Push stroke advances the front edge forward to find a working grade. Pull back and advance again cracks hard packed soil. Use pry down at the end of push stroke to add leverage power to the soil breaking action.
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Shovel dominant design is the round pointed shovel and various flat scoop shovels. The end of innovation is Taylorism and access to non-human power equipment and tools. Taylorism systemized human power material shoveling through time and motion studies with the goal of profitability. Enjoyment and health for the human labour is not a priority.
Fishtail lineage begins when a shovel head meets an angle grinder cutoff disc
. Design began using a sledege hammer and steel wedges for wood splitting, as explorartion geologist the rock hammer was always in my hand. With out a rockhammer in hand there was an absence of the trade. the hammer blow exposes fresh rock chips. scythes, dutch hoe
Wide and narrow fishtail models
Lighter, more agile and precise, the narrower fishtail model has taken over as the preferred size from the wide model (aka Blossom). Lack of rust attests to amount of recent use. A 14% weight reduction from 1308 g / 2.9 lbs (original wide) to 1122 g / 2.5 lbs (narrow). Front edge 6″ and 4″ , throats 4″ and 3″, respectively. The narrow fishtail’s feels is more like a canoe paddle that forms and sculpts the earth.
Full length view of the 2 models
Starting weight =1985g – 1517g final weight = 468 g less weight
70 oz-16.5=53.5 oz final weight
Video of the 31 mm crack that has developed on a fishtail. Likely after the boulder pry test.
See the Mother Earth News Feb/Mar 2022 edition page 78, 79 for my submission about fishtail spades
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