Introduction: Double Shovel
Step 1: Materials
For this build you will need the following:
Four Sch 40 Tees 1 inch diameter
Four zip ties
Two shovels
Two pvc pipes 1 inch diameter by 16 inch length
Gaffers tape
One hand dolly
One adjustable wrench
Step 2: Attaching Your Shovels
Take your two shovels and using the adjustable wrench remove the bolt connecting the plastic shovel handle to the shovel tubing.
Next slip two pvs tees onto each shovel. Now re-attach the plastic shovel handle and bolt.
Afterward bring the first pvc tee half an inch away from the shovel scoop. The vertical side of the pvc tee should be facing the other shovel. Then use gaffers tape to tape down both horizontal sides of the pvc tee to the shovel tube. Use about a 12 inch piece of gaffers tape and make sure it wraps around the pvc tee and the shovel tube tightly and at least 3 times around both structures. (note: the length of tape will vary depending on the diameter of your shovel and your pvc fittings)
Repeat the same process for the second shovel.
Now connect the vertical end of the pvc tee of the first shovel to the second shovel with one 16 inch pvc pipe. Make sure the shovels and pvc pipes are aligned. Now gaffers tape the 16 inch pvc pipe to the vertical end of the pvc tee which it is inserted into. Same amount of tape and make sure it wraps around at least three times.
If both shovels are even then you can move on.
Bring the second pvc tee half an inch away from the handle. The vertical side of the pvc tee should be facing the other shovel.Then gaffers tape both both horizontal sides of the pvc tee to the shovel tube.
Repeat the same process for the second shovel.
Now connect the vertical end of the pvc tee of the first shovel to the second shovel with the second of your 16 inch pvc pipe. Make sure the shovels and pvc pipes are aligned. Now gaffers tape the 16 inch pvc pipe to the vertical end of the pvc tee which it is inserted into. Same amount of tape and make sure it wraps around at least three times. Make the shovels are lined up.
Finally stand your double shovel next to a wall. The two shovels and the pvc pipes should make a rectangle shape. Check the gaffers tape to make sure its tight and that the pvc tees aren't sliding up or down.
If the tees are sliding, remove the tape and tape them down tighter.
Step 3: Attaching the Double Shovel to the Hand Dolly
Ok now take two of your four zip ties.
Attach the two zip ties to the horizontal bar of your hand dolly (the horizontal bar closest to the handle).
MAJOR POINT: When you are locking your zip ties on the horizontal bar lock them SLOWLY and only go up to THREE clicks of the zip ties. This will give you maximum back and forth movement of the shovels.
Now lean the double shovel on the hand dolly and stand behind the hand dolly. Make sure the handles of the hand dolly are facing you and that the concave part (scoop part) of the shovel is facing away from the dolly.
Stand next to a table. Hold on the plastic handles of the double shovel and the handles of the dolly AND lean the entire unit 45 degrees back toward you. You want to see the rectangular base of the dolly insert itself between the lower pvc pipe and the shovel scoop. Once you see that zip tie the Handle of the shovel around the VERTICAL tube of the dolly AND the Zip tie on the HORIZONTAL dolly tube. Please see the pictures and video above.
Step 4: Time to Test It !!!
Take you double shovel unit outside. Lean it back 45 degrees to the ground push it into the snow four times. Pull it back and grab a third shovel. The snow should be broken up enough that you can easily scoop it out of the way. In the video I am shoveling wet and icy snow and it helped me out a lot. I was able to finish the driveway and the sidewalk.
Test it out, your shovels and hand dolly might be different than mine so play around with the measurement.
Don't shovel snow harder, shovel it smarter. Stay safe, pre-salt your driveway and sidewalk the evening before a snowstorm and stretch before you go out to shovel snow. It will make the whole process a lot easier. Good luck!
