Make the Snow Shovel Lighter on Your Back by Adding a Dowel
Shoveling snow can be a good exercise, but it is not fun, especially for your back, if your shovel is too short. Instructables user homemadeisgood has a simple solution: attach a dowel to the handle to raise it to the height of the head. They are easier to manage and easier to deal with.
Homemadeisgood suggests adding a dowel long enough so that the overall length of the shovel is the same as your height, so that the top of the handle reaches your forehead. This gives you great distance and leverage, and you don’t have to constantly bend over every time you shovel or push snow out of the way. Some of the commenters at Instructables suggest making yours a little shorter, maybe up to the chin so that it is a little more flexible for both lifting and pushing snow. Either way, all you need is a dowel to make it easier to work with your shovel that is too short and to reduce back pain after you’ve cleaned out the car all morning.
Best Snow Shovel | Instructables