What is a trench shovel?

Statement
	As you would expect, a trench shovel is designed for digging and clearing trenches. Some trench shovels have long, thin, and pointed blades, while others have a tapered blade that is slightly narrower at the cutting edge than at the shoulder.
Long thin blade with a V-shaped edge.
	The pointed tip is usually used for digging and planting in soft plowed (already prepared) soil. Some trench shovels have a blade length of up to 400 mm (16 inches), which is ideal for digging deep channels in a vegetable garden, for example. Its thin blade means less soil will be excavated, resulting in a neat finish to the dig.
Tapered mouth blade
	In this case, a sharp but flat tip is used for denser, more compact soils that require more force to penetrate. The slightly wider blade is also handy for hauling large amounts of excavated material off the road.
	The strongest heads (blade and socket) are forged from a single piece of steel, meaning that the shaft-to- socket connection is either a solid socket or, more rarely, a shackle connection. Cheaper open socket blades tend to break easily with constant use. Whatever design you choose, look for sharp blades and square sides to create neat trench walls and reduce damage to surrounding soil.
	For more information about socket connections, see our section: How is the blade attached to the shaft?
Shaft
	The steel shovel should have high quality welds (metal joints) that should not have any open spots for water to enter. This will reduce the risk of internal rust and damage. There should be no torn seams: the seams should look flawless and as smooth as possible. The shaft usually has a standard length of 700 mm (28 inches). Please contact the manufacturer if you require a longer length.
	Use an insulated shaft when working near cables or power lines. For more information see our section: Insulated shovels