The yard / gardening hand tools - thread.

[four.cycle]

Do we really need two threads for this?


probably one of my oldest tools. hay fork with no discernable markings (unless you count the scorched end of the handle.)


Kelly Axe & Tool Works, Charleston, WV - sickle - presumably manufactured after the company's acquisition by American Axe & Tool Co. in 1930, when the name change from "Kelly Axe & Tool Co." took place.

 

[Kasal]

New arrival Fiskars X11

 

[Kasal]

Tool of the day, folding saw, Fiskars SW69, with 3 cutting positions. The last position is to start the cut from below and thus avoid damage to the tree and the bark. The blade is about 20 cm (8 inches) long. It feels comfortable in the hand and is lightweight. Made in China.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Very smart tool! My Tajima does something similar, but the angle is very different. The Fiskars saw looks great!

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Kasal]

Pruning shears, 3 Claveles (Spanish brand). They have an aluminum body, so they feel light in the hand.

 

[Beerhippie]

Those look oddly familiar... I wonder what they copied?





I'm willing to bet the parts are interchangeable.

 

[Kasal]

Yes, they're clearly a knockoff of the Felco. The only thing that seems different is the texture of the handle. I had looked at the Felco 8 before buying these, but I didn't realize they were a copy.

 

[neophyte]

Those look oddly familiar... I wonder what they copied?





I'm willing to bet the parts are interchangeable.

Felco pruners became the industry standard, and practically every brand trying to make “professional pruners” makes a more or less accurate copy of the Felco design.

Even Ars from Japan sort of copied the design, although with a different spring type and a possibly better release lever.
I think Corona with their dual link system might be an exception, although they also have what looks to be a partial copy of the Felco design, and Florian, with their ratchet design.

A decade or so ago I purchased a Felco bypass and ancil pruner, and have never been sorry about the $100+ they pair cost, due to how much nicer the pruners were to use.
Still, Felcos aren’t cheap.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I got this new Razorback shovel on 4th of July sale at Ace Hardware for $22. Sad to see they moved production to China but still feels well made and is a sturdy shovel for sure. I’ll post more of my garden tools later.

 

[Beerhippie]

Felco pruners became the industry standard, and practically every brand trying to make “professional pruners” makes a more or less accurate copy of the Felco design.

Even Ars from Japan sort of copied the design, although with a different spring type and a possibly better release lever.
I think Corona with their dual link system might be an exception, although they also have what looks to be a partial copy of the Felco design, and Florian, with their ratchet design.

A decade or so ago I purchased a Felco bypass and ancil pruner, and have never been sorry about the $100+ they pair cost, due to how much nicer the pruners were to use.
Still, Felcos aren’t cheap.

Nope, Felcos ain't cheap--but I've been using my #7s for about forty years now--I'm on the third set of blades and anvils.

What is surprising is that they're about the same price as I paid in mid-'80s bucks!

 

[Outahere]

Garden tool enthusiasts will appreciate this deal I think. I bought the same made-in-Japan shears a year ago from Amazon and paid $68. It sells at many garden tool suppliers for $100 or more.

ARS Shears

ARS Company

 

[kody1234]

I got one of these and am never going back to the manual versions. It's a game-changer for me.

I got one about 2 weeks a go,love that thing.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Fiskars UP(X) 82

Another indispensable tool in the garden are these Fiskars long reach pruners UP 82. Been using them for years, had to repair the internally run pull cord once because the branch I intended to cut didn’t look too big from where I was standing, but it turned out it was. … Repair was easy enough/ no problem. The endoscope is definitely not needed, but I wanted to see what I was doing/ where the cord went.

The cutting head can be tilted to suit the needs, you can pull to cut either on the handle in the middle of the tool, or on the knob/ball on the very end of the handle. Loooong reach!

It’s a great tool.

The UP82 is superseded by the current UPX 82.









Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Kasal]

Today's tool: Fiskars x27 91cm (36") Axe.

 

[fourjeepin]

Today's tool: Fiskars x27 91cm (36") Axe.

Is that an axe? Looks like it could be a splitting maul.

 

[Kasal]

Is that an axe? Looks like it could be a splitting maul.

Is that an axe? Looks like it could be a splitting maul.

Yes, it is an axe. I'm adding a couple more photos. A mallet would be nice, but I'd really rather not need one.

 

[bas157]

The X27 is a great wood splitter!

 

[Mr.zippy]

I've been picking these up at Harry J Epstein's. Brand name is Piginor. Small outfit/blacksmith kind of deal. They make really good garden tools!


Edit: next on my to buy list are garden trowels!

 

[Beerhippie]

I've been picking these up at Harry J Epstein's. Brand name is Piginor. Small outfit/blacksmith kind of deal. They make really good garden tools!


Edit: next on my to buy list are garden trowels!

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

 

[Outahere]

I recently bought an ARS 180ZF telescopic extended reach pruner, to use on my trees and thorny shrubs. The total length can be adjusted from 4ft to 6.6ft. The rear handle rotates. ARS says cutting capacity is 20mm, but I think that is being very optimistic. I think 13mm is more realistic. Manufactured in Japan.








Disassembly for cleaning or repair looks easy.

 

[Beerhippie]

I recently bought an ARS 180ZF telescopic extended reach pruner, to use on my trees and thorny shrubs. The total length can be adjusted from 4ft to 6.6ft. The rear handle rotates. ARS says cutting capacity is 20mm, but I think that is being very optimistic. I think 13mm is more realistic. Manufactured in Japan.








Disassembly for cleaning or repair looks easy.

I haven't used the telescoping models, but have two fixed-length from two different eras--about forty years apart. As far as maximum cutting goes, how strong are your hands? When I was younger, it was whatever I could fit inside the jaws. Not so much now, but that's me, not the tool.

Very well made and parts are still available for the one I bought in the mid-eighties.

 

[Outahere]

..........As far as maximum cutting goes, how strong are your hands? When I was younger, it was whatever I could fit inside the jaws. Not so much now, but that's me, not the tool.....

I have a little bit of arthritis in my hands. and pain limits how hard I want to squeeze the handle. I read a few Amazon reviews about the ARS pruner, and there were some comments that 1/2" branches were the limit of cutting, even though 3/4" diameter branches can fit into the jaws. I haven't used the tool yet, so I don't know what the real limit is.

 

[Outahere]

I bought these ARS needle nose pruners at Amazon for $13. Made in Vietnam using Japanese materials. The quality is good.




A few days after receiving the ARS pruners I saw that Felco sells a similar tool, but with some upgrades: chrome plating and polymer shock absorbing bumpers. At a price of only $21 ($18 at Amazon) I think it is safe to say they are not manufactured in Switzerland. A 2023 review at Amazon says they are manufactured in Taiwan.

Snips category FELCO 322

With its 190 mm chromium blades, the FELCO 322 picking and trimming snips have the longest reach in our range. They offer maximum comfort during cutting thanks to polyurethane shock absorbers, while their flexible pin spring also helps reduce muscle tension. FELCO 322 picking and trimming snips...

america.felco.com

 

[Beerhippie]

I bought these ARS needle nose pruners at Amazon for $13. Made in Vietnam using Japanese materials. The quality is good.




A few days after receiving the ARS pruners I saw that Felco sells a similar tool, but with some upgrades: chrome plating and polymer shock absorbing bumpers. At a price of only $21 I think it is safe to say they are not manufactured in Switzerland.

Snips category FELCO 322

With its 190 mm chromium blades, the FELCO 322 picking and trimming snips have the longest reach in our range. They offer maximum comfort during cutting thanks to polyurethane shock absorbers, while their flexible pin spring also helps reduce muscle tension. FELCO 322 picking and trimming snips...

america.felco.com

Gotta love this picture:



"How'd you get that big cut on your hand?"

 

[oldman_pottering]

Gotta love this picture:



"How'd you get that big cut on your hand?"

It's the gardening version of a gunslinger

 

[Beerhippie]

It's the gardening version of a gunslinger

Who's about to shoot himself in the ****.

 

[ChoriAngle]

I get the most use out of a sharp hand pruner and a sturdy digging fork. If tools feel awkward or heavy, I swap handles or sharpen blades and it makes a big difference.

 

[Gmonkee]

These two were my first buys coming to Mexico. The pulaski is hand forged locally probably 20 years ago. The shovel is mex made campesino gear. On both you buy the tool and find a handle. Over the years I would just find a suitable stick and replace as need be. The shovel now has steel.
It used to be longer.

These were sold in street markets and local hardware stores for about 5 dollars each for decades in Mexico. The poor man's option for tools.

 

[Gmonkee]

Over years of yard work I may have accumulated a few loppers and saws. Some were new, some rescued junk and others ones I wore out. I just never could toss any.
I paint them orange as things rust when left in the shed and if dropped in tree litter they are easy to see. Most of this is Truper branded.

In the middle that curved one is a traditional hand forged curved machete. That's a small one but each smithy makes them slightly different. Quality and size vary greatly.
I don't use those anymore as I got all the loppers and saws.

 

[Gmonkee]

The last two versions of the Truper pole saw. The one went out with USA made problems, the plastic handle. The other two are the much better with the hook and being longer. Take the pole off it's a hand saw.
They cost about 20 dollars or less and the hooked version is great. It retired four others to reserve duty.
We have a cluster of bamboo to get new poles from when in need. Long, short, curved or whatever bamboo provides.

 

[Gmonkee]

Felco vs knockoff clippers.
Felco and black Chinese import were found well used.
Red Pretul bought new.
None are used very often. I do far more work in stuff well beyond the capability of these.

 

[Gmonkee]

Two more.

No parts compatibility between the three. The Felco is thicker, all have comfortable handles and cut up plants. The black knockoffs have a loose cutter blade. They also omitted the rubber bump stop. Not sure it matters.

All the insert blades are very different on the three.

If I only have to keep one it's the Pretul, lower line of Truper. Because they are the least worn. Unfair comparison from the start because the other two had to be disassembled, cleaned and readjusted before any use. They were abused dearly before me.

 

[Kasal]

Today I remembered I hadn't shown you my latest purchases. Granit axe, Altuna 1.85-2.90m (6'1"-9'6") extendable saw, Xforst tree drill wedges with belt sheath, and a Vevor 19mm x 67m (3/4in, 220ft) rope roll.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

I was doing some cleanup at Dad's house and ran into something my hedge trimmer wouldn't cut. Dad has a pair of "Geared" loppers in the garage that cut some decent sized branches like butter.

I think they were older model Fiskars Power Gear loppers (older being 20 years old now probably). We are clearing out his house now so those are coming home with me! Thanks Dad!

No pic's - sorry

 

[Gmonkee]

Kasal, that Altuna saw looks much like my Truper. Invert handle colors and a slightly different saw blade.

How are they priced there?