Painting Garden Tool Handles

[DawgPaw]

Many many years ago my grandfather painted the handles of all of his gardening tools red. He said it made it easier to see where they were in the neighborhood when people borrowed them.

I have had some shovels and a rake sitting in a corner that need new handles. I thought about painting them a common custom color myself. However the ONLY information that I see on wooden handles is linseed oil. Is there any harm painting them? His sure seem fine 50 years later. I imagine he just picked up whatever (lead based) paint he could find.

So any suggestions on the best paint or any ideas on the best method to use nowadays?

 

[southalabama]

Nothing to back it up but always been told painted wood handles promote blisters. Only use boiled linseed.

 

[DawgPaw]

Nothing to back it up but always been told painted wood handles promote blisters. Only use boiled linseed.

What about fiberglass handles?

 

[southalabama]

What about fiberglass handles?

I’ve gone to fiberglass. Best grade you can afford.

 

[lolaetype]

I think paint might be an option. I've not heard the blisters from paint theory before. Since I generally wear gloves when using shovels, rakes and the like that wouldn't be an issue.

 

[2oolhound]

I used to dip the end of my handles in a gallon bucket of cat yellow paint for exactly the same reason. ID my tools on job sites. I was building log homes so these were peaveys, cant hooks, axes etc but I learned a hard lesson after painting the metal parts. The paint came off on the logs under pressure. Things like a few broad axes and adzes couldn't be used because of it but maybe that's why I still have some of them.

 

[Beerhippie]

Nothing to back it up but always been told painted wood handles promote blisters. Only use boiled linseed.

I was taught the same thing. I suspect it's a rural myth.

New tools often come with varnished handles. I can't see paint being any different.

2ool: Sounds like you dipped the wrong end of the tool handle!

 

[seber]

The linseed oil vs paint comes from axe handles. Using an axe properly requires controlled slipping on each hack. For that purpose the handle must not grab the skin. Paint is a problem there.

 

[Beerhippie]

Painting six inches or so of the "idiot" end on the handle shouldn't be a problem anyhow, and plenty to identify the tool.

 

[toolmiser]

I just paint the metal part of my outside tools. I use red and it makes them easier to find also. Almost lost a nice pair of "loppers" when I was helping at a neighbor's house and it fell out of my pocket. It's red now.

 

[2oolhound]

2ool: Sounds like you dipped the wrong end of the tool handle!

No, I worked among some unscrupulous people who I didn't trust around some of my rare old tools I'd gotten together after a lot of effort. I could see their disappointment after I painted them.

 

[dnschmidt]

I'll ask my landscaper what he thinks. ME USE A SHOVEL? You're kidding right?

 

[Beerhippie]

I'll ask my landscaper what he thinks. ME USE A SHOVEL? You're kidding right?

We called it an "idiot stick". It's a stick with a blade at one end and an idiot at the other. Hence, the handle end away form the head is the "idiot end".

Still kinda' handy for those times when a dragline excavator just isn't the right tool.

 

[RTM]

I personally prefer un painted un varnished tool handles. On typical garden tools like rakes and shovels, I paint the ferrules if I’m going to a community tool event. Very rare for anyone to borrow landscaping tools in my neighborhood. I just loaned a GS find shovel last week, first in over 15 years.

But I suspect Lead Based paint may have been involved back in the day.

 

[jjblbi]

Red or yellow handles help you spot the tools laying around at the end of the day.

 

[LeeG]

I use a yellow and red band on the ends of my yard tools. Wood handles are all finished with BLO

Lee

 

[jives]

If I have leftover stain/poly I hit the garden tool handles. Especially one old shovel that I leave outside near the compost bin.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

My Grandpa had painted his long hand tools a dark Green. I have either broke or given away all except a landscape rake. The fellow installing the paving stone at lake was using it. Told him not to break it telling him of my connection with the rake. He started to look for another but I said I was joking and I’ve destroyed the rest anyway. When he was done with the rake he made a big production when giving it back to me.