How To Make A Fishtail Spade

How To Make A Fishtail Spade FARM SHOP Tools Fishtail spades have a flat flared triangular blade that combines the traits of a traditional Dutch hoe with an ordinary round-point shovel The result? A versatile multi-purpose tool You can use it for hoeing edging transplanting chopping roots and other earth-moving garden tasks Many gardeners also use them as a standard shovel to lift turf toss stones and even hack through brambles It’s possible to make a fishtail spade from an ordinary shovel with a few simple cuts The farming blog Earthfarm ca lays out clear instructions First take a standard pointed shovel and draw two chalk lines along the blade at a diagonal to form a tail Connect them with a line across the bottom to create a flat edge Ideally the tool should have a front edge that’s about 6 in wide with side edges 9 in to 10 in long with a 3-in throat where it connects to the handle Angle grinders with a thin kerf-cutting blade work well for making these initial cuts Then use a grinding disc for back beveling on the back and side edges The finished spade will have three working edges and two working surfaces It will be lightweight and well-balanced so you can use it with one or both hands The result is a custom tool that’s light enough to use all day and versatile enough to tackle almost any garden task Says Earth Farm “It does 80 percent of outdoor jobs 100 percent well ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Earth Farm www earthfarm ca/

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.