Research

tool

Sole knife

This text can only be consulted in Dutch <https://www.mot.be/resource/Tool/sole-knife?lang=nl>

tool

Spade

Spade with long (approx. 30-40 cm) and narrow (approx. 10-17 cm) blade that is slightly curved in relation to a T or D handle (70-95 cm). To make it easier to penetrate into the ground, the edge of the blade is often slightly curved and usually narrows a few centimeters downwards (1). The top is sometimes provided with a footrest to prevent damage to the user's shoe. To prevent the clay soil from sticking to the blade, the latter is dipped into a bucket of water before each stitch; sometimes dents are punched in the concave side of the blade with a hammer. In the 19th century, a wooden, studded blade was also used in light soil in addition to the steel spade (2). Exceptionally, an extension piece is sometimes attached to the top of the blade of the garden spade instead of the sting spade in order to dig deeper (3). A spade is used for digging or digging deep, i.e. working the soil two, three or four stitches deep (4). It is also used to extract peat or to transplant plants or crops with...

tool

Splitting chisel

All-metal chisel approx. 20-50 cm long to cut a narrow groove in a metal plate to make it easier to break or in a horseshoe where the holes for the horseshoe nails will be driven. The splitting chisel has a fairly narrow cut (approx. 9-13 mm) which is ground at an angle of approx. 60 °. This allows you to work with it to a fairly great depth. The whole is usually rectangular in cross section. To be distinguished from the stonecutter's splitter. [MOT]

tool

Snow saw

About 50-60 cm long and about 5 cm wide saw with usually very large teeth (1) - compare with the frozen-food knife - with which snow blocks are cut to build an igloo. The length of the hand tool is decisive for the size of the blocks that can be sawn; the width to be able to exert enough force when loosening those blocks (2). Not infrequently, the snow saw is made yourself (3). [MOT] (1) Although long knives without teeth are also used. (2) HAGEN: 56-59. (3) For example PRATER: 82: "use a piece of tempered aluminum alloy about 1/8-inch thick, 2 inches wide and 26 inches long. Attach a wooden handle to one end, leaving 20 inches for the cutting blade. Hacksaw serrations in it for the cutting teeth."

tool

Spatula for soil auger

Strong spatula to remove soil from the working part of a soil auger. It has a short (approx. 15 cm) flat curved top, attached to a straight wooden handle. See also the key for soil auger. [MOT]