Light, durable, effective & efficient shovel
Written: Aug 16 '05 (Updated Sep 05 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Gets job done with least effort. Durable & long lasting.
Cons: Price, but pays for itself & becomes a pro.
The Bottom Line: If you want the right tool for the job, this shovel should be on anyone's short list, whether @ home or for a landscaping company.
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| rayjraz's Full Review: Stinger Square Point Shovel |
* UPDATED list of shovels below, Ames has competition w/Nupla (Fire Service favorite), Structron & others that use pultruded fiberglass solid core handles (normal fiberglass is extruded).
This shovel is my favorite for landscaping/leveling flat areas & moving/digging into loosened soil. I'm 5' 11 1/2” & it gives me leverage when I need it. Sort of like a Bionic handle w/forward turned step that gives ample foot placement (an important feature). It's also great for getting handled leverage to push dirt clumps that accumulate after a monsoon storm on my curb less street (when it rains it pours here). Sometimes the town cleanup crews take a while so I do it for some free & reclaimed dirt, whether wet or dried “hard”. If it's more fine I use a snow shovel or long handed square point...
I'm in Lake Havasu City, AZ where the soil is about as tough as it gets, it's called caliche or “lime cemented soil”. So far this shovel hasn't let me down (knock on fiberglass). On 1 acre, 1/3 of it dropping into a 40' wash. D-grip type shovels are good accessories to have with long handled square & round point shovels.
Like the past reviews state, this is a quality featured shovel with a "high-carbon, heat-treated, tempered one-piece steel blade" that should last many years. The heating & tempering process gives added strength to the annealed or original steel form (tempered glass uses similar process). Pretty sure from specs/thickness it's "HD" 16 gauge. The blade is 9 3/4” wide by 11 1/2” tall & forms a deepened dish, looks related to a garden spade.
It has a sturdy 29” yellow “easy to locate” fiberglass cushioned D-grip handle - good for handling shocks of different kinds, electric & force feedback. It doesn't bend like a pole vault or fishing rod (those are usually hard to break too). Has a large steel collar for added strength where blade joins handle. It has a limited lifetime warranty, if it does break they seem to honor the warranty - it's 15 years on the fiberglass handle.
The Ames Stinger weighs 5 lbs., & it's a little heavier than a round point version. The blade size & design give it some extra mass or inertia to effectively move more loose dirt compared to a round point.
The D-grip is very comfortable & effective on it's own. I most always use a good pair of work gloves with any tool, they seem to add some ergonomics... As for style I give it a 5, it does stand out & look better than similar shovels. Gave it all 5's, didn't really want to give any category a "B or B+"... It also holds a 5 in value, compared to similar lower & higher priced models.
Some WD-40 spray or a 10W-30 motor oiled sock stored in a baggie will help protect it from rust causing moisture during storage, as with any metal tool that's not stainless steel, etc... Also painting it with a few good coats or more of rust inhibitor like Rust-Oleum (reviewed here @ Epinions, link below in tool care) or Rust Bullet will help prevent rust & make it look "sharper".
Always good to sharpen, makes surface slice better - AccuSharp (also @ Epinions tool care link) or GardenSharp are highly recommended (for tools anyway), also Meyerco Sharpen-It is both a sharpener & ceramic honer which refines any jagged edges (good too for cutlery). Happen also to have drawer full of old flat metal bench & other files that get their use...
Since trying to sleep or rest flat on my back I found out that picking up an empty garbage can could trigger back problems if one's sitting in a bad couch posture all day! No problems past 3 years & putting this tool through it's paces.
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Currently available online, besides builderdepot.com there's amazon.com & acmehardeware.com which also have good prices. Yardiac.com & midwestrake.com have some other great tools & accessories, but are somewhat expensive. Toolup.com, gemplers.com, starnursery.com, sprinkler.com, carlinsales.com, unifireusa.com, amleo.com, hooverfence.com & doityourself.com are other online stores that have good pricing on some of the best shovels one can “get their hands on”...
Also get many tools from local Home Depot, Sears (Craftsman), Kmart, Ace Hardware, Havasu Hardware, True Value, local Lumberman's lumber yard & Wal-Mart.
This model # does seem less available locally or could be “out of stock”. Home Depot did say it was a “for online only” warehouse item or model... Online vendors seem to compete even w/shipping & wait time can be a lot less. There's a similar round point model that's more suitable for actual digging. This model reviewed is listed as Ames Stinger Dhsp Fg Landscp square point #1345000 29" D grip fiberglass handle.
Some scoop on shovels:
http://lawn-and-garden.hardwarestore.com/learning/all-about-shovels.aspx
http://www.acehardware.com/sm-digging-tools--bg-1271390.html
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=LawnGarden/GardenToolBG
http://www.countrysidemag.com/issues/1_1999.htm
Winter tool care & sharpening:
http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/articles/200004/sharpen/main.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_13267_sharpen-shovel.html
Epinions reviews for Rust-Oleum paints
Epinions Accusharp Knife Sharpener reviews
http://users.ameritech.net/knives/slot.htm
http://www.bmi.net/roseguy/gtcare.html
UPDATED LIST 9/5/2005 - more brands added to compare below, this shovel is listed in bold italics type. There are many other models, I stuck with mostly “top of the line” fiberglass handles. Many have wood handle versions (quality continuous grain, many times northern ash). Fiberglass for handles are stronger, more chemical & moisture resistant than wood. $20-30 is a lot to spend on a shovel, some in the list are > $50!
Tempted to do a shootout between this shovel & something like a new Fiskars or Nupla square point D-type shovel. I'm pretty sure the Ames would be lighter than both, the latter might be handy during fire season in Colorado...
Pultruded fiberglass is real heavy duty, also used in ladder railings, window frames... Made in a pressure/heat mold squeeze process called pultrusion, similar to making play dough or spaghetti. The Ames Viper brand seems to be a newer model w/"25% stronger than fiberglass" construction. Similar to Nupla's new versions/revisions of older models.
Here's an UPDATED list of shovels & the tools generally used with them. I'm shopping for more tools for construction & have this list in a spreadsheet, so I just paste it here. Prices (for 8/2005 anyway) are relatively compared on some of the best deals online, shipping charges of course vary:
Accessories
AccuSharp Knife and Tool Sharpener #001 $9.07
GardenSharp Tool Sharpener #006 $9.07
Replacement blades #003 $5.17
Byers' Axe & Tool sharpener #21800 $14.95
Meyerco Sharpen-It sharpener & honer w/sheath $20.71
Meyerco Sharpen-It Alien II sharpener & honer honed & serrated blades, axes, machetes or edged tools $6.79
Chef'sChoice EdgeCrafter Diamond Sharpener/File Model 420 $29.95
Rust Bullet primer/paint rust inhibitor 1 quart covers 50 sq ft 2 coats metallic aluminum $32.99
Rust-Oleum Clean Metal Primer 12 oz spray #7780-830 white, clean metal $3.70
Rust-Oleum Clean Metal Primer rust inhibitor 1 quart #7780-504 white, clean metal $8.69
Rust-Oleum Rusty Metal Primer rust inhibitor 1 quart #7769-504 white, clean metal $8.69
Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel oil-based enamel 1 quart #7779 many colors $8.69
Rust-Oleum Professional Enamel oil-based enamel 1 gallon #7779 many colors $29.99
Rust-Oleum Gloss Protective Enamel 12 oz spray #7770-830 many colors $4.49
Rust-Oleum Gloss Hammered Metal Finish enamel 12 oz spray #7210-830 black, gold, green $4.49
* Shovels usually forward turned step, rolled/flat face doesn't push or stick/hold as much dirt.
Round point shovels
Ames Kodiak True Temper round point #1558300 14 ga 48” fiberglass handle $24.96
Ames Kodiak True Temper round point D-grip #1309600 14 ga 30” northern ash handle $49.08
Ames Viper Lhrp round Point #1330000 48" 25% stronger fiberglass handle $19.99
Ames Viper Dhrp round Point D-grip #1582200 30” 25% stronger fiberglass handle $29.36
Ames Stinger Lhrp Fg Landscp round point #1345300 16 ga 47” fiberglass handle $24.49
Ames Stinger Dhrp Fg Landscp round point D-grip #1345200 16 ga 29” fiberglass handle $18.06
Corona round point hollow back #SS 65020 14 ga 48” fiberglass handle $43.58
Corona round point hollow back D-grip #SS 65030 14 ga 30” fiberglass handle $44.69
Corona round point closed back #SS 60020 14 ga 48” fiberglass handle $51.44
Corona round point closed back D-grip #SS 60030 14 ga 30” fiberglass handle $52.56
Fiskars long handle digging shovel #96685935 14 ga presharpened steel shaft PVC sleeve $30.79
Fiskars digging shovel oval handle #96695935 14 ga presharpened steel shaft PVC sleeve $30.79
King Of Spades round point #WW47 14 ga 54” steel handle 6 lbs $68.49
Millennium 600 round point #49600 14 ga 48” cushion grip fiberglass handle $56.70
Millennium 600 round point D-grip #49601 14 ga 29” cushion grip fiberglass handle $56.70
Millennium 600 round point Super D-grip #49605 14 ga 37” cushion grip fiberglass handle $60.87
Millennium 600 round point closed back #49602 14 ga 48” cushion grip fiberglass handle $58.04
Millennium 600 Shark Tooth round point #49630 14 ga 48” cushion grip fiberglass handle $60.16
Millennium 600 Shark Tooth round point Super D-grip #49632 14 ga 37” cushion grip fiberglass handle $64.56
Nupla Power Pylon E-Series round point #72-245 14 ga 48” pultruded fiberglass handle $28.96
Nupla Power Pylon E-Series round point D-type #72-225 14 ga 27” pultruded fiberglass handle $35.70
Structron round point #SEY-S600 14 ga 48” reinforced fiberglass handle $32.23
Structron round point D-Grip #SEY-S600D 14 ga 26” reinforced fiberglass handle $32.23
Structron Super Shovel - saw tooth round point #SEY-S710 48” reinforced fiberglass handle $32.94
Structron Super Shovel - saw tooth round point D-handle #SEY-S710D 29” reinforced fiberglass handle $39.99
Structron round point closed back #SEY-S712 48” reinforced fiberglass handle $36.46
Union Tools Razor-Back round point #45000 48” fiberglass handle $34.99
Union Tools Razor-Back closed back round point #45013 48” fiberglass handle $37.39
Square point shovels
Ames Kodiak True Temper square point #1550500 14 ga 48” fiberglass handle $32.85
Ames Kodiak True Temper square point D-grip #1309300 14 ga 30” northern ash handle $32.68
Ames Viper Lhsp square point (15 yr) #1330100 48" 25% stronger fiberglass handle $19.99
Ames Viper Dhsp square point D handle (15 yr) #1584000 30” 25% stronger fiberglass handle $29.36
Ames Stinger Lhsp Fg Landscp square point #1345100 16 ga 47” fiberglass handle $19.99
Ames Stinger Dhsp Fg Landscp square point D Grip #1345000 16 ga 29" fiberglass handle $20.47
Ames Stinger Fg Landscp square point D-grip #1345400 16 ga 29" fiberglass handle $29.14
Corona square point hollow back #SS 66020 14 ga 48” fiberglass handle $43.58
Corona square point hollow back D-grip #SS 66030 14 ga 30” fiberglass handle
Corona square point closed back #SS 61020 14 ga 48” fiberglass handle $51.44
Corona square point closed back D-grip #SS 61030 14 ga 30” fiberglass handle $52.56
Fiskars long handle transfer shovel #96595935 14 ga presharpened steel shaft PVC sleeve $30.79
Fiskars transfer shovel oval handle #96585935 14 ga presharpened steel shaft PVC sleeve $30.79
Millennium 600 square point #49610 14 ga 48” cushion grip fiberglass handle $56.70
Millennium 600 square point D-grip #49611 14 ga 29” cushion grip fiberglass handle $56.70
Millennium 600 square point Super D grip #49615 14 ga 37” cushion grip fiberglass handle $60.87
Nupla Power Pylon E-Series square point #72-145 14 ga 48” pultruded fiberglass handle $37.99
Nupla Power Pylon E-Series square point D-type #72-142 14 ga 27” pultruded fiberglass handle
Structron square point #SEY-S601 14 ga 48” reinforced fiberglass handle $32.23
Structron square point D-grip #SEY-S601D 14 ga 26” reinforced fiberglass handle $32.23
Union Tools Razor-Back square point transfer shovel #44000 48” fiberglass handle
Drain, trench & ditch shovels
Ames Viper FG drain spade #1577300 47” fiberglass handle $29.89
Corona drain spade closed back #SS 62020 14 ga 48” fiberglass handle $43.58
Corona drain spade closed back D-grip #SS 62030 14 ga 30” fiberglass handle $44.69
Millennium 600 drain spade #49622 14 ga 48” cushion grip fiberglass handle $56.70
Millennium 600 drain spade D-grip #49623 14 ga 29” cushion grip fiberglass handle $56.70
Nupla Power Pylon E-Series drain spade #72-232 48” 14 ga pultruded fiberglass handle
Nupla Power Pylon E-Series drain spade D-type #72-233 29” 14 ga pultruded fiberglass 6 lbs $37.99
Structron drain spade #SEY-S604 48” reinforced fiberglass handle
Structron drain spade D-grip #SEY-S604D 29” reinforced fiberglass handle $38.99
Structron drain spade #SEY-S715 48” reinforced fiberglass handle
Structron drain spade D-grip #SEY-S715D 29” reinforced fiberglass handle
Union Tools Razor-Back closed back 14” drain spade #47602 54” fiberglass handle $49.19
Union Tools Razor-Back closed back 14” drain spade D-grip #47604 30” fiberglass handle
Ames Stinger Fg Landscp 5dit spade #1346200 47” fiberglass handle $27.90
Corona trench clean out 4”, 1” sides #SS 64024 12 ga 48” fiberglass handle $40.00
Corona trench clean out 5”, 1” sides #SS 64025 12 ga 48” fiberglass handle $40.00
Corona trench digging 4” #SS 64224 13 ga 48” fiberglass handle $38.89
Corona trench digging 5” #SS 64225 13 ga 48” fiberglass handle
Nupla Power Pylon E-Series 5” trenching shovel #72-222 48” 14 ga pultruded fiberglass handle
Structron 5” trenching v-shaped blade #SEY-S702 48” reinforced fiberglass handle $32.23
Structron 4” trenching v-shaped blade #SEY-S703 48” reinforced fiberglass handle $28.18
Midwest Rake 4” closed back trenching shovel #89104 14 ga orange blade 48” cushion grip fiberglass $36.87
Midwest Rake 5” closed back trenching shovel #89105 14 ga red blade 48” cushion grip fiberglass $38.09
Union Tools Razor-Back closed back 4” trench clean out #47016 54” fiberglass handle $30.95
Union Tools Razor-Back closed back 5” trench clean out #47017 54” fiberglass handle
Union Tools Razor-Back open back 4” trench dig/clear #47138 54” fiberglass handle $32.49
Union Tools Razor-Back open back 5” ditch dig/clear #47174 54” fiberglass handle $33.29
Garden spades
Ames Viper FG garden spade #1577700 30” 25% stronger fiberglass handle $31.49
Fiskars garden spade oval handle #96675935 14 ga presharpened steel shaft PVC sleeve $31.89
Fiskars transplanting spade oval handle #96546935 14 ga presharpened steel shaft PVC sleeve $31.89
King Of Spades Extended Blade #KS15L 12 ga 54” steel handle 7 lbs $93.49
King Of Spades Extended Blade diamond point #KSB1L 12 ga 54” steel handle 7 lbs $90.99
King Of Spades Extended Blade D-grip #KS15 12 ga 27" steel handle 7 lbs $78.49
King Of Spades Extended Blade diamond point D-grip #KSB1 12 ga 27" steel handle 7 lbs $71.49
Leonard's All Steel Spade heavy duty D-grip #a120ts 27” tubular steel handle $74.99
Millennium 600 garden spade #49620 14 ga 48” cushion grip fiberglass handle $56.70
Millennium 600 garden spade D-grip #49621 14 ga 29” cushion grip fiberglass handle $56.70
Millennium 600 garden spade Super D-grip #49625 14 ga 37” cushion grip fiberglass handle $60.87
Nupla Power Pylon E-Series garden spade #72-331 14 ga 48” pultruded fiberglass handle
Nupla Power Pylon E-Series garden spade D-handle #72-332 14 ga 27” pultruded fiberglass handle $36.99
Structron square point garden spade #SEY-S605 48” reinforced fiberglass handle $32.23
Structron square point garden spade D-handle #SEY-S605D 29” reinforced fiberglass handle $38.99
Union Tools Razor-Back closed back border spade D-grip #47607 30” fiberglass handle
Grain, snow & scoop shovels
Ames Ram Grain Shovel, #12 aluminum D-handle #1671200 27” northern ash handle $31.05
Ames Ram Grain Shovel, #14 aluminum D-handle #1671400 27” northern ash handle $34.64
Corona D FG aluminum scoop #SS 68030 12 ga 30” fiberglass handle $60.00
Life-Link 3DXD Polycarbonate D-grip 30-39.5” aluminum telescope handle, 26 oz $41.95
Life-Link Ice Pro Polycarbonate D-grip 31-39.5” aluminum telescope handle, 27 oz $45.95
Nupla E-Series aluminum scoop #14 aluminum #72-158 48” pultruded fiberglass handle
Nupla E-Series aluminum scoop #14 aluminum D-type #72-259 30” pultruded fiberglass handle
Ortovox Expert II snow shovel ergonomic grip aluminum magnesium alloy 77 cm/30” extended handle $79.00
Structron grain scoop #12 aluminum D-handle #SEY-AS19D 29” reinforced fiberglass handle $60.17
Voile Telepro T6 Snow Shovel aluminum D-grip #716239 18-32.5” aluminum handle $48.00
Post hole diggers
Fiskars post hole digger 6” spread #96536965 14 ga hardened steel welded handle $59.95
Nu Boston Digger single handle adjustable blade #NUDIGGER 71” length, ash handle 15 lbs $89.95
Nupla post hole digger 6 1/2” spread #79-548 4' PRO-TEC fiberglass handles
Seymour Lonestar post hole auger 6 1/4” spread #SEY-DG15 58.5” tubular steel handles 16.2 lbs $48.48
Seymour Buckeye post hole digger 6 1/2” spread #SEY-DG16 59” tubular steel handles 16 lbs $65.99
Seymour Hercules post hole digger 6 1/4” spread #SEY-PD48 4' yellow fiberglass handles 10.8 lbs $63.81
Seymour Hercules post hole digger 6 1/4” spread #SEY-DG11FG 4' red fiberglass handles 11.7 lbs $58.89
Seymour Perfection post hole digger 6” spread #SEY-DG17FG 4' red fiberglass handles
Seymour Perfection post hole digger 7 1/4” spread #SEY-DG12FG 4' red fiberglass handles $57.63
The Hole Deal post hole digger leveraged pivot Model 200 59” length, steel handles 15 lbs $49.95
The Hole Deal post hole digger leveraged pivot Model 300 59” length, fiberglass/steel handles 15 lbs $59.95
Other cultivating/excavating tools
Ames Jackson Contractor wheelbarrow 6 cu ft #M6T22 18 ga steel tray ash handles $109.49
Ames Jackson Contractor wheelbarrow 6 cu ft #M6T22BB-ball bearings 18 ga steel tray ash handles $109.99
Ames Jackson Contractor wheelbarrow 6 cu ft #M11T22 16 ga folded steel tray ash handles $124.99
Ames Jackson Contractor wheelbarrow 6 cu ft #M11T22BB 16 ga folded steel tray ash handles $134.95
Ames Jackson Contractor wheelbarrow 6 cu ft #M6FFBB (flat-free) 18 ga steel tray ash handles $122.99
Ames Jackson Contractor wheelbarrow 6 cu ft #5205 replacement ash wood handles $33.00
Ames Jackson Contractor wheelbarrow 6 cu ft #M6SNT narrow folded steel tray steel handles $100.99
Ames Jackson Contractor wheelbarrow 6 cu ft #M6SNTFFKB narrow folded steel tray steel handles
Jeep steel wheelbarrow 6 cu ft #WWB103 18 ga flat free, disc brake, 62” steel handles $179.99
Jeep flat-free tire with Jeep concrete bushings #FFT15R8 15” tire on 8” wheel rim $43.95
Marathon flat-free tire ribbed, knobby or smooth, ball bearings 16” diameter 8” rim $49.99
Firestone PondGard EPDM Rubber Liner 10'x10' $51.00
Repair Seam Tape Double sided adhesive 3” x per foot - 10' $12.50
Primer (covers 225 sq. ft. per gallon) 1 pint can to prime surface $8.00
6” cover tape Single sided cover tape 6” x per foot - 10' $25.00
Yardiac Clean Up Canvas 20 cu ft capacity construction grade tarp, nylon clip handles $24.95
Back Buddy Handle #81000 attaches to any long-handled tool $18.49
Hoes
Ames Kodiak Warren field v-shaped hoe #1842800 54” sealed wood handle, forged head $32.99
Rogue triangle garden v-shaped hoe #00G 54” or 60” handle $24.95
Ames Viper forged garden hoe #1882200 16 ga 49 3/4”” 25% stronger fiberglass handle $25.99
Ames Kodiak True Temper garden hoe #1849000 52” seal-coated hardwood handle $31.99
Fiskars garden hoe #96635935 14 ga presharpened steel shaft PVC sleeve $23.09
Garden Pro forged hoe #40410 60” aluminum handle, 5” comfort grip $35.27
Nupla Classic garden hoe #79-675 7" x 5" blade, 60" PRO-TEC handle
Rogue field hoe #70F 7” head 60” fiberglass handle $26.95
Nupla Classic McLeod hoe & rake specialty fire tool #79-216 48" PRO-TEC handle $53.99
Nupla Classic fire rake specialty tool #69-214 48" PRO-TEC handle
Structron garden hoe #SEY-H800 60” reinforced fiberglass handle
Cultivators
Ames Kodiak True Temper cultivator 4 prong (10 yr?) #1800500 52” ash wood, forged steel head $19.97
Ames Viper True Temper cultivator 4 prong (15 yr) #1884000 49 1/4”, 25% stronger fiberglass $27.26
Fiskars cultivator #96646935 aluminum handle PVC sleeve $23.09
Garden Pro forged cultivator 4 prong #42204 60” aluminum handle, 6” vinyl grip $26.95
Structron cultivator forged 4 tines GC-30 54” hardwood handle
Excavating
Ames Pinchpt crowbar pry/digging bar #1160100 1 1/4” x 60” 18 lb $26.28
Ames Pinchpt crowbar pry/digging bar #1162500 1 1/2” x 66” 26 lb $37.73
Ames Pick Cultivator 26" hickory handle
Ames True Temper 2 1/2 lb pick mattock #1194500 imported wood handle $14.74
Ames True Temper 5 lb pick mattock #1195000 36” wood handle $18.74
Nupla E-Series 5 lb pick mattock #24-552 5 lb handle, SG grip
Ames Tamper (loose clay soil) #1133700 10x10 14 lbs, 42” ash handle $28.71
Columbus McKinnon Tamper (hard soil) #16503 8x8 26 lbs, 44” wood handle $36.35
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
rayjraz
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Location: Lake Havasu City
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Graduated HS, some honors
Liberal arts @ local college
Semi-retired
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