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Shovel: Sheet Steel Blade, Folded Socket, Riveted Ash Handle
Forge

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Forge

14. October 2026NO
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Shovel: Sheet Steel Blade, Folded Socket, Riveted Ash Handle

A hand shovel is a sheet-steel blade with a fold at the back that makes a socket for the handle and stiffens the blade. The wooden handle, usually ash, is riveted into the socket, and a T-piece at the top gives grip. Cut and dish the blade, fold the socket hot, shave an ash handle and rivet it in. The picture: a square-mouthed shovel with a T-handle and a riveted socket strap.
Intermediate
A day

Instructions

1

Cut the blank

Shear mild steel sheet to the blade outline, with a tongue at the back for the socket (our size: blade 250 × 300 mm).

Materials for this step:

Mild Steel SheetMild Steel Sheet1 piece

Tools needed:

Plate ShearsPlate Shears
Welding GlovesWelding Gloves
Safety GlassesSafety Glasses
2

Dish the blade

Hammer the blade over the stake to give it a shallow dish and turn up the sides a little, so it holds a load.

Tools needed:

Forming StakeForming Stake
Cross Peen HammerCross Peen Hammer
Welding GlovesWelding Gloves
Safety GlassesSafety Glasses
3

Fold the socket

Heat the tongue and fold it round a bar the size of the handle end, making a tapered socket; the fold also stiffens the blade.

Materials for this step:

CharcoalCharcoal2 as required

Tools needed:

Blacksmith ForgeBlacksmith Forge
AnvilAnvil
Cross Peen HammerCross Peen Hammer
Blacksmith TongsBlacksmith Tongs
Welding GlovesWelding Gloves
Safety GlassesSafety Glasses
4

Shave the handle

On the shaving horse, shave a riven ash billet round with the drawknife and spokeshave, tapering one end to fit the socket. Mortise a hardwood T-piece onto the top and peg it (our joint). Oil the handle.

Materials for this step:

Ash BilletAsh Billet1 piece
Hardwood StripHardwood Strip1 piece
Linseed OilLinseed Oil0.05 liter

Tools needed:

Shaving HorseShaving Horse
DrawknifeDrawknife
SpokeshaveSpokeshave
Mortise ChiselMortise Chisel
5

Rivet the handle

Drive the handle into the socket, drill through socket and wood, and rivet it in place.

Materials for this step:

Iron RivetsIron Rivets2 pieces

Tools needed:

Hand DrillHand Drill
Cross Peen HammerCross Peen Hammer
AnvilAnvil
6

What the blade weighs

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Materials

6

Tools Required

13

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