That's awesome. There's no limit to the sheer insanity or awesomeness brought into this world by a madman with a sketchpad. Get two of them in the same room? Now that's a sight.
That's the thing, people may laugh here, maybe think we crazy...That's okay though. Once we find the right design it could take off. If not, there will be two Canadian mad trappers running around the west coast and central Alberta with some cool shovels. Weight is definitely a concern for some, but I think that if this is built right, crowds will be able to overlook the weight. It will likely be a standard tool that is strapped to a quad, side by side or put in someone's vehicle. If you are crazy like bushman and I are, you'll strap it to your pack. You need to remember though, bushman and I have spent time hauling chainsaws around the back country, so it's easier for us to justify the weight of a combat/wilderness shovel than most people. The different shelters you can make with something like this, particularly subterranean entrenchments is endless.
I think your fundamental concept is good, but I think the mode of construction could be examined to yield equal strength for less weight.
take a page from the rogue hoe book -- cut the shovel out of a dead plow disk and weld a piece of pipe on for the handle!
I don't mind carrying the weight of the shovel, it is the combined weight of the shovel plus the dirt that will wear you out when you are using it. It will be less of an issue with a 3' shovel, but it will still make you work harder.
It's aluminum, so it's fairly light for its robust build, though it obviously won't hold up as well in chopping as steel will.
All, I worked my a** off today and just got home. Will have more concept pictures either tonight or tomorrow. I'm going to go chat with a local welder that my company uses for work to see if he would help me and B5 build the concept design. Very exciting times!
See those feet? That is called stability. I don't fall down easily. But i may waste away waiting on this shovel... I'm not a doctor...I have no patients...
gonna take some time. The one MFG i emailed required a Patent of the design before they would proceed with it. A patent takes a LOT of $$$$$ and a lot of time to get. oh and our design would able to care of those massive bunions you call feet............CHOP!
That's a weird thing for a manufacturer to require unless they were taking a cut of the proceeds. I'd steer clear of such an arrangement.
its a MAJOR north american company. Made In America, Global sales in the millions. talked to a lawyer (family) tonight and that is a very normal thing to require. sent you a PM, keep it in PM's if you can.