9th June 2013, 04:06 PM
Lesson 4 The shovel[SIZE=2]
The shovel is one of the practitioners most useful tools. It can be used to get rid of spoil, straighten a section (though a spade is better), shovel-scrape an area clean, dig a sump or drainage channel to alleviate flooding, or even to test the ground and provide much needed support when traversing boggy and wheel-rutted areas of the site.
The skilled practitioner can even dig and clear spoil with just a shovel, though this is not advised unless conditions are correct and you know what your doing.
The fabled 'shovel flick' is a skill that can only be learned through trying. The special combination of guiding the spoil on the shovel on it's intended parabolic path and the flick/ retraction that frees the spoil from the friction of the blade often defies description. But when performed correctly, a neat package of spoil can be lobbed up to 30 feet (10 meters) to land in a perfect, compact lump.
The shovel flick is a tool of efficiency and in certain circumstances can negate the need for buckets or a wheel barrow and much walking back and forth (see Lesson 6 Efficiency)
But remember to take the strength and direction of wind and the looseness of the spoil into account or you may end up with sand in your face.
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The shovel is one of the practitioners most useful tools. It can be used to get rid of spoil, straighten a section (though a spade is better), shovel-scrape an area clean, dig a sump or drainage channel to alleviate flooding, or even to test the ground and provide much needed support when traversing boggy and wheel-rutted areas of the site.
The skilled practitioner can even dig and clear spoil with just a shovel, though this is not advised unless conditions are correct and you know what your doing.
The fabled 'shovel flick' is a skill that can only be learned through trying. The special combination of guiding the spoil on the shovel on it's intended parabolic path and the flick/ retraction that frees the spoil from the friction of the blade often defies description. But when performed correctly, a neat package of spoil can be lobbed up to 30 feet (10 meters) to land in a perfect, compact lump.
The shovel flick is a tool of efficiency and in certain circumstances can negate the need for buckets or a wheel barrow and much walking back and forth (see Lesson 6 Efficiency)
But remember to take the strength and direction of wind and the looseness of the spoil into account or you may end up with sand in your face.
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