How to choose the right shovel: material, finish and size of the blade

How to choose the right shovel

A shovel is designed to move loose material, such as soil, sand or gravel. We therefore recommend choosing a shovel based on the type of material that you want to move and what you want to use it for. As with spades, there are many types of shovels.

Tip 2 Material and finish of the blade

Polet shovels are made from high-quality alloy steel. During production, the shovel blades are heated in the oven, after which they are shaped. As such, all the stress is eliminated, preventing possible cracking of the steel. The blades are then hardened. The blade is heated to almost 1,000 °C and then quenched (suddenly cooled) in a liquid bath. This increases the steel’s carbon content, altering its crystal structure and making the steel stronger and more resistant to wear. At Polet, we harden our tools until they are as hard as a concrete or stone chisel. This keeps the sharpened blade sharp for a longer time. The blade of a high-quality shovel, like a Polet shovel, has also been hardened right up to the end of the socket, ensuring the blade won’t bend or deform easily. The shovel has a longer lifespan as a result.
The shovel blades are then polished or lacquered with a colourless lacquer, or an epoxy coating is applied. Epoxy coating is a rigid, high-performance plastic polymer, made from epoxy resin and a hardener. After mixing, it becomes hard, durable, and resistant to moisture and chemicals.

Tip 3 Size of the blade

Polet has sand shovels and Dutch shovels in various sizes. The size is indicated on the blade with a number ranging from 000 to 2. The smallest model, number 000, measures 255 x 210 mm, while the largest one, number 2, measures 290 x 240 mm. 
The larger the blade, the more material you can move in one go. This also has an impact on the weight and ergonomics. It is therefore important that you think about whether you prefer a large blade, with which you can move a lot of weight, or whether you prefer a smaller blade for lighter weights.