Shaft types for the shovels

The shaft is a very important element – in any garden tool! At the shaft, the tools are held securely and can be guided in a controlled manner. A good haptic and an optimal shape ensure comfortable usage. The quality of a spade shaft is extremely important, as it has to withstand a lot. Low-quality shafts break more quickly and can thus lead to accidents/injuries.

 

The most important thing first:

  • The length of the shaft depends on the intende use:
    Long shafts for lifting up material from the ground in an upright and back friendly body position.
    Shorter shafts für digging or transporting  heavy bulk material with optimized use of force
  • The handle types have differnt characteristics ­and are often chosen because of personal preferencest.
  • Because of the outstandings characteristics, most shovel shafts are made of hard wood.

Shaft lengths

Sandschaufel mit einem Langstiel – optimal zur Materialaufnahme vom Boden

Long shafts

  • optimal for picking up material from the floor in an upright and back-friendly position

Spatenschaufel mit einem kurzen YD-Stiel bei Aufgrabungen in einem Schacht

Shorter shafts

  • very good power transmission
  • optimal for excavations (similar to a spade)
  • easy transportation of heavy material


Types of handles for the shovels:

Ein Langstiel bietet eine sehr flexible Werkzeugführung

Long shaft (without handle)

  • offers a very flexible tool guidance
  • is made of one piece
  • light weight

Ein T-Stiel bietet eine gute Kraftübertragung

Shaft with T-handle

  • highly resilient
  • safe tool guidance
  • facilitates turning and piercing movements
  • very good power transmission
  • easy handling
  • low weight
  • is made of two parts

Ash shaft with YD-handle

Shaft with YD-handle

  • extremely resilient
  • offers the safest tool guidance
  • facilitates turning and piercing movements
  • very good power transmission
  • very comfortable handle shape
  • somewhat higher weight
  • is made of two parts

Powder coated ash shaft with plastic D-handle

Shaft with plastic-D-handle

  • offers the safest tool guidance
  • facilitates turning and piercing movements
  • very good power transmission
  • very comfortable handle shape
  • light weight
  • low resilience
  • is made of two parts


The material for the shovel shafts:

Holzstiele bieten optimale Materialeigenschaften

Wooden shafts

  • as a renewable raw material, wood is conserving resources and is CO2-neutral
  • very confortable haptic
  • absorbs hand perspiration
  • enables a firm grip

Beech:

  • very resilient
  • shocks get absorbed
  • raw material of German origin
  • inexpensive raw material
  • not as resilient and elastic as ash or hickory wood

Ash:

  • very resilient and flexible
  • hard impacts get absorbed
  • inexpensive raw material
  • relatively inexpensive raw material

Hickory:

  • extremely tough and elastic
  • up to 30% more resilient than ash wood
  • hard impacts get absorbed
  • raw material from North America/China
  • expensive raw material

Shaft varnish:

  • protection against contamination and moisture or fungal attack
  • resistant to hand perspiration

Stiel aus Aluminium für Schaufeln

Light metal shafts

  • very resilient
  • weather resistant
  • almost completely recyclable
  • light weight
  • does not absorb shocks
  • expensive raw material

Gelber Fiberglasstiel einer Schaufel

Fiberglass shafts

  • very solid
  • very flexible
  • hard impacts get absorbed
  • weather resistant
  • very low weight
  • loss of power transmission due to very high elasticity
  • extraction / processing is harmful to the environment and health
  • is not recyclable
  • expensive raw material