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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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Making a perfect snow shovel
Ignoramus8020 wrote: I recall seeing professional snow shovels, that were I think made of some nice aluminum, with almost straight blades, that worked great. Made for large apartment building owners. I do not mean the crap that they sell in stores these days, either trashy plastic or very thin aluminum. These do not stand up to a man shoveling large amount of snow. I would really like to buy a sheet of suitable metal and make a most perfect snow shovel, that would be usable forever. Any suggestions as to what gade, thickness etc of what metal to buy? I do not mind regular carbon steel, as well. What I do not want is a shovel that would be either too heavy, or would bend when it hits some object, and does not crack from long term use. I've used aluminum grain scoops a couple of times while working for a contractor that shoveled walks for businesses. Even waxed, heavy, wet snows would stick to them, I had to beat the snow off them on every shovelful, very tedious. What my dad made up has worked best. He took a standard steel snow shovel, made a galvanized sheet back for it and riveted it on for pushing, then used a strip of packing strap iron riveted on for a wear strip on the front. The back was curled so you could use it for pushing and it would take a pretty large bite for shoveling drifts. We used to get wide strap iron from along the railroad tracks, apparently some kind of tie-downs or something on rail cars, there was lots of it. It wore for years before we had to renew it. The back was about 8" high, was salvaged galvanized heating duct sheet. A Whitney hand punch and a pop-riveter makes short work of the mods. Finding a good steel shovel with a decent handle is kind of hard these days. I ended up with a semi-satisfactory one from Home Despot, had to go ask a floor guy where they were. All they had were those plastic and weird cranked-handle jobbies out on the floor, they hid the good ones back in a corner. Probably because the good ones were cheaper. Had a wood handle and a steel blade. Had to do some work on the handle to smooth it up, was all frizzed up from finishing, would tear up gloves otherwise. They didn't de-whisker it before spraying on the finish. Was like $5, though. A square or rectangular handle shaft with a good spade end is important. One of the reasons I don't like the plastic shovels is that all the handles are round, really hard to get a good grip on with gloves. Stan |
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