Don't Forget Your Old Friends

 

The day inevitably comes when you go to the tool shed to work the garden a little. It doesn’t matter the season, it is time to weed, or plant, or dig and you feel like doing something physical and productive. You reach for the hoe, or shovel, or cultivator and find a sad, rusty looking tool leaning against the wall. You wonder what happened to that new tool you bought just how many years ago. Or perhaps, you remember that the handle of the rake split last year and you put it away intending to get a new one the next time you were at the garden center.

 

Tools are like old books. They don’t really go bad; they are abused or neglected or ignored, but they are not rendered useless until they can no longer perform their intended function. A little time and minimal effort can keep garden tools looking good for many, many years and will insure that you won’t have to pay $30 or more for a cheap version of your old favorite.

 

There are two primary parts of most garden tools: the working end and the handling end. In most cases, the handling end is a hard wood that was originally protected with paint, varnish, or urethane. This finish wears away over time and you end up with a dull, brown finish that may start to crack or split. Without doing some serious woodwork, there isn’t much you can do to restore the original finish except keep it from deteriorating further.  Rubbing a coat of linseed oil over the wood annually can create a hard finish over time that will protect the outside and keep the inside from completely drying out and splitting.  Most applied grips like soft rubber on tools don’t last very long. A roll of tennis racket grip leather is relatively inexpensive and can be used to create a working grip as long as it is still comfortable in your hand. There are a few other tape products that can also be adapted to make a softer grip on a wooden handle, but there are few things sold for this specific purpose.  A cracked handle can be glued and screwed for a repair, but it can create additional problems if improperly done. When a handle breaks or becomes dangerous, replacement handles are available for most common tools. It may take a little woodworking skill to get the handle to fit tightly and properly but it will be a lot cheaper than buying a new tool that doesn’t feel right in your hands.

 

The working end of most tools is usually steel or iron with teeth (rakes and cultivators) or sharp edges (hoes and spades). The sharp edges can easily be kept in good working order with a flat file. A couple of swipes across the edges periodically can make hoeing or digging a much easier job. A bucket filled with sand and used motor oil is also handy. Plunging the teeth or edges into will the sand will help prevent rusting.

 

The upper steel part of a rake or hoe joins with the handle. These parts were probably painted when new. After time, they begin to rust. A little elbow grease with a wire brush or coarse steel wool can remove most of the rust so that a spray paint for metal will adhere and provide both protection and a pretty color. All tools are intended to do a job. Most do the job decently and will last a long time. In order to ensure this, a little light maintenance and care can keep a tool working effectively and efficiently.