Thread: changing handle on shovel

My dad used to replace them for the local hardware shop, he removed the stubborn part by burning but he would bury the head of the tool in the soil up to just below the bottom of the timber in the socket and light a fire around it thus keeping the temper in all but the socket of the tool.

He never had any complaints that I’m aware of.

Mind you that hardly helps if you are a good citizen and only light fires were you’re told to.

Cheers


Dave

Originally Posted by outback

Whilst not wanting to appear dogmatic, I will agree to disagree. I do not think it is good practice placing implements in a fire to remove partial handles.

Fair enough. I'll let you run about on the hot, stinking arvos throwing your tools in the 'frig on the grounds they may lose their temper. Me, unless the metal is glowing I won't worry about it.

Hopefully these two points of view have totally confused Tiger, after all that's why we're here.

Ssssh! Now you've gone and let the cat outta the bag...

To add offence to Tiger's confusion, we also had a novel way of quenching the fire.

Confused :confused: no. I welcome the different opinions. I would never have thought of burning the wood, but I might just try that. Need a surreptitious place, maybe the fireplace inside. The shovel is something of an heirloom and so is worth preserving. I'll let you know how it goes, if you hear about a house burning down under mysterious circumstances, you'll know whose it is. Thanks, boys.