How to Replace a Broken Shovel Handle: Skill Set

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• Skill Set

Replacing a shovel handle is one of those disappearing rural skills that demonstrates basic mechanical competence — just as wrapping duct tape around a broken handle denotes the opposite. The most overlooked part of the job is getting the grain direction right.

To replace a handle, first cut or grind off the rivets and slide the old handle out of the blade socket. When you mount the new handle, orient its grain so that the oval rings are to the side of the handle, not on the top or bottom (relative to the blade). “Get the grain direction right and you’ll have a long-lasting handle,” says Dave Randolph, who helps crank out 25 million shovels and similar tools every year as a plant manager for Ames True Temper in Camp Hill, Pa. “Get it wrong and you’ll be making another trip to the hardware store before you know it.”

3. RE: How to Replace a Broken Shovel Handle: Skill Set
I'am replacing a # 2 shovel handle. The new handle is stright but the old handle was bent on the end to go all the way to the base of the shovel. How do I get this stright handle to go Thru the bend in the shovel? I hope you can understand the question.

2. RE: How to Replace a Broken Shovel Handle: Skill Set
Hi, I need info on how to remove a rivetless handle from a shovel. thank you

1. RE: How to Replace a Broken Shovel Handle: Skill Set
This information is great,similar to the way you correctly swing a baseball bat; against the grains for more stability, or with the grains;broken bat is the result. Thanks.

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