Qualitytools
Well-known member
I have heard good things about this brand, have you tried it or used it before?
I have heard good things about this brand, have you tried it or used it before?
Yes, I lived a long time in Germany where Gardena is a household name and my family and me used them with no problems.I have heard good things about this brand, have you tried it or used it before?

Interesting that my family etc and I had such a different experience with Gardena.I’ll try an be diplomatic about the Gardena stuff.
Yes, it’s a common household name and generally a well regarded brand. Their service is very, very good as well.
I say their service is very, very good because they actually replaced a hose that after only a couple of days use in very hot weather (and two or three re-fittings by me) still would swell behind the connector like a Cobra’s head.
When it’s just the connector(s) leaking, a new o-ring and a dab of a ’food safe’ grease will go a long way.
And thats were my praise for them ends.
I’ve been around their stuff since my earliest childhood memories allow me to recollect, and I can’t count the $$$($) we (as a family) and later I spent on their stuff. Not because it was that great, but because something leaked, broke or became otherwise unusable after a summer or two. And we never bought the ‘cheap’ nozzles, sprayers, distributors …
I actually remember my mom throwing a fit because she had bought a Gardena watering wand that had a screw cap to fit a fertilizer tab in, and then you would switch the wand to ‘mix’ and distribute that fertilizer while watering. That thing lasted a couple of weeks - and she had purchased countless blisters of different fertilizer tabs. This was in the ‘90ties and this was really $$$ stuff. … I remember we discarded the fertilizer years later, because all the blister packages had let moisture in and were unusable without the watering wand anyway.
I’m very, very ‘tired’ of this brand but sometimes it is what it is and we still buy something, knowing it won’t last - or leak into the second summer. (This tiredness is also the reason why for the currently still main property, I went with a Vevor retractable hose reel and didn’t spent $$$ …)
Now I thought I could forego this trouble by spending even more and going for copper/bronze and generally all metal sprayers/nozzles. While the connectors/fittings are definitely much better, I run into the same trouble with the sprayers/watering wands/nozzles.
Kinda also fits this thread.
These Geka quick couplings/fittings (for the ‘Gardena system’) are generally really good for homeowner use. (But there is a reason pros will only ever use the standard Geka quick couplings. … )
The sprayer is from a French manufacturer called Boutté ( https://www.boutte.fr/ ) In France, as I found out too late, this is a +- 30,- EUR (+- 33,- USD) sprayer, I paid around double to almost triple that at a store that claimed to sell ‘quality of the past‘ - I fell for it - and I’ll leave it at that. The manufacturer never answered an e-mail I had sent asking for some advice regarding maintenance and disassembly of that sprayer.
I had to repair our Geka watering wand, I showed the repair here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/nobodys-project-corner.542125/#post-11020150
Geka also never replied to an e-mail I had sent about that watering wand.
If you asked me, I’d recommend not to expect anything from all of this stuff.
I have a single Fiskars plastic coupling/fitting for the “Gardena’ system, but no real long time experience with it. Also here in Germany they are even pricier than the Gardena stuff already is these days (when bought in local brick & mortar stores …). … But Fiskars is venturing into this field for a couple of years now, might be something, might not be something. … Not sure if available in the US, when I switch the country to US, I can’t access these products: https://www.fiskars.com/de-de/garten/produkte/bewasserung
But I’m really done with the home owner stuff speaking of future purchases.
I have quite a bit of stuff going on, for another property I will make a complete switch over to Geka quick ‘industry gold-standard’ couplings and Continental hoses. ( https://www.geka.de/downloads/geka_plus/EN/index.html / https://www.continental-industry.com/en/solutions/fluid-handling/industrial-hoses/water-hoses )
Kind regards,
Olli
Roebuck was the “house” brand of Buck and Hickman, a long established British hand / engineers tool distributor.
Sounds like something from "Are You Being Serviced".Roebuck was the “house” brand of Buck and Hickman, a long established British hand / engineers tool distributor.
Historically, pretty much anything sold by Buck and Hickman was good quality and very fit for the purpose intended. If you bought a tool from an unknown (to you) maker, it would always be decent. Hence Buck and Hickman became a safe choice for the trades.
The only “low cost” tools they sold were their “Roebuck” brand, which were usually made by the same, generally British, manufacturers, and of the same materials. Sometimes the finish was a bit cheaper, or the packaging more basic, but that was it.
Dealing with Buck and Hickman was always a mixed experience. On the one hand there were good quality tools, but on the other they could be a nightmare to deal with. My Grandfather dealt with them in the 1930’s, then just gave up. He tried again in the 1950’s but same story.
I ended up dealing with them in the 1990’s
Me - “I need ZYZ”
Them - “We need a catalogue number “
Me - “Haven’t got one - can you give me a catalogue”
Them - “Catalogues are costly, only for account customers”
Me - “O.K. - I’ll open an account”
Them - “Can’t do that, you don’t have enough throughput”
Me - “… but I need XYZ’s… thousands of ‘em..”
Them - “That’s the procedure”
In the end, American companies with a more practical idea of customer service opened branches in the U.K. Firms such as J and L (now MSC) and Zoro were easy to deal with and won everybody's business. Even small customers like me were spending £50k a year with J and L - it was just so hassle free.
The demise of the traditional tool shop finally did for Buck and Hickman. They just didn’t have a customer base for the business model they wanted. They tried to move with the times, but too little too late, hence the buyout.
I don’t think ”Rubix” is a name that means anything to anybody, but given the value of Buck and Hickman’s name, it’s probably an improvement!
I felt I’d been “serviced” whenever I dealt with them…!Sounds like something from "Are You Being Serviced".
Hello, do you know what is the name of the below varnish or where I could find this or a similar like this?
“Interlux Fiberglass Solvent Wash 202”
English version of that video:
Kind regards,
Olli
Have not seen that show in a minute.
Life is hard; it's even harder when you can't spell.@DAustin -
I am hoping in your comment above that you actually meant "Are You Being Served?" (as opposed to the other thing you mentioned.)

An old company assimilated into the Stanley BORGInteresting that it is part of the SBD conglomerate
That ***** and I almost got a heart attack seeing for how much the Löwe pruners go.
Are they any good being 10.8/12v?
Makes sense with the Stihl.Been using the Stihl 10.8V system for a couple of years, started with the GTA 26 and now also have HSA 40 and FSA 30. I did write a bit about them here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...e-recreation-lair.542090/page-2#post-11104334 and continued in post #63
They are perfect for the typical urban/city ‘one family home’ with garden. If your demand is different from that/ higher don’t even bother with them and go directly for one of their higher tier product lines.
By the way, you know what irks me most about the lost Löwe? That I have zero explanation for it. Absolutely zero recollection on who used them last and where/ what for. It’s down to two options though. Most likely: They got accidentally dropped in the garden waste bin without noticing. Highly unlikely, but somehow still possible: they got stolen from the drawer they are in - but then, why leave the Löwe bypass shears and other stuff behind? So it’s gonna be the waste bin, just totally flabbergasted that that apparently happened completely unnoticed by me.
Kind regards,
Olli
Gardena is a prime example of what the DIY perceives as good quality. Their high prices are for exactly that reason.I’ll try an be diplomatic about the Gardena stuff.
Yes, it’s a common household name and generally a well regarded brand. Their service is very, very good as well.
I say their service is very, very good because they actually replaced a hose that after only a couple of days use in very hot weather (and two or three re-fittings by me) still would swell behind the connector like a Cobra’s head.
When it’s just the connector(s) leaking, a new o-ring and a dab of a ’food safe’ grease will go a long way.
And thats were my praise for them ends.
I’ve been around their stuff since my earliest childhood memories allow me to recollect, and I can’t count the $$$($) we (as a family) and later I spent on their stuff. Not because it was that great, but because something leaked, broke or became otherwise unusable after a summer or two. And we never bought the ‘cheap’ nozzles, sprayers, distributors …
I actually remember my mom throwing a fit because she had bought a Gardena watering wand that had a screw cap to fit a fertilizer tab in, and then you would switch the wand to ‘mix’ and distribute that fertilizer while watering. That thing lasted a couple of weeks - and she had purchased countless blisters of different fertilizer tabs. This was in the ‘90ties and this was really $$$ stuff. … I remember we discarded the fertilizer years later, because all the blister packages had let moisture in and were unusable without the watering wand anyway.
I’m very, very ‘tired’ of this brand but sometimes it is what it is and we still buy something, knowing it won’t last - or leak into the second summer. (This tiredness is also the reason why for the currently still main property, I went with a Vevor retractable hose reel and didn’t spent $$$ …)
Now I thought I could forego this trouble by spending even more and going for copper/bronze and generally all metal sprayers/nozzles. While the connectors/fittings are definitely much better, I run into the same trouble with the sprayers/watering wands/nozzles.
Kinda also fits this thread.
These Geka quick couplings/fittings (for the ‘Gardena system’) are generally really good for homeowner use. (But there is a reason pros will only ever use the standard Geka quick couplings. … )
The sprayer is from a French manufacturer called Boutté ( https://www.boutte.fr/ ) In France, as I found out too late, this is a +- 30,- EUR (+- 33,- USD) sprayer, I paid around double to almost triple that at a store that claimed to sell ‘quality of the past‘ - I fell for it - and I’ll leave it at that. The manufacturer never answered an e-mail I had sent asking for some advice regarding maintenance and disassembly of that sprayer.
I had to repair our Geka watering wand, I showed the repair here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/nobodys-project-corner.542125/#post-11020150
Geka also never replied to an e-mail I had sent about that watering wand.
If you asked me, I’d recommend not to expect anything from all of this stuff.
I have a single Fiskars plastic coupling/fitting for the “Gardena’ system, but no real long time experience with it. Also here in Germany they are even pricier than the Gardena stuff already is these days (when bought in local brick & mortar stores …). … But Fiskars is venturing into this field for a couple of years now, might be something, might not be something. … Not sure if available in the US, when I switch the country to US, I can’t access these products: https://www.fiskars.com/de-de/garten/produkte/bewasserung
But I’m really done with the home owner stuff speaking of future purchases.
I have quite a bit of stuff going on, for another property I will make a complete switch over to Geka quick ‘industry gold-standard’ couplings and Continental hoses. ( https://www.geka.de/downloads/geka_plus/EN/index.html / https://www.continental-industry.com/en/solutions/fluid-handling/industrial-hoses/water-hoses )
Kind regards,
Olli
I must be a very low expectation diy’er when it comes to garden stuff then since I do not have problems with them.Gardena is a prime example of what the DIY perceives as good quality. Their high prices are for exactly that reason.
My dad had bought a ton of Gardena stuff over the years, from electric lawnmowers to garden lights to greenhouse "special" spray mist nozzles, to watering timer programmers, moisture sensors, you name it. I've inherited a lot of stuff, some new in their boxes. Yes, it wasn't chinesium, there was some thought (read marketing) put into their design but none was long lasting and better than DIY grade.
They had the patent for quick disconnect hose pipe adapters and accessories that has long since expired.
Who is the producer of this rule? Beautiful engraving.Stainless ruler made in Sweden by "AB R. Almkvist & Co". 50cm/20inches.
The company also sold calipers in the US under the name "MG Tool Co".
See:
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M G Swedish Precision Tools : M G Tool Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
4 p., illus., 27.8 cm, trade catalogarchive.org![]()
M G Swedish Precision Tools : Price List No. 59-3 : M G Tool Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
2 p., illus., 27.8 cm, trade catalogarchive.org
![]()
I had a set of Roebuck combination spanners, made in Sheffield.





Made up my mind and got another pair of bypass pruners, Felco #2. Since I cut more green than hard/dry wood anyway I figured it made sense to just use the Wolf anvil pruners when needed, and get the Felco as another pair of high quality pruners. Got an order out for a replacement blade for the Löwe #11 as well.
I like that it comes with a little tool-gadget for maintenance.
Kind regards,
Olli