Another piece of landfill from a "leading" manufacturer
Fred-in-the-sheds Guide to Garden Forks and Spades
Updated 4th October 2008
Most garden forks and spades bought today are of inferior quality and design and made in the Far East. They are made to cater for gardeners who don't want to spend much on tools. However some are made to look like quality tools to fool the public into thinking they are getting the best.
These tools will not last as long as the "old fashioned" tools that our parents and grandparents used. Luckily you can still buy top quality, solid forged British and Dutch tools and some reasonable quality tools from "the Orient" However you need to know where to look and you need some inside information to avoid the shiny fakes.
| Another piece of landfill from a "leading" manufacturer |
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CASE STUDY - BUYING A FORK AND SPADE
If you try to buy a fork or spade you will find that they range enormously in price, for no apparent reason. Why does that shiny stainless steel spade cost less than that dull and boring painted one?
It could be because one is a poor quality duffer. But which one?
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Bulldog Premier Solid Forged Spade undergoing a bend test at the
Clarington Forge in Wigan.
My Dad "Big Fred" used this model spade for many years and I can vouch for it's quality. The Bulldog premier forks and spades have been in production for many years without any changes, these are the most tried and tested tools available today.
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Unless you do your digging in a grow-bag I would always recommend a solid forged fork or spade. This means that it has been bashed out of one piece of metal and the crystalline structure of the metal is uniform and very strong.
Pressed steel and welded forks and spades tend to do spaghetti impressions in hard soil or snap at the (frog) weld. I favour Ash or hardwood handles although fibreglass can often be even stronger.
Bulldog, Spear & Jackson and Caldwells are long established companies who all sell solid forged tools in the UK. As of 2005 only Bulldog manufacture fully forged tools in the UK at their Wigan factory in Lancashire.
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Twelve stages of forging (bashing) a spade from one piece of steel, (Picture courtesy of Bulldog Tools)
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Click here to buy Bulldog tools online at the best prices
Stainless Steel tools look nice and do slide into the ground easier, only one company makes solid forged stainless steel, hence most of the stainless tools are inherently weaker, especially forks, even though they may cost more, depending on who makes them and where you buy them.
No-one makes solid forged stainless steel forks and spades in the UK. If you see any stainless steel spade or fork labelled "manufactured in the UK" - beware this does not apply to the metal parts! I have stopped a major UK retailer making these claims. ( They were not too pleased to hear from me)
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A so called "top quality" Stainless Steel Spade sold by a Top Brand Company. This product has failed because it is made of 2 pieces welded together (badly) It came with a 10 year guarantee and was a replacement for the previous one that broke. Your time and petrol is not covered by the guarantee. The environmental cost of manufacturing product for landfill is not covered by the guarantee.
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Craftsman made Stainless Steel Digging Tools As the British garden tool manufacturers have dwindled down and disappeared the Chinese manufacturers have taken over and sold us lots of shiny tools that look good but just don't last.( There are a few exceptions) These new tools from an old Dutch manufacturer called Sneeboer fill the gap as they are made from the finest steel and wood by a family of craftsmen with tools in their blood. When you pick up Sneeboer tool you know this is the real Mcoy and will treasure it and take pride in the work you do with. Sneeboer tools are now available in the UK and the range is enormous, there is a tool for every job. Jaap Sneeboer even made one for me some years back! These tools are not cheap, but neither is a Bentley and they are real enthusiasts and professionals tools. They also make wonderful presents. The fork and spade shown right are quite chunky tools but Sneeboer also have smaller and lightweight ladies forks, spades and hoes.
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See the new Sneeboer Stainless Steel Digging Fork See the Sneeboer Stainless Steel Transplanting Spade
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Non solid forged Stainless Steel Forks and Spades Stainless steel digging tools look better and are easier to slide into the ground than painted or rust covered tools. However they are NOT the strongest so take care to only use them in good soil for gardening - not building work. I have used a set of these Spear and Jackson Neverbend stainless tools for many years and they are about as good as you can get - and not made in England
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If you want to buy good quality stainless steel garden tools use the link below to check prices from a Fredshed recommended supplier. buy stainless steel fork,spade and handtool kit
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If you are thinking of buying some expensive tools and want some help, you can e mail me at fred@fredshed.com. Likewise if you have had an expensive tool break then I would like to know. (unless you were lifting paving slabs with it!)
BEST OF BRITISH - FRED'S GUIDE TO BUYING British Made FORKS AND SPADES
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Bulldog Premier Fork and Spade The classic British gardening tool And the only fully forged tools made in Britain
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British and Solid Forged - When Only The Best Will Do
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Bulldog made Irish Spades and Irish Shovels in a range of handle shapes and sizes
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WHAT IS REALLY BRITISH ? Wilksinson Sword - NO owned by Fiskars of Finland - forks and spades made in far east Spear & Jackson - NO American owned -tools made in India or far east Caldwells - YES British owned - tools made in Far East Bulldog -YES British Owned Most tools made in Wigan, some in Far East
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Bulldog Evergreen Forks and Spades One range down from the Premier tools these Epoxy coated carbon steel tools have hardwood shafts but plastic soft touch ergo handles. The metal parts are forged from one piece for strength and lightness, in Wigan UK.
Solid forged forks always cost more than spades as there is a lot more skilled work involved in making them Click the links below to check the prices of the Bulldog Evergreen Digging Fork and the smaller border fork. Bulldog
7103 Evergreen Digging Fork
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Spear & Jackson Neverbend Pro-Activ A modern design with a oversize, shock absorbing soft feel handle. Spear & Jackson is an American owned company based in Sheffield UK.. The metal parts are solid forged in the traditional British way. Sadly Spear & Jackson closed their Wednesbury UK forge in 2005 so now these tools are made in India or the Far East. I really liked the large handles on these innovative tools. The new Spear and Jackson E series stainless steel forks and spades use a similar design. see the largest range of garden forks online see the largest selection of spades online (use the link above for Spear and Jackson Forks and Spades) |
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Caldwells Solid Forged Contractors Tools
The Caldwells family have made digging tools since 1770 If you want the most rugged building or construction tools Caldwells is the name to trust. The fork shown right is the heaviest strongest fork available for contractors, if you want one like this then e-mail fred@fredshed.com Another great tool for builders and contractors is the Irish Spade which is designed for digging deep holes.
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The latest book from Mr T!
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more E mails about broken forks than any other tool, this is because there
are so many inferior quality tools of this type in the shops. Also to be
fair to the manufacturers some people try to use a garden fork when they
should be using a pick-axe or mattock. see www.get-digging.co.uk
If you want really strong forks and spades,my advice is to ONLY BUY FORKS THAT HAVE BEEN SOLID FORGED. Also take care when buying Stainless Steel. Only one company makes solid forge stainless steel and generally speaking this metal is not as suited to making large forks, normal carbon steel is stronger, easier to forge and less likely to break in difficult conditions like heavy soil or when digging near roots. Solid forged tools are lighter AND stronger as they are made from one piece of metal. For personal advice on how to buy the right fork or spade e mail me at fred@fredshed.com |
Special spades and forks for Digging without bending
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Breaking News - 2008 The obsolete Wolf Terrex Autospade has a replacement from a new company and has even been improved! After many years absence the incredible autospade has been revived and is available now for UK delivery The new version is available with carbon steel OR stainless steel spade head and has stronger springs. mail me for details of the special launch offers which include delivery, and a free fork head! Stainless Spade £109.99 Carbon Steel Spade £99.99 |
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see my page on spork garden tools
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see the largest selection of spades online
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