents a lot of rust The handles are mostly preference , it's easier to work with wood handles than fiberglass and removing the varnish allows better grip as well as treat it with oils He took a file to the edges which will help with digging , it may seem weird to sharpen a shovel but if you did through roots it'll be easier as well as it also prevents some rust He talks about low quality steel because the steel used in cheap tools is usually leftover scrap , it may seem strong at first but it may not last depending on use . The low quality steel is usually prone to rust as well . The steel is massively produced by stamping molds so little details are not found whether good or bad and the steel is also mass hardened and tempered , and likely not tested for strength so is possibly weaker than if it wasn't . Lastly the paint is also for protection , it prevents rust on the top half of the metal so if you do have to do maintenance it's only the bottoms portion . The paint also identifies the owner and possible use , easy when identifying a bunch of tools in a bucket or when telling someone else to grab a tool for you .
New to your channel and to old tools. I just watched "They Live " for the 3rd time now. Love what you do, and its definitely one way of sticking it to the man. Keep the videos and the great work coming. Just one question... How can I tell apart a good quality spade from a stamped or lower quality shovel head?
You Americans have got a lot of choice when it comes to shovels us brits have nothing like yours we have square shovels or spades that have shorter handles.The USA has all ways been years ahead of Britain rant over love the content of your videos👍👌✊✋👊👏
I went to 2 different big box home improvement stores and one that is geared more toward farmers, and all three had not a single hatchet handle. And the axe handles they did have were junk. The serfs were all cut at an angle instead of straight up and down. And off to one side instead of centered. I have to buy my hatchet handles off of Ebay or Amazon. I do plan to try some more "local" hardware stores and see what they have. They had the hatchets and axes, but not the replacement handles. I came to the conclusion that they don't want you to do any repairs, but just to throw the old one away, and buy a new one.
I know what you mean about good shovels i bought a true temper shovel with the forged blade maney years ago i paid good money for it but it is a great shovel I also got a couple at garage sales one long one and a short one with a d handle for $2. each. sometimes at those sales you can get great tools. to the people selling them it's just old stuff they don't need.
Literally have one forged shovel from ww2 times. It outlived at least 5 new-stylish-shiny shovels my family had and I guess can still keep on going for next 100 years
I've purchased what I feel are fine quality handles from the House Handle Company in Cassville, MO . Hickory, White Oak, and Ash options, in a few different grades are available for MANY tools and implements.
You will regret painting the end of your handle. Just a light sanding and a little linseed oil is what you need. Once a year I do that with all my garden tools. Takes about 3 minutes each, and I don't have to agonize over the color. Also, it is pointless to get all the rust off a shovel. I only even clean my shovel when I am done for the year and winter has arrived. I hose it off, let it air dry, and maybe give it a light oiling. Shovels are not supposed to be heirloom artworks. You aren't using it then. Get out there and dig up that old stump, man.
I get it but I don’t regret painting my tools. I’m a scoutmaster and my tools get used a ton on service projects and the painting, as I do them all the same, makes them stick out. I also do as you mentioned, I oil the the handles about once a year and clean up the blade. What you saw in this video is what o do white the “new” tools coming into my possession. Most often they are old rusted and abused and once restored and maintained will continue to last a long long time.
Thank you! Going through stuff in the garage to decide what to keep and what to part with. Definitely “old school” are the keepers!
I found an old forged shovel buried in a sandbar of the Arkansas River in Colorado. Made in England. Have no idea how old it is. Handle was broken. Restored it and cut the handle to make an old style T handle. Far nicer tool and much stronger than the cheap stamped Chinese tools you buy at the big box stores. Great video. Thanks for posting this.
At scout camp I remember the old fire shovels they kept by the rakes, buckets and sand. Specifically how heavy they were. Dad said they were the same shovels from when he was there, in the early 70's, and they might have been old then.
I've been watching your bike videos, but I went way back in your catalog today to watch this OG video because I just picked up two old shovels by the dumpster and wanted to make them useful again. Thanks & keep up the good work :)
I love the fact you restore just plain tools and other common stuff. You see all the fancy tools and stuff on the other chanels but I cannot for even one second recall any channel that has restored a simple spade. Well done, I wish you got more views. Ive restored a few hammers myself, including a cross pein that I use DAILY for removing stuck on brake rotors(probably a 36 oz hammer)
Thanks 🙏 it’s good to hear other like what I like. Thanks for watching!
Very awesome restoration on a old hand shovel
Got three old #2 razorback shovels I restored several years ago.
Great video. I was afraid that I was the only one with a shovel problem. I can't help but to rib you about the Chinese plastic handled hammer you used in the restoration. 😀
Lol 😂 I use what I have. I have a few others to use now since doing this video.
Great work, this was really helpful thank you
What did you use for the rivet that held the blade to the handle? Do they make Made In USA Hickory handles for shovels like they do for an Axe?
Love to watch hope you find some really old tools, the kind that nobody knows what they are, or how they work. Be sure to include kitchen, and farm or butchering. I will be watching!
lol I just need to know what those unknown tools are... thanks for watching.
What brush are you using on your drill motor to clean the shovel? Where do I get one?
This is everything
A couple of years ago I purchased a fiberglass handled shovel from home depot. First use snapped the first quarter of shovel head clean off! Returned for refund. Few days later found a couple "old" shovels at garage sale and never have any issues and they weigh about half as much.
That is very similar to my experience. Thanks for watching.
I dont understand how simply cleaning and painting it has made it better at shoveling dirt. Or is it about making it more visually desirable and thus used more?
Tiredof Allthis
Firstly he cleaned up the rust and contaminants off the head to begin with , if you allow rust to stay it may contaminate more of the metal making it structurally weaker
He then polished the head , this allows less holes to be on the metals , the deeper the pits the more likely they are to rust which is why you may see very rusty cast iron but a knife in the same conditions may look better because the polish prevents a lot of rust
The handles are mostly preference , it's easier to work with wood handles than fiberglass and removing the varnish allows better grip as well as treat it with oils
He took a file to the edges which will help with digging , it may seem weird to sharpen a shovel but if you did through roots it'll be easier as well as it also prevents some rust
He talks about low quality steel because the steel used in cheap tools is usually leftover scrap , it may seem strong at first but it may not last depending on use . The low quality steel is usually prone to rust as well . The steel is massively produced by stamping molds so little details are not found whether good or bad and the steel is also mass hardened and tempered , and likely not tested for strength so is possibly weaker than if it wasn't .
Lastly the paint is also for protection , it prevents rust on the top half of the metal so if you do have to do maintenance it's only the bottoms portion . The paint also identifies the owner and possible use , easy when identifying a bunch of tools in a bucket or when telling someone else to grab a tool for you .
Good job 👍
And so it begins . . . with an old shovel.
Lol
I must have lucked out. I got a $20/$25 shovel from walmart 10yrs ago and it is still good. I leave in the back of my truck
New to your channel and to old tools. I just watched "They Live " for the 3rd time now. Love what you do, and its definitely one way of sticking it to the man. Keep the videos and the great work coming. Just one question... How can I tell apart a good quality spade from a stamped or lower quality shovel head?
The backside of the shovel is gonna take all the wear. If you keep it oiled the longer you use it, the backside will shine like a mirror.
You Americans have got a lot of choice when it comes to shovels us brits have nothing like yours we have square shovels or spades that have shorter handles.The USA has all ways been years ahead of Britain rant over love the content of your videos👍👌✊✋👊👏
Wow. I didn’t know it was even harder in the UK to find tools. All the more reason to find those old tools and restore them. Thanks for watching!
Darren Meears Of course we are. We are Americans. How else did we defeat a much larger, more powerful force in the Revolutionary War? 🇺🇸
BYU idaho brought me here.
Me too!
Me too actually social media marketing content.
Man you are using a lot of low quality tools to be complaining abut low quality tools.
good job bro!
Thanks
I went to 2 different big box home improvement stores and one that is geared more toward farmers, and all three had not a single hatchet handle. And the axe handles they did have were junk. The serfs were all cut at an angle instead of straight up and down. And off to one side instead of centered. I have to buy my hatchet handles off of Ebay or Amazon. I do plan to try some more "local" hardware stores and see what they have. They had the hatchets and axes, but not the replacement handles. I came to the conclusion that they don't want you to do any repairs, but just to throw the old one away, and buy a new one.
I know what you mean about good shovels i bought a true temper shovel with the forged blade maney years ago i paid good money for it but it is a great shovel I also got a couple at garage sales one long one and a short one with a d handle for $2. each. sometimes at those sales you can get great tools. to the people selling them it's just old stuff they don't need.
Throw away society does not care about quality. A forged shovel beats a stamped one anyway but most people will not want to pay for it.
Agreed. What use to be common, quality tools that were made to last lifetimes, are now uncommon.
Literally have one forged shovel from ww2 times. It outlived at least 5 new-stylish-shiny shovels my family had and I guess can still keep on going for next 100 years
I wish I could work as his pace. His pace is like a 4 Yr old child after 100 energy drinks
How about you restore that wall plate?
And so it began...
-Will
Lol something like that.
wood handles cost as much as a shovel @ lowes or homedepot & are junk also...where can get new good wood handles???
Other than making them yourself I’m not sure. There may be some on line. Thanks for watching!
I've purchased what I feel are fine quality handles from the House Handle Company in Cassville, MO . Hickory, White Oak, and Ash options, in a few different grades are available for MANY tools and implements.
Just found you suggestion do collaborations with people makes things interesting and doubles your subscriptions and likes
Use rust converter before you paint it.
Okey
You will regret painting the end of your handle. Just a light sanding and a little linseed oil is what you need. Once a year I do that with all my garden tools. Takes about 3 minutes each, and I don't have to agonize over the color. Also, it is pointless to get all the rust off a shovel. I only even clean my shovel when I am done for the year and winter has arrived. I hose it off, let it air dry, and maybe give it a light oiling. Shovels are not supposed to be heirloom artworks. You aren't using it then. Get out there and dig up that old stump, man.
I get it but I don’t regret painting my tools. I’m a scoutmaster and my tools get used a ton on service projects and the painting, as I do them all the same, makes them stick out. I also do as you mentioned, I oil the the handles about once a year and clean up the blade. What you saw in this video is what o do white the “new” tools coming into my possession. Most often they are old rusted and abused and once restored and maintained will continue to last a long long time.
origin of the channel name is solved...lol...
I always purchase "True Tempure" brand. you could not go wrong. :-) Old True Temper not the new Griffon Holding company tools! They Suck.
dude! you threw your wife under the bus!
better restore that attitude or she might wield that flimsy thing at you!
Like your channel though! Good work
Lol 😂
Dude! Slow your ass down!!