The yard / gardening hand tools - thread.

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Hi everyone!

I’m taking the liberty of opening a thread for the discussion of yard / gardening hand tools, as it was suggested in the ‘Tools from the old world’ thread. ( https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/tools-from-the-old-world.28952/page-885#post-11130574 )

To kick things off, I’d like to start with a corkscrew weeder (for dandelions and other tap-rooted weeds) (spring & sleeve made from stainless steel) by Kent & Stowe in the UK. Found their tools in a local garden center around Christmas ‘24, and thought this was a pretty nifty gadget for gardening. Thats why this is still looking very new. Website: https://kentandstowe.com/products/kent-stowe-stainless-steel-hand-corkscrew-weeder








Please participate and show your yard/ gardening hand tools if you like. No matter if they have been in service for years or if they were purchased recently.


Kind regards,
Olli

 

[esben57]

Have this Wolf Garten for weeds. Decent tools although this attachment can be easily bent.

 

[neophyte]

Felco hand pruners made removing overgrown vines pleasant.
The pruners I was using before that have the name of a beer brand on them.
That brand has since updated their ergonomics, but I still love the Felcos.
I use the model 13 “hand and a half” size, for the occasional thicker vine.

 

[Beerhippie]

Corona shears were the standard of the industry for a century or so--until Felco came out!

Most used:



Felco #7 w/rolling grip--a real wrist-saver when cutting all day; ARS Long-Reach Pruners (6')--keep me from over-reaching from the ladder and let me cover more tree from each set.

For the bigger stuff:







The best tooth design ever for a pruning saw. The brand doesn't seem to matter much--I suspect the blades all come from the same factory. I also have a longer one on a pole.

For winter "yard work" (scraping ice from concrete walks):





Timm'z Toolz--made at Terminal Gravity Brewing, USA. It doubles as a high-speed windshield scraper--no windshield, no ice.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

(…)

Felco #7 w/rolling grip--a real wrist-saver when cutting all day; ARS Long-Reach Pruners (6')--keep me from over-reaching from the ladder and let me cover more tree from each set.

(…)

Totally agree, the roll grip makes a big difference and is a game changer when it comes to extensive use!

Here’s the Löwe equivalent, No. 11 with rolling grip.

Before yearly maintenance.



And after. Still waiting on the new blade.



Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Beerhippie]

@Nobody-named-Olli : That's one of the advantages to the Felco design: Easily replaced blades. I find myself replacing the blades every few years and the hook about half as often--but I'm a compulsive sharpener.

Same goes for the reach pruners--easily sourced and replaced blades.

 

[neophyte]

@Nobody-named-Olli : That's one of the advantages to the Felco design: Easily replaced blades. I find myself replacing the blades every few years and the hook about half as often--but I'm a compulsive sharpener.

Same goes for the reach pruners--easily sourced and replaced blades.

I didn’t sharpen my Felcos for two or three years while using them, but they mostly kept sharp.
Eventually I bought a new blade, and then rehabbed the old one when I had time, including a bit of rust removal, and sharpening past some knicks, and polishing the back of the blade on a fine arkansas stone.
It’s now a spare for when I neglect ghe other blade too long.
The Felco rust preventative spray works well with only a bit of steel discoloration if you don’t thoroughly clean the pruners.

 

[GeoBruin]

I like my "Grampa's" weed puller. I have to be careful because my whole lawn has underground drip irrigation, so if I go full tilt I can puncture the tubes, but otherwise it works very well and prevents the need for constant bending/kneeling.

 

[KnurledNut]

(saved for later)

 

[Beerhippie]

Forgot those.

 

[danielbuck]

I like my "Grampa's" weed puller. I have to be careful because my whole lawn has underground drip irrigation, so if I go full tilt I can puncture the tubes, but otherwise it works very well and prevents the need for constant bending/kneeling.

We got one of those a while back, for some types of weeds it works really well! for others, sometimes it can be frustrating because you can't find the exact center of the weed easilly.

 

[Beerhippie]

We got one of those a while back, for some types of weeds it works really well! for others, sometimes it can be frustrating because you can't find the exact center of the weed easilly.

Mine looks like a big screwdriver/prybar with a notch in the tip. Stick it in next to the dandelion and pry it out root and all.

 

[Beerhippie]

Brush tool:





A Mexican-made Philippine knife... go figure. Steel is old truck leaf spring--it takes and holds an edge very well and rings when drawn--just like the movies.

 

[Achilleus]

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

 

[Beerhippie]

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

I'm not carrying that while clambering around in trees and on ladders all day long.

Besides, the Felcos keep my grip strength up. Gotta impress the punks when they try a knuckle-crusher shake.

 

[GeoBruin]

I'm not carrying that while clambering around in trees and on ladders all day long.

Besides, the Felcos keep my grip strength up. Gotta impress the punks when they try a knuckle-crusher shake.

I hear this every time this tool is brought up. Comparing this with a pair of Felcos is like comparing apples and orangutans. The Dewalts are a one-handed replacement for 2 handed loppers. They're incredible. Cutting >1 inch branches like butter with one hand for hours on end is like having a super power.

The thing people dont talk about is that they're actually good for even larger branches. Stuff you would usually need a saw for (think 2" branches). Just squeeze the trigger, it cuts half way through, then retracts. Squeeze the trigger again and usually the deed is done, but if not, a 3rd squeeze is guaranteed to get you through. And this can all be done in a matter of seconds, with 1 hand, while the other hand holds on to your ladder (or your beer).

I own Felcos and they're nice for trimming hedges or very small branches that you can snip as fast as you can squeeze but the Dewalts are on another level. A screwdriver can theoretically achieve the same thing as an impact driver while being simpler and lighter, but no one is building a deck with a screwdriver.

 

[Beerhippie]

I hear this every time this tool is brought up. Comparing this with a pair of Felcos is like comparing apples and orangutans. The Dewalts are a one-handed replacement for 2 handed loppers. They're incredible. Cutting >1 inch branches like butter with one hand for hours on end is like having a super power.

The thing people dont talk about is that they're actually good for even larger branches. Stuff you would usually need a saw for (think 2" branches). Just squeeze the trigger, it cuts half way through, then retracts. Squeeze the trigger again and usually the deed is done, but if not, a 3rd squeeze is guaranteed to get you through. And this can all be done in a matter of seconds, with 1 hand, while the other hand holds on to your ladder (or your beer).

I own Felcos and they're nice for trimming hedges or very small branches that you can snip as fast as you can squeeze but the Dewalts are on another level. A screwdriver can theoretically achieve the same thing as an impact driver while being simpler and lighter, but no one is building a deck with a screwdriver.

2" branch?



Two to three pulls--fits in my tool pocket.

 

[Monte]

Felco & Löwe



Stihl collection

 

[Outahere]

Over the winter I bought 3 new Japanese and Swiss garden tools: Ichiban 240mm pruning saw (with a very sturdy plastic sheath), Felco #13 pruners and holster, and ARS 26" long shears, with replaceable 180mm blades.

 

[RTM]

ARS 26" long shears, with replaceable 180mm blades

Are these hedge trimmers? Do they work much better than the type sold in the US for 60+ years, that can barely get through leaves, much less branches? They look like giant bonsai trimmers.

 

[Outahere]

Are these hedge trimmers? Do they work much better than the type sold in the US for 60+ years, that can barely get through leaves, much less branches? They look like giant bonsai trimmers.

For shearing flat surfaces on hedges, the blades on these shears are a bit too short. Not a problem for me, because I don't have any hedges in my yard.

 

[Beerhippie]

Are these hedge trimmers? Do they work much better than the type sold in the US for 60+ years, that can barely get through leaves, much less branches? They look like giant bonsai trimmers.

I hate to have to say this, but if you learn to properly sharpen your hedge shears, they'll cut just fine. I use a big (12") medium-coarse first-cut ******* for this and mine don't have trouble cutting through anything--including my drip system that I'm repairing today after having cut all the dead stuff out of the beds last fall.

My biggest problem with most hedge shears on the market today is that they're just pieces of **** construction-wise. My current pair has welds all over them from repairs.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Here is some of my shovels and a pitch fork and hoe. The rusty shovel on the corner is an old TrueTemper and I love that shovel. Dad has had it for like 30 years. My brother in law destroyed our other vintage gardening tools with his strength. I collect old shovels and they are so hard to find. I’ll take a picture of the rest tomorrow or Sunday. The Craftsman one I bought last year the same day or same weekend this picture was taken and it’s ok but flimsy feeling. The shovel next to it is a cheap $14 shovel from Walmart from like 2014 or 2015 surprisingly it’s lasted. The D Handle Shovel and pitch fork are both Ames True Temper. The hoe I can’t remember but it’s an old brand too.

 

[BTL-A4]

This is one of my favorite tools:


It's called a Korean hand plow. It looks like a bent shovel, but it's made this way on purpose. From the website:

We call it a hand plow, or plough, because like a plow it pulls through the soil making a furrow and drops the displaced dirt to one side. In Korea, where the tool originates and where it has been made and used for about 2000 years, it is known as a "Ho Mi" which translates as "Little Spear."

The head of the tool is hand forged in hole-in-the-wall smithys outside of Seoul, Korea. Its design is astonishingly sophisticated. The leaf-shaped blade is thin at the top where it is widest, and thicker at the tip. Opposing curves (convex, side to side and concave, top to bottom) give the thin blade great strength and stability.

The Hand Plough is extremely versatile. It ploughs. It's a great clod buster. It's a decent weed slicer and a very good spot weeder. To plant with it, you loosen the soil with the pointed tip; roll it over in your hand and use the circular top portion to scoop a hole; set your plant, bulb or seeds and use the blade to backfill the planting hole.

 

[KnurledNut]

@BlakeTheCarGuy
That B-series garden tool...

 

[Outahere]

Bought this 4" x 28" inch soil auger a few months ago. Manufactured by Power Planter in the USA.

 

[jsackin]

My go-to gardening tools are a flexible putty knife for getting into bricks/cracks of all kinds and one of those brass nozzles for the hose. I've tried all of the hose nozzles and the brass twist kind is still the best. Also like a flat trowel because they're easier to sharpen and you can do edging with them.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Fire. It cleans up all your weeds and brush.

 

[captain14]

Found this Fiscars weed removal too at the local thrift store. Less than $3.00 total.

It works better on big weeds. Not so much on the little weeds. There is at least one YouTube video on the proper operation.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Here is most of my other gardening tools. I’ve got a few more. I had to buy all these square point shovels on my own because dad says they are a waste of money but I’ve used them so many times. He said find me a homeowner who has a regular shovel and a square shovel I bet you can’t find one and my neighbor had his shed doors open one day and I pointed it out to my dad and he is like well I guess you aren’t the only one who wastes your money then. He said what does that shovel do that a digging shovel can’t do. I said it’s a better scoop than a digging shovel is and it’s also great at spreading material and various other tasks. He is like well it won’t sell me. I’m like whatever lol. I don’t know what brand the rusty ones are I bought them at an estate sale last year. The new looking one is a cheap Anvil one I bought two of them last year and I should have spent more money on them because they are flimsy. They say made in Brazil. Next time I’ll get better ones.

Then our other pitch fork and my hand weed eater as I call it lol.

 

[Beerhippie]

Here is most of my other gardening tools. I’ve got a few more. I had to buy all these square point shovels on my own because dad says they are a waste of money but I’ve used them so many times. He said find me a homeowner who has a regular shovel and a square shovel I bet you can’t find one and my neighbor had his shed doors open one day and I pointed it out to my dad and he is like well I guess you aren’t the only one who wastes your money then. He said what does that shovel do that a digging shovel can’t do. I said it’s a better scoop than a digging shovel is and it’s also great at spreading material and various other tasks. He is like well it won’t sell me. I’m like whatever lol. I don’t know what brand the rusty ones are I bought them at an estate sale last year. The new looking one is a cheap Anvil one I bought two of them last year and I should have spent more money on them because they are flimsy. They say made in Brazil. Next time I’ll get better ones.

Then our other pitch fork and my hand weed eater as I call it lol.

In building and landscape construction, we used flat-nose shovels frequently. They're particularly handy for making the bottom of an excavation flat--foundation footing trenches, irrigation trenches, etc. They also make dandy scoops.

Unfortunately, it's much harder to find a truly stout flat-nose than a truly stout spade. The blade of the one you have in the middle there looks to be the best constructed for heavy use.

 

[Outahere]

Here is most of my other gardening tools. I’ve got a few more. I had to buy all these square point shovels on my own because dad says they are a waste of money but I’ve used them so many times.

I agree, square point shovels are useful, and I have one in my shed. I also have a pitch fork, but can't remember the last time I used it, or why I even bought it.

 

[WWheeler]

I like my "Grampa's" weed puller. I have to be careful because my whole lawn has underground drip irrigation, so if I go full tilt I can puncture the tubes, but otherwise it works very well and prevents the need for constant bending/kneeling.

Yeah I've sworn by my Grampa's weeder for years now. It's the original tool like it and seems to work better than all the other brands that now have similar designs out there. Another plus, the Grampa's is less expensive than almost every other one I've tried, including a few that cost almost twice as much, but the Grampa's is still the one I grab.

 

[honcho]

I hear this every time this tool is brought up. Comparing this with a pair of Felcos is like comparing apples and orangutans. The Dewalts are a one-handed replacement for 2 handed loppers. They're incredible. Cutting >1 inch branches like butter with one hand for hours on end is like having a super power.

The thing people dont talk about is that they're actually good for even larger branches. Stuff you would usually need a saw for (think 2" branches). Just squeeze the trigger, it cuts half way through, then retracts. Squeeze the trigger again and usually the deed is done, but if not, a 3rd squeeze is guaranteed to get you through. And this can all be done in a matter of seconds, with 1 hand, while the other hand holds on to your ladder (or your beer).

I own Felcos and they're nice for trimming hedges or very small branches that you can snip as fast as you can squeeze but the Dewalts are on another level. A screwdriver can theoretically achieve the same thing as an impact driver while being simpler and lighter, but no one is building a deck with a screwdriver.

I agree and I too use my tool to cut branches far bigger than the device will cut in a single chomp.

I bought the DeWalt and later returned it. It works well, but it is big and bulky. I ended up buying a weird name version from Amazon that accepts DeWalt batteries and is more compact than the DeWalt. The same tool is available from different companies in versions that will accept Milwaukee or DeWalt or Makita batteries. Are they as good as the DeWalt and other big name versions? The one I have is close enough to the DeWalt in capacity, it came with an extra blade and it cost less than 1/2 of the DeWalt. Those were enough to make me give it a shot and, so far, I feel ok with my choice.

 

[Retroman]

My wife loves the ARS pruners made in Japan while I use a Varusteleka Skrama knife/machete for chopping up branches.
This knife is by far my go to when breaking down large cardboard boxes, cutting up the tree trimmings to fit in a can. Never sharpened it just keeps on cutting. Has good weight behind it to get thru the cuts. Made in Finland it is carbon steel but not a big issue here in the desert.

Varusteleka Skrama 240, Carbon Steel - Varusteleka.com

The Skrama is a versatile heavy-duty bush knife – if you're taking just one knife into the bush, get a big Skrama! Fast international delivery.

www.varusteleka.com

 

[Monte]

Wolf grass shears



Felco loppers, ARS saws etc.



Lowe and another Felco lopper

 

[zak77]

Found this Fiscars weed removal too at the local thrift store. Less than $3.00 total.

It works better on big weeds. Not so much on the little weeds. There is at least one YouTube video on the proper operation.

I have that weed puller and it works pretty good. You just need to place the rear tine in the proper place and the weed comes out. Works really good on crab grass.

 

[Lasu]

One of my axes, early 90s splitting axe, glass fibre reinforced plastic handle, always stored outdoors, *** cubic metres of wood. Fiskars brand

 

[Tynee]

One of my axes, early 90s splitting axe, glass fibre reinforced plastic handle, always stored outdoors, *** cubic metres of wood. Fiskars brand

I have the same splitting axe but have never actually split anything with it. All of my splitting is 25 years behind me and was done with an old-fashioned wood handled maul like this:



I thought I was going to have an opportunity to try the axe this weekend, but got rained out. Will hopefully get a shot at some rounds next weekend through.

 

[Lasu]

Yep, a wooden handle also works but not as durable, i have made new handles for many axes. Fiskars handy series axe and pictures went to the wrong thread and section, I was going to put them in the outdoor tools thread.