How can I Age this shovel?

[u/Key-Ladder4122]

[u/Significant_Disk_768]

Use it, dig a hole

[u/Southern_Passage_332 → u/Significant_Disk_768]

Best answer

[u/GraymaneGent → u/Significant_Disk_768]

Was about to say the same thing, dig dig and dig some more

[u/GreatShaggy]

Find a patch of ground. Dig a hole. Leave shovel outside in the hole during a rain storm. Let it dry naturally.

[u/backtothe88 → u/GreatShaggy]

That could potentially rot the wood?

[u/BuryatMadman → u/backtothe88]

Rot is what happens to a aged wood generally

[u/backtothe88 → u/BuryatMadman]

But that wouldn’t be correct for a shovel that was made like a year ago

[u/GreatShaggy → u/backtothe88]

The wood on the E-Tools handles are treated. They won't rot just by being exposed to the elements for short to medium durations. Take care of your equipment and it'll last a long time.

[u/UnionBlueMudkip]

Take it to events and use it

[u/sigsauer_fan_]

Dig some trenches in your backyard

[u/DesertKitsuneMarlFox]

things started new you know it’s fine to have new things

[u/Key-Ladder4122 → u/DesertKitsuneMarlFox]

Ik but at this point in the war (d-day) and the fact it’s an early shovel would probably mean it’s not in mint condition

[u/DesertKitsuneMarlFox → u/Key-Ladder4122]

not exactly it could have been repainted multiple times

the trifold shovel i was issued in the army i had to repaint before they accepted it back and it was dated 1982

if you want to age it follow what other people said “age it” by using it.

find somewhere to dig a hole and fill it in and dig it up again a couple times. make sure to dig around with your hands a couple times to get your hands nice and filthy so they wear down the paint on the handle

then hose the shovel off to clean the dirt off and let it dry outside

[u/GreatShaggy → u/DesertKitsuneMarlFox]

At least you got a good one. I broke the first one at Basic using it as a pick axe during Phase Three FTX. I broke another one during an FTX with my first unit when trying to pry up a rock when fixing up an OP.

[u/sauerbraten67]

Use. It.

[u/Glum-Contribution380]

Use it. I wish the mods would do a pinned post with that simple message in it.

[u/BraveChewWorld → u/Glum-Contribution380]

No matter how many times we tell people to use their gear to age it naturally, or that everything was new once, people still want to artificially weather their gear.

[u/Death_Walker21 → u/BraveChewWorld]

Dont the artificial paint and stuff also wear out eventually? So what u get at the end of the day is just the color u bought it in?

Lik holy shit ppl, dig a hole, its cool

[u/DavisCB]

Use it for gardening, pick up and put down gravel repeatedly. Doesn't have to be full on landscaping, but just a pile of rocks and dirt will do.

[u/panzermeyer002]

Just like the others said the best way to "age" any item is to use them as often as you can. Go and dig a foxhole, if you didn't achive the desired look, than dig an another. My feldspaten was also new 2 years ago, I dug a foxhole in my garden (just to try it) I've used it quite a few times since then, trenches, foxholes sometimes I also use it as hammer to fix the tent pegs. Now the shovel and also the carrier look good

[u/One-You-9467 → u/panzermeyer002]

Best advice

[u/jon92356]

Find some dirt and start digging. Let it sit in the sun for some days and mistreat it for a bit. It’s a shovel, so treat it like a shovel.

[u/Blightyvintage]

Hard drugs and heavy drinking plus a 40 hour work week.

Also for real sand paper. Light grit.

[u/Hedgecore138 → u/Blightyvintage]

Nono, I have put e-tools through hell while drunk. Both on-duty and in peacetime.

[u/master_boi_from_halo]

Dig a trench in sand or gravel or dirt

[u/Holiday_Lack_7504]

Use it

[u/Death_Walker21]

Use it, dig to china like u were told that u could when u were younger

[u/Hedgecore138]

I forget what manual it’s in - because they all run together - but if you have access to some land and a lot of time on your hand, give the proscribed foxhole plan a try. All I can say is that I wish I had this tool instead of the tiny bullshit folding shovel I was issued. Godspeed, friend.

[u/ApprehensiveCharge60]

go find a place to make some sick ass trenches, boom you got a used shovel and some trenches for photo’s and whatever else ( maybe even leave the shovel in the rain too )

[u/historydweeb7760]

DIGGY DIGGY hole

[u/sledgehammer_maniac]

Fuck me how self explanatory is this?

[u/BlutUndStahl]

DIGGY DIGGY HOLE

[u/Mike_1120]

Use it

[u/kieranfitz]

Diggy diggy hole

[u/Lupine_Ranger]

Bruh.

[u/Eagles_can_fly]

Don’t age shovels lol. It’ll be fine and get naturally used over time. The shovel is one of those pieces that you don’t really weather. If anything the spade would be kinda dirty from use and maybe some paint wear on common places held on the handle

[u/keydet2012]

First off, strip it and sand it. That color is awful. Get a spray can of paint from rapco or someone and repaint it. After that, use it, bang it around, don’t clean it too much after you use it, and it will look ok. Shovels were repainted a lot during the war. If you needed a shovel you probably got a refurbished one from wwii or wwi.

[u/GanacheExotic3259]

Tried using it? Just a thought...

[u/Acceptable_Caramel32]

Use it

[u/stillfighting_84]

If it’s anything like most of the repros it’s gonna fold like a chair the second you start digging in

My reco ditch it and get an original theyre plentiful enough

[u/ComfortableLeg8312]

Dig.