Topic: How do you select the right size tools

[Buster54]

Hi all just got myself an allotment and never thought about it before but when you buy  a walking stick you have to measure it to so that it is the right height to be comfortable to walk with,is it the same with a spade and a fork is there a rule of thumb regarding the measurement of the handles and help appreciated. ???
Oh yes I is 6' 2"

[Vortex]

The standard length for a spade/fork handle is 28". Draper do a long handled for and spade but its actually only 3" longer - I have one hence I know and I'm 6'4". Unless you go to one of the specialist suppliers, ie one that produces to order for which you pay of course, then you have to put up with it.
I got my fork from here http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Tool-Shop/Digging-Tools

[Jeannine]

John  and I have Wolf tools with the changable heads, you buy the handles to snap them into and the handles come different lengths, so we have one set of heads to share between two handles. They are expensive to start off but often they are on sale. XX Jeannine

[Eristic]

If you buy standard sized spade and fork then use then properly you will be fine. Lengths of arms and legs are all pretty much in proportion to overall height therefore a persons height should not matter.

If you get backache from digging you are doing it wrong. All the measurements and angles of the traditional spade have been engineered to make digging almost effortless.

[Vortex]

Wrong!
Every tried working at a desk or worktop where after 10 minutes your back is killing you because you're being forced to bend because of its height. Having a spade/fork of the wrong length is exactly like that.
Being 6'4", with an inside leg of 34", and long arms I know exactly what I'm talking about.

[manicscousers]

hiya, buster, welcome to the site..I'm only 5'5 so can't advise..wait for big people like vortex  ;D

[Jeannine]

Vortex, I agree, I am only little(well in height) and some spades come way high up on me.XX Jeannine

[Buster54]

Thanks for the replies much appreciated,will look for some tools over the standard size

[tomatoada]

Jeannine where do you get the Wolf tools from.  I have looked in local garden centres and on-line.  No luck.  I would be so pleased if I could find them.   Many thanks.

[Eristic]

Every tried working at a desk or worktop where after 10 minutes your back is killing you because you're being forced to bend because of its height.

No! To be honest I've always found each and every desk and worktop has been designed perfectly to fit my body metrics.

I've taught a lot of people to dig over the years including many much taller than Vortex. The hardest part is getting through that height is not an issue. Health and fitness is, along with technique. My latest apprentice I've been lumbered with is only 7 and he pretty much got the hang of it in less than 10 Min's after I got through to him that he's too little to lift a full cube and has to cut tiles instead.

The work surface for digging is the soil we stand on and this is fixed at the perfect height by its creator. Distance does not come into it, just angles of bend and the angle a short person bends is the same as a tall person. Unless the person is one of life's unfortunates with arms too short to reach trouser pockets. (I won't teach those 'cause they can never find their money) :(

Method and fitness. If anyone is completely unable to bend so far that they cannot reach their ankles it is hardly the fault of the spade.

I tell you - "You are doing it all wrong".

(Wait till Eristic2 joins us)  8)

[Jeannine]

Hi we bought ours from

                     http://gonegardening.com


there isn't a spade in this range though but we like all the other fittings, sale on at the moment.

XX Jeannine

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you're a seriously non-average size then a 'normal' handle may be wrong for you. There are people who'll make them up specially, if you can find them. Most of us manage standard jobs with no problems though.