Paumco Products Quick Spade - Model# 1100-Quick Spade

For skidsteer/compact track loader equipment, this is about the best money you'll ever spend. The photo is of a ditch I dug that was 110 feet, through hard, very rocky soil. I'm not the best CTL operator, but the job is now done. There is somewhat of a learning curve to using these efficiently. Here is what I have learned:1. When ditching, it's usually easier to dig forward than moving backwards. It's a bit aggravating to straddle the ditch and not as easy to pile your dirt, but it turns out that it is more efficient than working backwards. You just end up pushing a fair amount of the dirt toward the end of the ditch.2. Part of the reason #1 is true, is that with my forks (and probably most), any negative torque on the forks can result in the forks coming off. In other words, don't push down on the bottom of the spade and cause the forks to go in the opposite direction of their intended design. The forks are heavy and doubly so when they are jammed into the spade. Trust me, you do not want that to happen. This means there can be no heavy back-dragging with the spade. Don't ask me how I know this.3. Periodically, you need to lift the spade up in the air and shake the dirt out of it. The forks can jam dirt into the ends of the spade and the only way you can get it out is from a powerful pressure washer. Again, don't ask me how I know this.4. A ratcheting ATV tie-down strap works well enough at keeping the spade from coming off the forks. You can often operate without this, but it has a tendency to pack dirt into the end of the spade as the forks shift around (see #3).Overall, this is a great product. If you have a set of forks, you will definitely want to get one of these spades.

A simple, yet clever product that adds great additional functionality to my tractor mounted pallet forks. Allows digging ditches, bushes, stumps, holes of all kinds. Seems very durable and is surprisingly heavy and resistant to damage. It took me about two hours’ practice to get the right technique with my compact tractor. I’m very pleased and highly recommend it.

After replacing the fork channels on the back of the spade to fit my two inch forks it works great, or would if I could keep the forks on the bucket. Cutting edge could be improved with a serrated edge.

Bought to use with a cat 1 tractor which has forks for lifting pallets, clipped onto edge of front bucket. Fork channels on the back of the spade blade are so small that the forks will not even nearly fit in. The company do not sell anything that could be used to mount this lump of metal on to the tractor or bucket.. Complete lack of design thought. The loop to put chain to fix the spade on the fork is too small for a strong enough chain. Yet another design failure. I can't tell if the blade of the spade is strong enough because I can't mount it, but the spade blade has had to be molded bent to try and create rigidity, not a hopeful sign..

Heavy duty and well made. I have used this tool to dig out and re-plant two trees and dig a couple large holes. Works great.

Great item at a great price. It's heavy and seems to be well made. Should last a long time

Good product with limitations, zero instructions and wrong advice from seller that will break the product. The seller has answered questions regarding how to use completely wrong. Do NOT use a chain binder and chain to hold the shovel on the forks. The whole premise is ridiculous. Northern tool instructs purchasers to use 3/8" chain and ratchet binder to secure the shovel to forks. The attachment point is a light duty chain link. If you attach the recommended chain and binder you will immediately break the attachment point. Per paumco, use light duty chain to simply keep the shovel from falling off the forks. No binder and it doesn't need to be super tight. Here's a thought Northern Tool.... If you don't know the answer to a customer question, get it from the manufacturer instead of making it up.

Tricky to get the right forks for my tractor bucket. Okay I guess if you have a forklift but if you are mounting on tractor bucket, shop wisely for forks. Some seem like they will work because you can set them to a narrow width but the lip weld on the front of each of my forks means taht the spade does not slide on far enough.