Customer Reviews for Razor-Back 43 in. Fiberglass Handle Trenching Shovel

Shovel broke at the base like many others. Ames won't warranty it. Waste of money. Just buy a shovel with a wood handle so you can take care of it. Avoid Ames and Razorback. I will update if they warranty the shovel.

The razor back trenching shovel makes it super easy to extend a sprinkler line, or dig a small trench to get to a pipe union and tighten or loosen with tools. With the narrow shovel blade you don't have to work as hard as a regular shovel since it's smaller. The handle it a bit longer than my regular shovel, adding leverage and les bending over. Digging with the smaller blade, you don't have to disturb as much dirt as a normal shovel would. Less backfilling and less packing when your done.

Razorback makes quality products. I have 2 other shovels from them and very happy with them. Same results here. This is a nicely designed trencher. Just the right width for most piping and nice angle to the head to enable scooping out the bottom of your trench. Head is riveted to the handle to prevent it from loosening over time. Composite handle makes for lighter weight and strength. The end cap is fairly porous for a better grip. Just a great shovel.

This is a VERY handy fiberglass handled trenching shovel. I wish I had gotten this a couple years ago, but it is perfect for shallow dirt trenches for conduit or wire or drainage from gutters. It is about 4" wide so its for small shallow trenching, but it is perfect for satellite tv cable, for video cable or conduit, or for sending power to a shed in conduit. I am sure you can find many uses for it outside mine. Anyway, its handle is very strong with a padded top for keeping your hands intact. The fiberglass shaft should be pretty indestructible, and the shovel is at an angle to make it easy to do shallow trenches. Probably a perfect tools to do these style projects around your house!! I highly recommend it!

I'm impressed with the durability of this shovel. I have other shovels similar to it with the same handle and have never had them break or crack on me. The metal itself seems to be quite sturdy. I also like that the shovel part has a place on the back to kick with your foot. Some of the trenching shovels I have used don't have that which makes it difficult to use. Lastly, I love the color; vibrant orange, very cool. Great shovel.

I received the Razorback Fiberglass Handle Trenching Shovel as part of the seed program for an honest review. This Razor-Back fiberglass 5 in. trenching shovel is much heavier than I thought it would be. Love the 5 in. V-shaped blade which is designed for digging a narrow trench. The fiberglass handle is strong, and I know it will last for years of use. At just over 57 inches in length and 4 ½ lbs it feels substantial in your hands. I found it to cut though soil easily and as you can see in the pictures it makes a perfect trench. And while designed from making trenches I can see using it for most of my digging projects.

I was told buy an associate that this tool was indestructible. I main concern was the handle snapping. So I used it to dig two post holes. No problem like I was told the fiberglass handle held up. After cleaning off the dirt I saw the a joint on the metal end had completely failed.

Ours had its handle snap halfway up. Exposed was dry, fuzzy fibreglass. So they don't even resin-impregnate their structural fibreglass?? What a joke. Avoid this dumpster-stuffer like the plague.

I bought it to remove weed and grass, its roots.( I know it was not created for this. The root slayer was super expensive and has lots of bad feedback and is short length in several online stores. Not only with shovel, YOU CAN ALSO USE IT as Root REMOVER), destroy anthill, the peak helps out to dig in and destroy whatever you need to stuck on the ground. l You just hit hard and cuts plant roots easily. I look for a tool similar that I can use with this purpose and others in my backyard. Very STURDY and LONG LENGTH that I do not need to force my sciatic nerve and back. I REMOVED bad WEED and bushes REALLY FAST within half and hour. In contrast when sitting and removing with my hands. Usually took me hours and very physically sore. This its GREAT and VALUE AFFORDABLE Price. The only thing I wasn't satisfied with was with the time that takes to be shipped to my city store. One month!! But it mentions was in demand. Mine came from other state. However, I liked the curbside process, they brought it very fast as soon as I enter the codes.

This is not for people who have muscles or do actual work. The handle is basically balsam wood wrapped in fiberglass. It broke right where it connected to the shovel. Note the sticker still on the shovel in the pictures. It's basically new and I never completed the job I bought it for. If this dug more than 100' before breaking I would be surprised. I bought it using a gift card and lost the receipt so Home Depot couldn't honor the warranty. Last time I buy this brand tool...

As others have said the handle snapped at the joint. We believed this to be a more sturdy product for a premium price. The shovel itself might be good but as many other reviewers have mentioned the handle is not actually that strong and snapped at the junction between the steel and the handle on relatively light use. Definitely not worth the extra cost.

This Razor-Back Trenching Shovel has good points and some not so good. The steel shovel portion is made in China and it's attached to an American hardwood handle. The shape of the blade and the angle at which it's attached to the handle seem like it would work well. However, the blade on the shovel I received is attached by one pin of dubious strength and I doubt it would hold up to much use. The blade wiggles and wobbles in the handle and you can watch the pin move. I suppose it might work for very light duty digging but doubt it would hold up well in rocky or hard soil. It does look like a nice product and it has a lifetime warranty. The loose blade worries me, though.

I always prefer to use these types of shovels when I’m doing plumbing. Because it is narrower and has a sharp point it makes it a lot easier to dig around pipes and clean up around them for a repair. Also worked out really great to dig a trench for sprinkler lines. It’s made really well and razor back makes some quality digging tools. The narrow shovel is great for removing rocks in the way of digging. I have other shovels made by Razorback and they are built to last. The wood handle is good quality and the digging metal shovel part will last for many years. Definitely a must have for any contractor and even a home owner. I’ve used it to plant plants and it works great for digging for those projects.

Although the ground is too hard right now to get maximum use out of this, it is definitely a well built and sturdy tool. I cant wait for spring so that i can dig out a trench for stone edging that i plan to install around my deck and to run some underground conduit to add power to my shed. Here in Ohio, i have some hard clay soil and hopefully with the weight of this and the sharp edges, it will cut through the soil.

Very nice trenching shovel. It's sturdy and just the right width. We have sandy soil here, but we also have a lot of roots. The end is sharp enough to cut through the smaller ones. The angle is perfect down to a foot or so. After that, you have to get into the trench to get the most use of it. I find it perfect for finishing the bottom of areas for concrete. The handle is pretty sturdy, although I'm not sure if it's not a bit overkill. It's held in place by a pin, so it will probably not come loose.

Substantial handle and shovel head. The neighborhood I live in has drainage problems and we as neighbors all help each other. This will revive French drains more easily. It is 5" wide and the head angle is perfect. I tried it out by making a trench next to mom's trailer with no problem. Can't wait until spring when it is time to tackle the drainage problems. The angle is perfect and the boot slip on shovel is wide enough to keep foot from slipping. Seems to be a great design for the purpose and quality materials. Life time warranty is a plus,a great value.

This shovel is angled sharply to facilitate cleaning out the bottom of a trench. It is made of reasonably heavy-gauge steel, and welded at the base. While it is sturdy enough that you could use it to cut the trench sides - and has a flat lip for your foot - the angle is too sharp for it to be really useful for that, in my opinion. I ordered the 5" version thinking it would serve multiple purposes, but I'm kind of wishing I had ordered the smallest (3") version, as my first job for it will be running some conduit out to a backyard shed/garage - it seems to me the optimal size for a job is about 2" wider that the width of what you are trying to bury.

Many people think a shovel is a shovel....Just like tools, hammers etc,, there are many different kinds. This particular one is very nice well made trenching shovel,, As you can see in the illustration below I sharpen my shovels along the edge, This will make for easier digging and much easier if you hit a root to cut thru it. It doesn't have to be razor sharp just have a nice angle to the edge, This is a good little shovel that will help you dig a clean trench about 4 inches wide with a handle that's easy to maneuver and comfortable to hold

Love this shovel! Want to dig a narrow channel? Installing underground electrical wire, irrigation pipes, sprinkler heads and systems? This shovel will do it all. Nice sharp point drips into the ground easily. Hardwood handle is extremely durable! Great for all our work. Oh, we just dug a hole for a flag pole and this shovel was perfect for that job too!

Razor-Back 48 in. Wood Handle Trenching Shovel The Razor-Back 5-inch V-shaped trenching shovel is designed for clean out and creating narrow trenches. Utilizing an angled blade makes it easier to cut and dig into tougher terrain. This shovel has 1-inch high sides on the back of the blade to hold more dirt when removing ground, and doubles as a footrest to comfortably apply downward pressure with your foot to drive the shovel into the ground. The shovel is made with a heavy gauge steel, it is very rigid and seems quite stout when I used it to make a trench near my sidewalk. Comes with a lifetime warranty.

This is a very solid shovel. The handle is very sturdy, and the blade is made out of very hard material. The handle is very long, as well as thick, and the angle of the blade is a little awkward. Those are the only two knocks on this tool. For the average yard, this will work very well. If you are a professional lawn care provider, this tool will definitely last you many years!

This trenching shovel is impressive! The design’s sharp edges allow for easy cutting through soil making light work of precision trenching. The angle of the head (5”w x 12”L) allows me to choose how big of bites without it being awkward to step on. A kick plate on the head makes it easy to get good footing. Due to the size of the head, the loads are never too heavy. That allowed me to throw and go back for another bite quicker and get the job done faster. The handle has a protectant application and I expect a long life out of it.

It's a quality product. It is a trench shovel for soft dirt, or a trench clean-out shovel for trenches you dig out with another shovel and iron bar to get rocks out. Unless you live at the shore, everyone has rocks and going down a foot or two takes work. The shovel itself has a label that says "trench clean out".. For sod or cleaning out drain trenches, it is great. For cleaning out deep trenches, it is great. For digging in soft dirt, it is great. For digging a trench in rock-filled hard earth-this is not the tool for that. It is afterward to clean the trench up.It has a 48 inch hardwood handle, and I recommend a light sanding just to smooth out the clear varnish finish. It is a bright red, easy to find it in the tool shed. The handle is a bit coarse but no splinters. A light sanding would help get it ready for use. There is a small foot area to push the shovel down but not a big area so remember, this is best for cleaning out or digging shallow. Going hog wild in tough rock-filled dirt is not going to be possible nor its use nor its design. However, it is great for cleaning out and trenching soft soil. The blade is thick, with a sharp point. I think it's a great addition to my shovels; it is the right tool for clean out. You have to have a small shovel for that and this one is it. It looks like it will last for some time. I recommend it because of its use, design, lifetime warranty, and fair pricing.

The Razor-Back 48 inch Wood Handle Trenching Shovel has a unique blade design that is best for trench clean out. The 5 inch V-shaped blade is designed for digging a narrow trench. The wood handle is made from durable hardwood for years of use. So far this is all true and right on the money, however my shovel handle was more Razor-Backed than I would have liked. I will explain later in this review what I mean. Yes sir, this shovel was made to dig a narrow 5" trench and it does a great job doing that. And, it's angled blade is just the thing to clean out my drainage trench around the patio and garden hose reel after a heavy rain like yesterday. [see the photos below] Now, as to the durable hardwood handle, it is durable and hardwood for sure. The thing is that my handle has a very rough surface finish and splinters. This may be an anomaly unique to my shovel handle. I had to sand and refinish my handle or use leather gloves when I used it. [see the photos below] Like I first said, this shovel's blade shape, 5" size and angle is what I love about this shovel. And, that is the reason that I sanded and refinished the handle. If you have a need for a small & shallow drainage trench this is the tool for you, as it is for me. I took one star away because of the rough handle.

This trenching shovel will work out just fine, it is perfect for the job I needed to do. I’m building a French drain to drain the water from the side of the house where it collects a lot to the street gutter. With the shovel I can dig a straight path to the street dig out about 8 inches of soil down to the lime rock base, And then fill it with about 4 inches of P rock, and then put the sod pieces right back in.The shovel did exactly what I needed to do, it’s very sturdy and the painted enamel on the shovel did not even scratch.

I got the Razor-Back 48 in. Wood Handle Trenching Shovel as it loos to be well made. It has a nice heavy wooden handle being it is not too thin a diameter. the metal the blade is made of is not vary thin like cheaper shovels I have seen and used. I have only had a snow shovel as my old shovel rusted so bad the blade could no longer be used. This one even has a metal bolt or pin through the handle to hold it to the blade. comes with a lifetime warranty

Excellent! This Razor Back Wood Handle Trenching shovel is just what I needed to complete some projects around my property like burying cables and redirecting waterflow. What a really well made shovel it is! It does come with a lifetime warranty. No wonder, because the wood handle is really solid and heavy duty. The shovel is very strong and has a great lip for your boot. The scoop is easy because the front is really sharp and it cuts thru the dirt with ease! Very good size too. Probably will even be comfortable for tall people. Real nice quality shovel. Highly Recommend!

Razor-Back Trenching Shovel. 48-inch wood handle, 5-inch unique V-shaped blade design that is best for trench clean out, spillways, ditches or digging a narrow trench. The wood handle is made from durable hardwood for years of use. Heavy gauge, tempered steel blade for maximum strength uses. No assembly required. Very sturdy, the difference in the weight is evidence of the quality. This shovel should last for years with correct maintenance of cleaning and storing.

Razor-Back 48 in. Wood Handle Trenching Shovel This Razor-Back wood 5 in. trenching shovel has a unique blade design that is best for trench clean out. The 5 in. V-shaped blade is designed for digging a narrow trench. The wood handle is made from durable hardwood for years of use...Love the feel of the handle and shovel cleans out the piping under my driveway which is always filling up with dirt

This is a commercial quality trenching shovel (typical razor-back quality). It's nicely balanced with a solid relatively heavy feel to it. I have dug plenty of trenches extending downspouts and putting in shallow dry-wells/trenches. Although I don't use this to break ground during initial trenching, I do rely on it to clear out and clean the trench leaving a flat bottom and square sides. This shovel is well made. Where the handle attaches to the shovel is tight fit and doesn't give during use. The one thing I would say, wear gloves, because it is a wooden handle which can give off the odd splinter or two.