Spades & Shovels

Find the right spade

Polet's digging spades can take a beating

Spades are the first tools that Polet forged more than a century ago. They are the cradle of our company and the flagship of our range.

A Polet spade you have for life. That is quite logical, considering that we use steel of a special alloy during the production process (the same as top quality boron steel used for bulldozer shovels and ploughshares). They are forged and hardened using the latest technology and conforming to the highest standards. The result? A tough, flexible and durable spade.

How is a Polet spade made?

The model of the digging spades varies according to the use and region, but the production process is always the same.

Forging

First, the basic shape of the spade is lasercut or punched from the steel sheet. Then, the cutting edge is ground onto it. The spade is formed. The blade is then welded onto the spring (spring spades) or the open socket spade is shaped. It is important that all these processes take place under heated conditions to avoid remaining strains in the steel spades.

Hardening

What follows is the hardening process. The blade of the spade is heated up to 850 °C and cooled down immediately in a bath of liquid. This creates a chemical reaction that makes the steel harder. At Polet, the tools are hardened at 47 to 50 HRC (Rockwell, hardness unit), despite DIN standards requiring only 32 to 43 HRC. It is thanks to using boron steel with a forged cutting edge and high hardness that the Polet tools obtain their exceptional durability and self-sharpening properties.

Finishing and handle

The digging spades are polished or sandblasted and powder coated. Finally, a handle is fitted onto the spade blade. In most cases, handles are made from straight veined ashwood and have to be DIN compliant. The wood is nicely sanded with sandpaper before being varnished. Fiberglass handles are usually preferred for professional and industrial use.

For more information take a look at our complete range of handles.

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