New Handle Grip for a Snow Shovel

Pictured is a handle grip I welded from scraps when the plastic grip on our snow shovel cracked and fell off of the wooden portion of the handle. This Instructable will detail the process of making a new handle grip. A welder is required.

Step 1 Bend the flat part of the handle grip

The piece inside the yellow lines is 3/4 wide and 1/8 inch or slightly more in thickness. It is 11 inches long. The size of your hand will be a factor, but I bent this one 3 inches from each end, leaving 5 inches across for the width of my hand.

Comments

[trudyh]

I don't suppose anyone knows where something like this can be bought? I have a perfectly fine snow shovel, metal scoop, wooden handle, that had a cheesy plastic grip which, natch, finally snapped off. I would a lot prefer to buy a new grip rather than be wasteful and get an entirely new shovel, plus my hardware store out here in the boonies only carries plastic scoop ones, and I don't want to buy a shovel over the Internet since I can't be sure it will be comfortable to use.

[Phil B]

Trudy, Thank you for the comment. I assume you live in the Northern Hemisphere where snow is a few months away and you have time in your favor. My advice would be to watch your neighbors' trash barrels on garbage day. Every so often someone sets out a shovel, snow or otherwise, with an intact handle. Also, everyone should cultivate a friend who owns a pickup truck and a friend who has a welder. A friend with a welder would probably make up a handle for you.

[carpespasm]

That's a great little example of home fabrication and a good improvement over the plastic version.

[Phil B]

As you can probably guess, this was not a theoretical project planned ahead of time. Rather, it snowed and the plastic handle broke when I went to use it. It was time to sink or swim.

[LinuxH4x0r]

Nice! I'd recommend grinding those welds down, they look ^{how do i put this nicely} a little rough and sharp

[Phil B]

Thanks. The welds have not been as much of a problem as rough edges on the pieces of metal from the shears that cut them to size at the mill.