Draper Expert 1600 x 260 mm Solid Forged Fencing Spade | All-Steel Tubular with Digger | Solid forged Socket Gardening Hand Tool |Post Spade|Fench Shovel| 24414 Blue

I've recently had to dig approximately 40 holes to install a pergola and the decking area around it. Most of the holes have thankfully only been about two feet deep, but the six for the pergola posts were well over three feet each (six of them).This spade has been an absolute godsend for getting right down into the bottom of the holes whilst keeping the diameter reasonably close to the size of the posts (obviously the holes need to be a bit wider so that you can back-fill and concrete around the posts). It's a very well made tool which is still looking good even after the amount of work it's been put too. I'd say that the dimensions were very good too. The blade is long enough and slim enough and with just the right amount of rake/pitch on it. Any less you wouldn't be able to get any leverage on it, any more and you'd struggle to get it down the hole! I also like the fact that it's quite long. This means that even towards the bottom of the hole you've enough handle to be able to easily use it without too much back bending. I found it quite light to use, which had both pluses and minuses. The lightness meant that I could use it for long periods without too much fatigue. The minus side of this is that it's not too much use for breaking through anything too tough (see below).I used the spade in conjunction with a Roughneck 68250 Post Hole digger and a Faithful Digbar60 Digging Bar, both also purchased from Amazon.co.uk. The digging bar was an indispensable tool, allowing me to break through the odd brick and lump of concrete without the need for jack-hammer. I'd have been completely stuck without it. The Roughneck digger is a scissor-like tool which is used for getting the loosened soil out of the hole. Having never done this sort of work before I was wondering whether I'd gone over the top with the tools, but using all three together made (reasonably) easy work of the job. OK, it was an investment of about £100 for all three, but I probably saved myself about £300 in labour, and I still have the tools (and a bit more muscle).A quick tip if you're putting up pergola or fence posts, get yourself a post level. This guide has spirit levels on two sides enabling you to get a post perfectly vertical whilst using both hands, as opposed to struggling with a spirit level in one hand, juggling it from one side of the post to the other. Another £7 well spent!

This is a great tool. Strong and easy to use. Great for those deep holes / posts

Having broken my trust "old faithful" spade, one which was almost bullet proof and built when things were built to last, I was sceptical that at £26 this one would be study and robust. I was greatly surprised when it a) arrived so fast and b) did look robust.On closer inspection and after having dug a few fence post holes, dug up a few small shrubs and trees (I know it is not designed for this but it is excellent for doing this work as long You are careful not put too much strain on the shaft) I can confirm the build quality and weight address as excellent as my "old faithful" and should, hopefully, last as long. Excellent product.

Very weak product,I brought x2 came in a box big enough for two 50 inch t.vs,the one lasted 2 days and snapped the other lasted 5 days then snapped .I don’t like leaving bad reviews but safe to say £80 out the window

Being a fence erector this item is essential for my work, and having just broken my trusty old grafter i had to bite the bullet and buy a new one, i did a bit of shopping around, and saw the reviews for this draper one, not the cheapest, but had good reviews. Having used it for the past couple of days, i would say those reviews aren't justified, still not as robust as my old grafter, the angle of the blade is too much, and it just doesn't feel solid enough to dig anything other than soft soil, but thats just my opinion!!!

Great product strong and well priced . Found the weight just right .

As described

tis a good spade. Can break brick and old bones of past english kings one finds in the ground over here, only used it once mind. Goes through the hardfill better than my old one. Makes digging the holes alot easier and the rubber thing ontop is easier on the hand too. I just hope it hold out on me and dosent snap. Buy it.