How an IDEAL spade is made

Special rolling technology since 1899

The IDEAL spade is our premium product and has been manufactured in traditional and handcrafted work since 1899. Eight employees produce a spade of the highest quality from a steel block in up to 20 work steps. Through a unique rolling technique developed by us, the spade blade is rolled conically and is thus self-sharpening.

IDEAL Spaten Handwerk Made in Germany Gartenwerkzeuge Spaten Produktionsstufen

Production stages of an "IDEAL-Rode- und Baumschulspaten": From the blank to the spade, more than 20 different work steps are necessary.

Handwerk Made in Germany Platine Erhitzen

1. heating up the steel blank

The steel blank is heated to approx. 1200 °C.

Eine Einkerbung wird in die glühende Platine gepresst

2. press indentation

An indentation is pressed into the glowing blank on both sides.

Handwerk Made in Germany Kohlenstaub einpressen

3. press in carbon dust

Carbon dust is pressed into these indentations so that the steel does not bond at this point during the subsequent rolling process.

IDEAL Spaten Handwerk Made in Germany Gartenwerkzeuge Walze

4. rolling process I

Multiple rollings densify the steel structure, increasing its strength.

5. rolling process II

In another roll, the steel is rolled thinner and thinner. Processing at very high temperatures allows the desired shape changes to be achieved without major material losses.

IDEAL Spaten Handwerk Made in Germany Gartenwerkzeuge Stahl Schneiden

6. steel plate cutting

The long steel plate is parted in the middle.

7. rolling process III

Here, the steel is conically rolled - a special rolling technique that can only be performed by trained specialists.

IDEAL Spaten Handwerk Made in Germany Gartenwerkzeuge Stanzen

8. punching out the spade shape

Here the spade blade receives its final shape.

9. heating the steel

In the reciprocating furnace, the spade blades are once again heated to approx. 940 °C.

10. chiseling up

A chisel is used to spread the double spring. Due to the pressed-in carbon dust in the indentation (No. 3), the steel does not bond during the rolling process.

11. pressing the spade blade

In the press, the spade blade gets the slightly curved shape.

12. spring pressing

In another press, the spring is given its final shape.

13. hardening

Here, the spade blades are immersed in a cold liquid, cooled quickly and thus hardened. This process makes the steel extremely resilient.

IDEAL Spaten Handwerk Made in Germany Gartenwerkzeuge Sandstrahlen

14. sandblasting

In a large chamber, the spade blades are sandblasted. The surface is thus smoothed and freed from surface scale - this is the term used for the oxide layer that forms during the rolling and hardening process at higher temperatures as a result of the reaction with oxygen.

Handwerk Made in Germany Geschweisstes Blatt

15. welding

The welding process closes the double spring at the lateral attachment so that the stem, which is inserted later, receives a positive connection to the blade and is thus protected from water and dirt.

IDEAL Spaten Handwerk Made in Germany Gartenwerkzeuge Schleifen

16. polishing

In this work step, the spade blades are finely polished by robots. Afterwards, the steel surface not only looks very attractive - also soil adhesion is reduced during the later work.

17. manual polishing

Here, the blade is once again manually reworked in some areas

18. wet lacquer finish

To protect the spade blade from rusting, a thin layer of transparent wet lacquer is applied.

19. stemming in

The handle is shaped at the base so that it precisely fills the "little house" on the spade blade. The double spring is 2-times riveted to the handle. An additional reinforcement ring on the "IDEAL-Rode- und Baumschulspaten" ensures an even higher loading capacity.

IDEAL Spaten Handwerk Made in Germany Gartenwerkzeuge Tritte Aufsachlagen

20. tread attachment

Depending on the model, the treads are struck with a hammer.

21. labeling

Now all that's missing are the labels - and that' s it, the "IDEAL-Rode- und Baumschulspaten".

Handwerk Made in Germany Baumschulspaten

"IDEAL-Rode- und Baumschulspaten"