This is the first time ever I bought a real shovel after breaking the one which I repaired after my contractor left it behind some 20 years ago after finishing his job in my house. Once used to construct my home. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) This morning I went down the road to the hardware shop and bought me a new shovel. There were no choice in brand but design yes. I bought the same model which I had and was surprised that it cost me about US$3.00. My First Brand New Shovel ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) While walking back home I noticed that the handle was already cracked so I went back to change it. He brought out another to change but the handle was chipped. Took out another and it was also cracked. The last one was OK but the handle was slightly misaligned and shaky. Did not had any choice so I took it. According to the shopkeeper this is the only brand available and for better quality type I have to go look around in shopping centers and it is really expensive. :-| When I got home I noticed that the quality of the shaft is really inferior and I guess that is why they had it painted instead of varnished like it used to be. Refitted the handle so that it is better aligned and firm. Comparing to the broken it is crude, very low quality and much lighter in weight. I had a real good laugh when I saw this on the label. "Best Quality" haha!!! !!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Well I guess I just had to be more gentle with it and so far it is doing its job right!!! and is only US$3.00 only How much would a normal shovel cost in your area?
Congratulations on your new shovel! They don't make them like they used to, eh? Here one like that would cost from $40 to $70, depending on the quality. Yes, we've got very high prices.
Very nice looking shovel, hope it lasts as long as the old one did. I think one comparable to yours would cost about $15-$30 here, depending on where you went.
Our garden shovels can be anywhere from £20-£100 depending on the size and quality you want. The best ones are around £50-£65 but are a really good investment. The ones at £100 are 'designer' shovels but who needs a modern design to shovel dirt!!
wow kk! 3 dollars? they run about 15 to 30 like toni's area here. do you have any duct tape? sometimes i wrap the entire handle in it when i get a crack. it helps it have strength to last a little longer.
A good spade shovel like that runs about $25-120 here. I was just looking around for a good one and Home Depot had one I really liked and was really solid for $47, best of all it was made in the US, with the next best one made in Germany. Personally I woulod be looking for a new handle for your old one if the blade is still in giood shape. A handle will still cost $8-20 but worth it if the blade is still good. My dad has one he has replaced handles for 4-5 times over 25+ years.
Well...your old shovel really got a work out. I would have to guess on a price because if we need a tool my husband just picks it up. Now I did buy a small shovel a couple years ago because the regular ones are too large for me and it was about 20 dollars. . We sometimes replace handles on tools like someone suggested too. Try not to work too hard now with that new one, you don't want to wear it out...I don't think most things are made as well as they used to be. The prices are more but the quality isn't better.
I'm with Eileen on the sort of prices we pay. However, I have never had to buy one as I inherited all of my dads tools when he died, and then an elderly neighbour of Marks parents died, and I inherited all of his tools also, and I have to say, the workmanship and quality of those older tools is beautiful. I have a ladies fork which is at least 50 years old, and the shaft is soft and smooth and the tignes are sharp and straight and in my trade, the tools have to earn their keep.
I think a shovel like that would cost any where between $40-$80 here. My new transplanting spade was $60 last fall and it was the cheapest one. I love the old tools too EJ! I'm always on the lookout at garage sales for old shovels and cultivators.
KK, the farmer's co-operative here sells new handles for shovels... I wonder if there is a place there that sells them?
The shovels here vary in size and shape. There are very many different types to buy depending if you want them for a woman or a man and depending upin the job that you want to do with them...even for just p[lain dirt digging there is a choice and of course if you want tone to dig out an old tree or bush stump or hard-packed things like irises, daffs or pampas grass...there is a special type of shovel. There are differen t sorts for graound and sand, as well. So you can see it is difficult to say what a price is. Most of my tools have been inherited like EJ, but I have bought a few specialized tools from time to time. I reckon that an average price for a lower mid-range shovel would be between 40-50 euros (40-54 dollars) Have a look on this website. It is my favourite toolmaker. They make their tools by hand and thus have a very good quality. There are little country flags over in the upper righthand corner to get "english", then there are categories for "Spades" as well as "Shovels"....as well as many other tools. I hope that you find this site interesting. Perhaps you cannot buy this brand there, but at least you can see what is available. http://www.sneeboer.com/index2.php?page=19 I have been thinking of writing an article on his toolmaking shop to show how the tools are made and where they come from...all I need is some time. :-D There really aren't enough hours in a day.
Hey, Sjoerd, that's a shop I would have loved to visit! Do pay them a visit and make one of your lovely show-and-tell's, pretty please? *battering eyelashes hard enough to disperse volcano ash clouds*
wow! that's a really neat site sjoerd. i'd like to hear more about it. droopey, are you being affected by the volcano? we saw wicked pics of it on the news yesterday.
WOW!!! Didn't know that shovels are that costly, if it is quality build then I guess it is worth the price. Mine is dirt cheap and I guess I am paying for dirt!! Thanks Droopy, yep!! They sure don't make them the way they used to. How is the volcano situation there? Hope you are all fine! Thanks Toni, I am doubtful that it will last that long, maybe till the end of the year I hope!! Eileen if I can export them to you and sell it for £10 a piece we could be rich!! Thanks Bunkie, I did wrap the handle with duct tape when the handle split and then the shaft broke. By handle I mean the top most part of the shovel. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks Fish_4_all, I did consider replacing the shaft but it is not available. Last year or so I replaced my hoe shaft and it cost me slightly less than US$3 and the shopkeeper told me who would want to replace the shaft of a shovel when a complete one is just US$3. Thanks Sherry8, you are so lucky that your husband is doing the tool shopping. I am working very gently with this new shovel and I am afraid I can't keep on spoiling it. Yes I fully agree with you that quality is sacrificed for price, it is indeed a capitalistic world. Thanks EJ, I can imagine from your description that your tools are of best quality and are really well taken care off. I guess you must really treasure you tools too!! Thanks Netty, we can never find old tools in garage sales here because the people here just don't value their tools. Thanks Daisybeans but they don't sell them here! WOW!! Sojerd, that is really what I call a real specialist shop and I would really like to visit them if I can. Sojerd I will mail you some "TIME" if I can for you to write your article on this tool making shop, please, please, please!!!! :-D Thanks for all those inspiring comments, I have decided to recover the old shovel and had it repaired ...... I do not know how at the moment but I will try to find a way. Guess that is going to be my next project. :-D
