How are the handle and handle attached to the shovel?
| Shovel handles can be wood, fiberglass, or steel to suit a variety of tasks and budgets. Here the shaft is made of ash, a hardwood. The handle is a D-shaped handle. | |
For shaft mounting | |
| The process of connecting the shaft to the socket consists of a number of steps. First of all, a 20-cm slot is cut at one end in a cylindrical piece of ash, which expands slightly. |
Wood preparation | |
 | Then the cut end of the shaft is immersed in boiling hot water for 3 minutes. This softens the wood and makes it more pliable, ready for the next step. |
Handle shaping | |
 | A horseshoe clip is used to form a D-handle into the wood. The slotted end of the shaft mates with this clamp... |
 | …where a hydraulic piston pushes slotted wood through it. Each side of the groove extends around the sides of the clamp, preparing the gripper for its D-shape. |
 | The clamped rod is then left to dry in a heated chamber for 2 days. This ensures that the wood stays in the D-shape forever. The rivet is inserted through the bottom of the slot to avoid chipping along the shaft. |
 | Both the shaft and the handle are ground to a smooth surface. The shaft is also ground to a slightly beveled point on the other end. This will make it easier to insert into the head socket later. |
 | The end of the handle is then reinforced with a solid wood handle, which is riveted before sanding to a smooth overall surface. This completes its D-shape. |
Shaft head connection | |
 | Now the shovel is starting to take shape. The press connects the shaft to the blade through the socket. |
 | The rivet (metal bolt) is inserted into the hole for the rivet, previously punched by a press during the manufacture of the head. This securely fixes the shaft in the socket. |
Finish | |
 | This is a metal finishing technique. With the help of a rough sander, the junction of wood and steel is smoothed and polished to create a flat and even surface. The edges of the rivet are also smoothed. |
wood finish | |
 | To emphasize the natural texture of the tree, the shaft is covered with stain. |
 | After drying, a layer of varnish is applied to preserve the wood. Now the shovel is ready. |
