The Garden Tool Thread

[Hovannes]

How much attention do you give your garden tools?
A little care goes a long way to extend the useful life of shovels, hoes, rakes etc...
I've been horribly abusive----I have a pile of shovels with broken handles, the handles weakened from being left outside in the weather. New handles around here are almost as expensive as getting a new shovel, so that is what I've done. How wasteful is that?
.
I should pencil in a tool day on my calendar
Sharpen some edges, oil a few handles, maybe some wire brushing, zap 'em with Rustoleum and squirt a bit of 3 in 1.

Maybe being retired I notice this stuff more.
Tell me about your garden tool maintenance protocol?
I could use some inspiration!

[sweetandsour]

I was hoping to get some inspiration from you, Hov! .

I too have some blades without handles, and some handles without blades. My immediate focus will be on my cultivator, though, whose handle broke in half and is Abt 3' long now. I've still been using it by having to lean way over. It's time to replace the handle.

[Hovannes]

I conducted a garden tool triage last night.
Everything went into the wheelbarrow.
Tools with handles get priority, followed by handle needing tools which are singular examples.
I sanded the still good handles and will treat 'em with oil.
Tools will get wire brushed, then primed with black automotive primer and sharpened with a file
At least it's a start.

[JimVH]

The billdookie is the only garden tool you will ever need.

[SlowToke]

A good garden tool (especially shovels, axes, and mauls) are worth replacing the handle even if it's cheaper to buy a whole new tool. This is especially true if you have an older implement because, in my experience, the quality of garden tools has degraded over the years. I just put a new handle on my favorite shovel a few weeks ago.

[Jester]

Bought a new wheelbarrow yesterday.

[Hovannes]

Bought a new wheelbarrow yesterday.

What kind?

Long, long ago I bit the bullet and bought a solid rubber tire for my wheel barrow after futzing around repairing flats in the middle of a job.
It paid off as the same tire has served on two wheel barrows since.

[Jester]

Bought a new wheelbarrow yesterday.

What kind?

Long, long ago I bit the bullet and bought a solid rubber tire for my wheel barrow after futzing around repairing flats in the middle of a job.
It paid off as the same tire has served on two wheel barrows since.

1 wheel with Inflatable tire. I bet that solid rubber tire comes in handy.

[Hovannes]

I' wiped down the wood handles with tung oil for a wee bit of protection, except for the few tools needing replacement handles.

[JudgeRusty]

A good garden tool (especially shovels, axes, and mauls) are worth replacing the handle even if it's cheaper to buy a whole new tool. This is especially true if you have an older implement because, in my experience, the quality of garden tools has degraded over the years. I just put a new handle on my favorite shovel a few weeks ago.

Last year I searched high and low for Daddy's high wheel cultivator/furrower. I was counting on having to replace the handles. I have yet to find it. Replacements are expensive and I expect poor quality steel. His was probably made before the 40s at least. I recall pushing it with the handles above my shoulders making garden rows.