Blade hoe broad

In Sweden, blade hoes have been almost impossible to find. But abroad they are widly used instead of shovels. These high-quality Portuguese hoes are excellent tool companions and can be sharpened to a sharpness similar to axes. With a fairly blunt edge angle, they can be used with force straight into roots, stumps, etc.

I find that this extra-wide blade hoe is best suited for soil work and tougher weed clearing. If you want to remove the grass layer from a lawn with a blade hoe before sowing meadow seeds or for establishing a vegetable garden, the wide blade hoe is great!

When working in marshes, cutting tussocs, the hoe should be sharp and cutting horizontally. In that case, it's good to cut the handle to about 65cm so the "strike" can pass between your feet without hitting your groin (if you have one) at the same time. Carve out a knob at the top of the handle and make it slightly oval for better grip when hands and handle are slippery!

Made of slender, approximately 3 mm thick steel. The hoe is slightly curved from the attachment point towards the edge but flat along the edge. 23 cm wide at the edge, 18 cm from the edge to the shaft attachment.

Weight: 1.5 kg (hoe + 70 cm handle).

Note: Regardless of how well the handle is mounted. If you use the hoes enough and hard enough, you will need to buy a new handle after extended use.

Main cause of handle breakage: You can pry lightly with the hoes but the handles cannot withstand prying up stones or stumps/roots with full force.

Spare handles are bought separately and it may be worth considering having them at home!

Video demonstrating shaft assembly

Apply a small amount of machine grease (or butter) to the lower tapered part of the shaft. Attach the hoe to the shaft. On the opposite side of the hoe, near the eye (hole), there is a square of solid metal protruding. Use this square as a support against a larger stable object, such as a sturdy bench or similar. Now, strike the shaft into the hoe with full force using the backside of a heavy axe or sledgehammer. The better support you have, the more force you can apply to insert the shaft. If, after insertion, more than 1cm of the shaft protrudes, saw it off so that it is a maximum of 0.5cm sticking out. Then hammer in the wedge. Done!