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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
1
Cut the blank
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 Sheet1 pieceTools needed:
Plate Shears
Welding Gloves
Safety Glasses2
2
Dish the blade
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 Stake
Cross Peen Hammer
Welding Gloves
Safety Glasses3
3
Fold the socket
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:
Charcoal2 as requiredTools needed:
Blacksmith Forge
Anvil
Cross Peen Hammer
Blacksmith Tongs
Welding Gloves
Safety Glasses4
4
Shave the handle
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 Billet1 piece
Hardwood Strip1 piece
Linseed Oil0.05 literTools needed:
Shaving Horse
Drawknife
Spokeshave
Mortise Chisel5
5
Rivet the handle
Rivet the handle
Drive the handle into the socket, drill through socket and wood, and rivet it in place.
Materials for this step:
Iron Rivets2 piecesTools needed:
Hand Drill
Cross Peen Hammer
Anvil6
6
What the blade weighs
What the blade weighs
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Materials
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Tools Required
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