The yard / gardening hand tools - thread.

[RTM]

One of my favorites for its survival details. It's a 1960"s vintage Campos Hermanos (brothers Campos) made in Mexico.
It may be a bit worn. I am using it on a job right now.

I had a tool of that size and shape, quite handy. Unfortunately lost it when I pulled out a bush, and dragged it over the tool. Still haven’t found it , and dug a lot replanting there.

 

[Gmonkee]

I had a tool of that size and shape, quite handy. Unfortunately lost it when I pulled out a bush, and dragged it over the tool. Still haven’t found it , and dug a lot replanting there.

That's why i spraypaint my rented mules orange. It's ugly but I can see them better in the dirt piles.

I use my tools, expect to damage or wear them out. Nothing really nice nor expensive in my ****.
All are here making me money, not brownie pounds with fellow tool polishers.
Yeah, I'm guilty too. I made some prettier than required for functions too.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have never posted in this thread before, nor do I post very often in General Tools Discussion, at all, in general. I just don't have or buy too many new tools.

My son bought me, his two brothers, and his brother-in-law the same hand axe for Christmas. Made by Husqvarna. We were all polite, but my other sons - both apartment dwellers, looked at him like, 'What the heck am I going to do with this?', my son-in-law looked at him like, 'I guess I am going to have to ship this to myself, because I don't think it'll go through TSA in my carry-on,' and I looked at him like, 'Do you know how many vintage hand axes I have down the basement?' as I cracked a joke about it being the first Husqvarna product I have owned since my '74 WR400.

I used it today for the first time and I have to say, I am an instant fan. It's impressive. Feels good in the hand, perfect balance, sharp, solid bite on every stroke, and the fitment between the eye, the tenon, and the wooden kerf wedge is high-quality workmanship.

I do have a question, though.

Is this circular steel kerf "wedge" common? Is it innovative or something that is now considered fairly standard?

Among at least a dozen axes and hand axes that I own, and many more that I have scrutinized at flea markets, all vintage, I have never seen anything like that before.

 

[four.cycle]

^ In the grand scheme of things, it is relatively new. I think it may have originated in Europe, I'm not sure. It is definitely innovative.
I'm not any sort of expert in physics, but my initial impression is that it would certainly accomplish the task at hand, as it's going to force material out at all angles.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

It’s a round/ring wedge, should have a “barb”, is supposedly “safer” than a classic wedge.

Picture of such a wedge: Aluminum: https://www.tbs-aachen.de/Rundkeile-KS-Tools_1405402_Rundkeil8x9mm_i4871_27158.htm Steel: https://www.baywa.de/p/rundkeil-mit-widerhaken-18-mm-fuer-hammer--und-axtstiele/p_26769706/232163

They have been around for a long time here.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They have been around for a long time here.

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[Gmonkee]

The wedge works as it should. I would assume these can be pressed in with a machine quickly and trouble free.

My hammer has one, it's solid years on.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was psyched to find this relatively modern (Model 1991) "U.S." military entrenching tool at the flea market this morning for $5. These all-steel jobbies fold into 9" OAL carry shape. I probably should've got a group shot with my Model 1910 (non-folding T-handle) and one of my folding Model 1943's. Those are for looking. I already put this one to use planting a potted "White Queen" variety Caladium I also bought at the flea this morning. The white tails keep clipping the heads off the annuals I had in this corner planter. (The whole street is like an O Dark 30 breakast buffet.) It needed a little lubrication and some repetitive tri-folding, but opens and closes with ease now. Love the D-handle. These came after my service. It'll make a nice all-purpose apocalypse tool one day.

 

[Beerhippie]

I was psyched to find this relatively modern (Model 1991) "U.S." military entrenching tool at the flea market this morning for $5. These all-steel jobbies fold into 9" OAL carry shape. I probably should've got a group shot with my Model 1910 (non-folding T-handle) and one of my folding Model 1943's. Those are for looking. I already put this one to use planting a potted "White Queen" variety Caladium I also bought at the flea this morning. The white tails keep clipping the heads off the annuals I had in this corner planter. (The whole street is like an O Dark 30 breakast buffet.) It needed a little lubrication and some repetitive tri-folding, but opens and closes with ease now. Love the D-handle. These came after my service. It'll make a nice all-purpose apocalypse tool one day.

Those Z-folds are nice. I've yet to run across one at a sale that wasn't MIC and junk.

 

[hailwood1965]

All this thread needs is the Project Farm **** doing the thing with his hands.

 

[Gmonkee]

I tried the military folding shovels, had a few genuine and survivalist fantasy versions. I used them and found them all best for camping or bug out bag filler.

In real life I plant stuff in the yard, bury pipes and mess about in big clay pots moving plants far more than camping or bugging out anywhere.

This mini shovel is a real tool that allows adult forces to be used on it. It helped a ton in trying to dig out a stump too. It fits a trench width and general plant management tasks perfectly.

The big boy comes out when volume of dirt needs to be moved but note which one has fresh rust removal.
It doesn't loosen the handle like my folders did, but some were real ****. I expect more of Ames than Chinese clones.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Those Z-folds are nice.

I'm impressed. Well built. Light but robust. No pot metal. The handle is extruded aluminum, but the blade is apparently a carbon alloy mix, and the hinge areas are also. I like the serrated edges for crude sawing.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'm impressed. Well built. Light but robust. No pot metal. The handle is extruded aluminum, but the blade is apparently a carbon alloy mix, and the hinge areas are also. I like the serrated edges for crude sawing.

For a car-camping shovel, I've seen a nifty trick for the latrine: After digging your cat hole, turn the blade 90 degrees to the shaft. Put the handle on the ground and set one cheek on the shovel blade to make for a crude seat.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

For a car-camping shovel, I've seen a nifty trick for the latrine: After digging your cat hole, turn the blade 90 degrees to the shaft. Put the handle on the ground and set one cheek on the shovel blade to make for a crude seat.

It's not THAT robust! (I'm fullback (5'10" 225 lbs) size!) Besides, that sounds precarious. I'd probably end up with my **** on the cow pattie and the blade of the shovel stuck in my thigh. I prefer the old back-against-a-tree position.

I DO like camp shovels. You guys have probably seen my novelty Globemasters before.

 

[Houdini5150]

Man seeing these gardening tools.... Sitting over here with my Home Depot Anvil shovels and rakes and my busted Harbor Freight Loppers... well not really busted, missing the bolt and nut to hold the adjusting mechanism so I can close them. But it works for little trimming I do for the tree out front.

 

[Gmonkee]

Man seeing these gardening tools.... Sitting over here with my Home Depot Anvil shovels and rakes and my busted Harbor Freight Loppers... well not really busted, missing the bolt and nut to hold the adjusting mechanism so I can close them. But it works for little trimming I do for the tree out front.

I don't buy simple tools new if possible. I worked in scrapyards and brought home broken stuff to put back in service. Three broken ones make two good ones, good enough to use at least.
It lead to a quite interesting mix of **** over time.

I recently started selling off the excess and boring duplicates to make space. All the hand forged stuff stayed on making it an eccentric lot left here.