Waarvoor staan de cijfers op het blad van een schop?

Different names are used for a shovel. Sometimes interchangeably, which means people are not always talking about the same tool. Read more about it here:

What is the difference between a shovel and a scoop?

Models, stamp, socket angle and blade width

Shovels come in all kinds of models. Depending on the application or region, a certain shovel is commonly used. A shovel is provided with a code, the so-called stamp. This stamp gives information about the socket angle and blade width of the shovel. Thanks to this coding, you know exactly which shovel you need and for what kind of work.

Read more below about:

Shovel models

Shovel stamps

Socket angle of shovels

Blade width of shovels

The terms shovel and scoop are sometimes used interchangeably, often for the same type of tool. This is sometimes regional or comes from a dialect. When people talk about a shovel, it is almost always the same tool. For example, a Drents model shovel is the same as a digging shovel and as a pan shovel. A Hollands model shovel refers to a scoop shovel, which is also called a sand shovel. The term scoop is more of a collective name for all kinds of shovels. Scoop can also refer to a ballast shovel or grain shovel.

Below are a number of commonly used models.

Back to top

The ‘D’ with the number 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4 stands for the socket angle​. In other words, how high the socket is bent up. The higher the socket angle, the more slanted the socket is. This determines whether a shovel is designed for digging or scooping.

The zeros stand for the blade width​. The more zeros, the narrower the blade​. So ‘000’ is narrower than ‘0’​. The zeros in the blade therefore do not indicate the hardness of the steel, as is sometimes thought.

*The socket is the round sleeve into which the handle is mounted. The socket is also called the handle connection.

The socket angle indicates the angle relative to the blade. The higher the socket angle, the more slanted the socket is. This determines whether a shovel is designed for digging or scooping. The socket angle is measured from the ground to the socket when the blade is lying flat on the ground.

The socket angles from relatively straight to strongly bent up are 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4. With an (almost) completely straight socket angle, no number is stated in the stamp. 

It is important to choose a suitable handle for the socket angle, depending on the application. The curve of the handle also helps determine how flat or straight the blade lies on the ground during use.

Back to top

In the past, there were blade widths ranging from number 2 to 0, with 2 being the largest. Over time, the blades had to become smaller due to working conditions, and smaller sizes were introduced. It is sometimes thought that the zeros indicate the hardness of the blade, but this is not the case.

The blade sizes for shovels from large to small are: 2 – 1 – 0 – 00 – 000

There are exceptions when it comes to stating blade width. The Frankfurter model shovel has a blade width of no less than 5. It is therefore extra wide. Cable shovels are very narrow. Here, the blade width is indicated in centimeters.

Back to top

What is the difference between a shovel and a scoop?

Different names are often used for the same tool. This is sometimes regional or comes from a dialect.

When people talk about a shovel, it is almost always the same tool. For example, a Drents model shovel is the same as a digging shovel and as a pan shovel. A Hollands model shovel refers to a scoop shovel, which is also called a sand shovel.

The term scoop is more of a collective name for all kinds of shovels. This obviously comes from the verb to scoop, which these tools are made for.

There are also other shovel models (or scoops) that are not a standard shovel. Think of a ballast shovel, stable shovel or grain shovel. These larger, wider models have a different design and application. They are used for scooping large volumes.

A ballast shovel is almost always fitted with a D-handle and a stable shovel with a long shovel handle without grip. For a grain shovel, both a D-handle and a long shovel handle  without grip are used.

Back to top

What is a digging shovel?

A digging shovel or Drents model shovel is straight and flat with a flat edge. A digging shovel is intended for all-around digging work, ground stakes, and possibly scooping. The socket is fairly straight and usually has a socket angle of 1/4 bent up. A digging shovel often has a slightly bent or bent shovel handle, allowing fairly straight digging into the ground. Scooping is also possible with a digging shovel. To scoop (potting) soil, sand, and gravel flat off the ground, a scoop shovel is more convenient. A digging shovel is also called a pan shovel, or in Brabant dialect, a 'Panneke'.

Most digging shovels have a socket angle of 1/4 bent up. This puts the blade in an ideal position for digging and excavation. Some digging shovels are made with an almost completely straight socket angle. Because of the extremely straight position of the blade, this is especially convenient for digging.

Blade width 000 is a commonly used size for digging shovels. In addition, width 00 is also fairly common. Wider blades are mainly found on scoop shovels and sand shovels. Narrower blades are more common on a cable shovel.

Professional users and serious DIYers like to use a polished digging shovel. Soil and sand stick less easily to a polished blade, and the blade "cuts" more smoothly through the ground.

A digging shovel with step (shoulder strip) is often chosen. In this version, a round or flat strip is fitted on the rounded top side of the blade (the shoulders). This provides extra grip and protects footwear from damage during digging.

Which handle fits a digging shovel?

Most shovel handles fit a digging shovel. A slightly bent to bent ash wood shovel handle with through-mount T-grip is the most ideal. These bent handles, in combination with the socket angle, provide a perfect angle and the most ergonomic possible working posture. Most people choose a shovel handle in a length of 110 cm. But lengths of 100 cm, 120 cm, and 130 cm are also popular.

Virtually all digging shovels are supplied with and without a handle.

Go to the digging shovels assortment >

Back to top

What is a concrete shovel?

A concrete shovel or Holsteiner shovel is relatively hollow and has a completely straight front edge. A concrete shovel, or concrete shovel, is used for flat shoveling of sand, soil, mortar, gravel, and broken rubble, among other things. The socket is bent up at a steeper angle than on a digging shovel and usually has a socket angle of 1/2 or 3/4 bent up. A concrete shovel often has a bent or double-bent handle, allowing flat scooping over the ground.

Concrete shovels are widely used by pavers and infrastructure companies for leveling the roadbed or sand bed. Because a concrete shovel scoops flat, the sand bed becomes nicely level and the base layer remains stable. With the blade perpendicular to the surface, sand or soil can also be brought to level or scraped away. A concrete shovel is therefore also called a screeding shovel.

In construction, a concrete shovel is used for shoveling concrete, mortar, sand, and other loose materials. The straight front edge makes it easy to scrape everything together. Because the blade is somewhat hollow, large volumes can be scooped easily.

Blade width 0 is a commonly used size for concrete shovels. In addition, width 2 is also sometimes used. In construction and infrastructure, cable shovels are also used a lot. These have a very narrow blade of, for example, 11.5 or 16 cm.

There are also concrete shovels with rounded corners and a polished edge. This version is ideal for shoveling large volumes out of a big bag, trailer, or wheelbarrow. Thanks to the rounded corners, the blade of the concrete shovel does not catch on a big bag. In a trailer or wheelbarrow, there is less chance of damage.

Which handle fits a concrete shovel?

Different models of shovel handles fit a concrete shovel. A bent or double-bent ash wood handle is the most ideal. A bent shovel handle in a concrete shovel is convenient for general use by pavers or in construction and infrastructure. In combination with a double-bent handle, a concrete shovel has the perfect angle for leveling and the most ergonomic possible working posture. Most people choose a shovel handle in a length of 110 cm or 130 cm.

Virtually all concrete shovels are supplied with and without a handle.

Go to the concrete shovels assortment >

Back to top

What is a scoop shovel?

A scoop shovel or Hollands model shovel has a wide hollow blade. As the name suggests, this shovel is ideal for scooping large volumes of sand, soil, gravel, and crushed stone. A scoop shovel is also called a sand shovel. The socket angle is usually 1/2 or 3/4  bent up. Thanks to the high bent-up socket, the blade stays nicely flat on the ground. Digging is less easy with a scoop shovel. A digging shovel is more suitable for that.

Scoop shovels are available in many different blade widths. All widths from 0 through 2 are used. Everyone has their own preference. The very widest is the Frankfurter model, with a width of no less than 5. For a scoop shovel, of course, the wider the blade, the more volume can be scooped.

Because a scoop shovel easily scoops a lot of loose material, this type of shovel is used in all kinds of sectors. A scoop shovel is widely used by agricultural workers, landscapers, pavers, construction workers, and in public maintenance.

Leveling a sand bed can be done with a scoop shovel, but it is much easier with a concrete shovel. That one is flatter and has a straight edge. In addition, pavers and infrastructure companies regularly use a screeding shovel or paver's shovel.

Which handle fits a scoop shovel?

Different models of shovel handles fit a scoop shovel. A bent or strongly bent ash wood handle is the most ideal. In combination with the high bent-up socket, a bent handle ensures that the blade stays nicely flat on the ground. This allows you to work more upright and scoop more easily. Most people choose a shovel handle in a length of 110 cm or 130 cm.

Virtually all scoop shovels are supplied with and without a handle.

Go to the scoop shovels assortment >

Back to top

What is a cable shovel?

A cable shovel has an extra narrow blade and a high bent-up socket. There are models with a straight or pointed front edge of the blade. A cable shovel is ideal for digging trenches when laying fiber optics, irrigation, and cable. The socket is bent up high and it often has a long shovel handle. Cable shovels are popular in civil engineering, infrastructure, among pavers, and landscapers. A cable shovel is also called a deep shovel or banana shovel (because of its shape).

Most cable shovels have a socket angle of 3/4 bent up. Thanks to the high bent-up socket, the blade of a cable shovel stays nicely flat on the ground. This makes it easy to scoop soil and sand upward, even in deeper trenches.

Cable shovels are available in different blade widths, namely 10 cm, 11.5 cm, 14 cm, and 16 cm. The most commonly used blade widths are 11.5 cm and 16 cm. Thanks to the extra narrow blade, the trench does not become too wide and unnecessarily large amounts of soil or sand are not scooped up.

When actual digging is required in a trench, a cable spade is more convenient. A cable spade has a straighter and thicker blade, which is better able to withstand heavier loads. A cable spade is also called a drainage spade.

Which handle fits a cable shovel?

In principle, most bent shovel handles fit a cable shovel. By far the most commonly used are the bent shovel handle in length 130 cm without grip and the bent shovel handle in length 110 cm with through-mount T-grip. These bent handles, in combination with the socket angle, provide a perfect angle and the most ergonomic possible working posture

Virtually all cable shovels are supplied with and without a handle.

Go to the cable shovels assortment >

Back to top