Alright folks, gather ’round, let me tell you about this little project I tackled – the “pole shovel.” Sounds simple, right? Well, it was… and it wasn’t. Here’s the breakdown.
It all started when I was staring at my garden, specifically, the muck at the bottom of my compost bin. Regular shovels? Nah, too short. I needed something with some reach, something that could get down deep and scoop without me having to contort myself into a pretzel. Thus, the pole shovel idea was born.
Step 1: Scrounging for Supplies
- First, I needed a shovel head. Found an old, rusty one in the shed. Perfect! A little character never hurt anyone.
- Next, the pole. I had an old closet rod lying around. It was sturdy, the right length, and FREE! Can’t beat that.
- Then, hardware. Screws, bolts, washers – the usual suspects. Made a quick trip to the hardware store for anything I was missing.
Step 2: Putting it Together
Okay, here’s where the fun began. I grabbed the shovel head and the pole. The original plan was simple: attach them. Easier said than done. The shovel head had a small opening, and the closet rod was… well, a closet rod. Round. Didn’t quite fit. This is when I decided to modify the closet rod.
- I grabbed my trusty saw and cut a wedge out of one end of the closet rod. This created a flat surface that would sit flush against the shovel head.
- Next up, drilling. I marked where the bolt holes needed to be on both the shovel head and the modified end of the pole. Then, I drilled through both.
- Time for assembly! I used bolts, washers, and nuts to secure the shovel head to the pole. Tightened everything down good and snug.
Step 3: Reinforcements
After the initial assembly, I gave it a test run. Felt a little wobbly. I wasn’t surprised. One bolt wasn’t going to cut it. Time for reinforcements!
- I decided to add some metal straps for extra support. I had some scrap metal lying around. I bent them into shape and attached them to both the shovel head and the pole using more bolts and screws.
- This made a HUGE difference. The shovel felt much more solid and stable.
Step 4: The Grip
Now that the shovel was structurally sound, it was time to focus on comfort. The bare closet rod wasn’t exactly ergonomic.
- I wrapped the top of the pole with some old bicycle handlebar tape. It gave me a nice, comfortable grip.
- I secured the tape with electrical tape at both ends to keep it from unraveling.
Step 5: Testing and Tweaking
The final step was putting the pole shovel to the test! I headed back to the compost bin and gave it a whirl. It worked like a charm! Reached the bottom easily and scooped out the muck without any back strain.
I did notice one small issue: the shovel head was a bit rusty. So, I took it off, gave it a good scrubbing with a wire brush, and sprayed it with some rust-resistant paint.
The Finished Product
So, there you have it! My DIY pole shovel. It’s not pretty, but it’s functional, and it saved me a bunch of money. Plus, I got to use some tools and get my hands dirty. Can’t ask for much more than that. Get out there and make something!
