A spade is essential for gardening. The tool consists of a spade blade and a spade handle, which can be purchased separately. After all, the handle can break when digging under the heavy load, so that a replacement is needed. Read which features you can use to recognize a high-quality spade handle and which materials and handle types are recommended.

An ergonomic spade handle makes gardening much easier

Our recommendations

our recommendation
3 spade handle spade handles handles T handle wooden handle
To the product
material wood (beech)
grip type T handle
stem length 90 centimeters
stem thickness about 3.5 centimeters
particularities sharpened at the bottom

If you are looking for a high-quality and inexpensive spade handle made of wood, you will find what you are looking for in this one. You get three straight handles made of robust beech wood, which are pointed at the bottom for easier mounting on the spade blade. They are about 90 centimeters long and therefore suitable for most people. The thickness of about 35 millimeters promises sufficient stability. At its upper end, the spade handle has a T-handle, which makes handling and gardening easier for you thanks to better power transmission. The handles are unpainted.

our recommendation
Ideal gardener's spade handle made of ash wood in a T-shape 85 cm
14.66 EUR To the product
material wood (ash)
grip type T handle
stem length 85 centimeters
stem thickness 40 millimeters
particularities sharpened at the bottom

Slightly more expensive, but of very good quality, is the ideal gardening spade handle, which fits perfectly with the large shovel and spade blades from the same manufacturer. You can easily attach these thanks to the conical shaft, which is pointed at the lower end. To do this, we recommend using so-called spade or shovel rivets with a diameter of six millimeters, which must be purchased separately. The handle has a practical length of 85 centimeters, which is suitable for most people, and its thickness of around four centimeters promises very good stability. The T-handle makes heavy gardening easier for you, making the device easier to handle.

our recommendation
laguz 3x spade handle digging fork spade fork handle wooden handle D handle Ø 38 mm 100cm
17.25 EUR To the product
material Wood (beech), metal handle
grip type D handle
stem length 100 centimeters
stem thickness 38 millimeters
particularities tapered

Whether shovel, digging fork or spade, these three handles at an affordable set price can be used for many garden tools and, according to the manufacturer, fit most common spades and shovels. These spade handles are made of sturdy, unvarnished beech wood and taper slightly towards the bottom. The practical D-handle is made of galvanized metal and wood. With a length of 100 centimeters, the handle can also be used by taller people, and the thickness of 38 millimeters promises good durability. Furthermore, the handles, which can be stored very well as spare handles in the garden shed, are made in the EU.

Purchase Criteria

material

wood: Spades and other gardening tools often have wooden handles. Make sure that these are made of hard wood such as beech or ash, as this is more robust, stable and durable compared to soft wood. Since most wooden spade handles are sold unpainted, be sure to coat them with a weatherproof finish before using them. In this way you increase the service life because rotting is stopped.

metal: Handles made of metal are significantly more durable than handles made of wood, although these are usually made of aluminum or steel. Aluminum handles are significantly lighter than those made of steel, but also more at risk of breaking. Metal handles are more stable than wooden handles and, if they are galvanized or otherwise protected against rust, also resistant to moisture. However, they are also less easy to replace than wooden spade handles.

plastic: Also very stable and at the same time particularly light are spade handles made of robust plastics such as glass fiber or fiberglass. However, these can hardly be replaced if they break, especially since they are often firmly attached to the spade blade. Plastic stems are often quite sensitive to UV light and must therefore be stored away from sunlight.

stem length and thickness

Commercial spade handles are usually between 85 and 100 centimeters long and therefore suitable for both men and women. Although some manufacturers offer special spades for "ladies" or "gentlemen", this allocation is quite imprecise - after all, there are not only small, delicate women, but also tall, strong ones. The length of your body and not your gender is important when buying a spade. If you are rather small, choose a handle with a correspondingly shorter length and vice versa. If the handle is to be used by different people of different body lengths, a telescopic handle is recommended.

Weight

The same goes for the weight: choose a spade handle that suits your personal constitution and remember when buying that you still have to add the weight of the spade blade (which is usually made of metal). If the spade is to be as light as possible, the handle should be made of aluminum or plastic. Wood - especially hardwood - and metals such as steel or iron, on the other hand, are quite heavy. However, the spade should not be too light either, as a higher weight often goes hand in hand with greater stability.

handle and handle shape

Spade handles are available either with or without a handle, although a molded handle can make those arduous gardening tasks easier. T or D handles, which can be made of wood, metal or plastic, are easy to grip. Some spade handles only have a knob as a gripping aid. The so-called D-grip is particularly easy to handle, which is about the width of a hand and ensures good power transmission.

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frequently asked Questions

For which garden tools can I still use a spade handle?

The wooden handles in particular are usually real all-rounders and can be used not only for garden spades, but also for shovels, rakes, digging forks and other garden tools. Whether the handle fits is determined by its diameter or thickness. However, some handles only fit very specific spade blades, so you should pay attention to the relevant information from the manufacturer before buying.

How do I properly care for the spade handle?

In order for the spade handle to last a long time, you should take good care of it. This also includes protecting wooden handles from moisture with an appropriate varnish or glaze and oiling them regularly. It doesn't matter whether it's wood, metal or plastic: the spade and its handle should be cleaned after use and stored in the garden shed away from the sun and the weather.

How much does a spade handle cost?

Spade handles made of wood are usually cheaper than models made of metal or plastic. Here you can get inexpensive wooden handles from around five euros, sometimes even several in a set for around ten to 15 euros. Metal or plastic handles, on the other hand, are significantly more expensive and can cost up to 50 euros. How much the spade handle costs depends not only on the material, but also on the quality, workmanship and shape.

How to replace a broken spade handle?

Wooden spade handles can be replaced with a little skill. To do this, you must first remove the old handle (or its remains). Then insert the new handle into the neck of the spade, paying attention to the correct orientation if the handle is bent. Now tap the end of the spade handle firmly on the ground several times so that the handle slides into the neck. Now drive through suitable nails, screws or rivets for secure fastening.

equipment

spade blade

our recommendation
Ideal digging and nursery spade hickory T-handle 85cm size 2
121.25 EUR To the product

Of course, without a spade blade, a spade handle is of little use to you. When buying, make sure that both parts fit together in size (that's why the thickness or diameter of the handle is so important, after all, it has to fit into the corresponding device of the spade blade. A forged spade blade is also more robust than a pressed one .

fastening rivets

our recommendation
Unimet handle ash T handle En for spade 2 pcs
EUR 6.97 To the product

To ensure that the spade blade and handle are firmly connected and do not wobble or even break under load, they must be jointed with suitable rivets. There are special fastening rivets for this, which are also known as stem rivets or spade rivets. Their diameter should fit into the holes provided on the spade blade and not be too small.

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