Old garden tools

On todays GQT there was a discussion about the merits of old tools vs new tools.

What are members views? - Do you like the old spade you've had for ever or must you rush out and buy the latest gaget or super-tool?

a-a

 

I use old tools untill they break, then hate the modern look of all the stuff in the stores, eventually buy a replacement, don't like it until until years have passed and it looks 'old' again and regret not buying 2 because I know when that one breaks I wont be able to buy another one just like it.

 

I have several fork/spades where the shaft has snapped. I'd be glad to get them replaced if I could get it done for less than the cost of a new fork/spade.

 

Thought of you yesterday aa, when I was reading an old rhs mag article about sharpening tools.

I prefer my old tools, but if I have to buy a new one, like the hoe last season, first thing I do is to sand down the varnish on the handle & give it a good few coats of teak or danish oil.

 

I tend to find that regarding hand tools, the oldies are the best.
Most new stuff is rubbish and not rubbish prices.

Regarding electrical tools, things do move on and improvements have been made.
You still have to pay through the nose though if you want something that might last more than three years.

 

You just ebay for a new shaft about £4.50 and bang it in

£4.50 is a LOT cheaper than you could get the same quality tool

Jack McHammocklashing

 

Old Tool JACKPOT
Old Aunt now has a gardener,
Very large five terrace gardens, and to my shame, I am just not up to it, to do the work for her rather than have to pay a gardener (I find it hard to start and keep my little 100sqmtr plot and most of it is grass and sheds :-(

Anyway I snapped a fork, and bought a new one When I told her, on Saturday, she says Oh dear, I do not have use ofor anything now just take it all that you want
Well the gardener had had the new ride on mower, shredder, and leaf blower,(she donated them to him) but everything else was there,
Now the home has been in the family for 150 years, and garden was their thing
I recently got rid of the five sythes, and four sickles (grasss cutting) to a skip

Going off track, I now have the choice of anything, so have spades forks border spades border forks, hoes dutch and draw, loppers I do not need, several quality secateurs
felco roll cut and others, A gas weed torch
The potting shed has about 1500 terracota plant pots from 24" down to 2" and about ten cold frames

I would love to take the home on, when the inevitable happens, but with only a quarter share could not afford it, so it looks like it will be leaving the family for good

Sorry off on me tangents AGAIN

Jack McHammocklashing

 

I like both really old and some new tools, but as i did write on the garden allotment thread if your going to get a new tool, Its a good thing to make sure it fits in your hands and feels good, Spades /forks etc have verious size of shafts now and if you have a back bending problem these longer shafts could be better than the normal size ones,

But i look after all my tools, ie clean before putting them away, service all the machine ie mower/rotovator etc,

But something i think is worth pointing out and its the warrantee on new tools/machines
ie 12 month on a lawn mower or chain saw?
In my mind you can half that because these tools are not used all year anyway so the 12 month bit is'nt much good really.

 

i was left a spade, a fork, a metal rake and various other things by the previous owner having passed away before we bought the house, i see no reason to replace them yet.

well except the 3 pronged rake thing which snapped its handle at the weekend.

mind you i also have no idea how old these things are or whether they were good makes at the time. no doubt they will all break now!

 

Hi Jack,
I know what your saying ref the share of the house,
Its one of the reasons i like it so much here in this part of france It's not a holiday part and the living here is very much like the old days,
property is still cheap but may need to be re-vamped but having said this a couple i met 2 years ago bought a 1 bedroomed cottage here for £20,000 and have lived in it while they are making it to their liking and they are both 65years of age,

They've both said it's the slow way of life they like and because of the country folk's way of life you can do something about the cost of living, ie take the wood ive been cutting for the fire, i cut it today at todays price, I like all the other country folk store as much ahead of my next winters needs and then all the extra wood in yeares tocome will be burning at todays cost, i cant ask the gas or electric or oil companies to sell me their products at todays prices in the future, so thats a big saving to be had and it works on a lot of other everyday things, rates, etc.
Keep your chin up Jack you just never know whats around the corner,
nice things happen to nice people

 

I don't buy new tools (with exception of my trench spade). All my tools are at least 30 plus years old and have all cost me a fraction of buying new tools because I buy them all from bootsales. I think I have 4 forks and 3 spades now.

Also there are some many weird and wonderful tools that you just can't buy brand new anymore and they all have a history behind them.

 

My favourites came from local auctions, including a couple of light border forks with long handles that I hadn't been able to find new.
Hate the heavy thick metal of cheap new tools, and found they snap easily with the slightest pressure

 

I agree. The only metal handled spade I had cracked, just above where the bottom hand went, and lasted less than 2 years.
My old spade is still going.