Tools, tools, tools and yet more tools...

[alp]

Yesterday, we started off with a spade and a fork, then we need secateurs, edgers, rake, .. mallet.. In the end, we had to make several trips to retrieve all the tools.

What is the maximum number of tools you have in one shift of gardening please?
What is your most important tool please?
How do you organise your tools please, in a tray, in a tool belt or a wheelbarrow?

One of my secateurs ended up in the incinerator ! Which precious tool(s) have you lost and what foolproof method have you adopted to prevent such loss(es) please?

 

[DirtMechanic]

A lot of tools hang on the garage walls. More in the sheds. My most important tools may be my sharpeners and grinders without which even my shovels would become harder to use.

 

[Colin]

Hi,

Excellent question alp. My favourite tool is a pot of decaf tea because I'm on strike without this and nothing gets done; a bun or biscuit with the tea is sure to speed things up a bit.

I think I'm like most guys when it comes to tools; I like all mine from hand tools up to the big machinery and I delight in using them all. I like my lathes both for wood/metal and although I now only own three lathes I used to own five. My oil filled arc welder (Oxford) is a joy to use; I don't often use my routers but when I need them I need them badly; I've got five routers two of the big ones shown below sitting on another nice machine it being the DeWalt radial arm saw; I have all manner of saws and a thickness planer; an expensive Shopsmith (American) multifunction woodworking machine and two woodworking bandsaws plus a metal cutting bandsaw. I have specialist tools which are seldom used like my biscuit jointer; big SDS drill and Fein Multimaster; I've got so many I would be here ages listing them all.

For gardening I have the regular hand tools; barrow and sack carts; I also have a 20" petrol chain saw; petrol mower; petrol hedge trimmer and petrol rotavator; I recently bought a very nice cordless Makita hedge trimmer that I haven't yet used.

I love our Skoda Yeti SEL because it converts into a decent sized van allowing me to collect machinery and tools plus materials I buy.

I'm fastidious with my tools; all have to be sharp and in top condition and everyone of them has its own place; power tools and machinery I fully service; an oil can is a huge asset but seldom used by what I see when I buy old machines.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[alp]

My favourite tool is a pot of decaf tea because I'm on strike without this and nothing gets done; a bun or biscuit with the tea is sure to speed things up a bit.

Quite right too, tool! I am having one now. Went out to take 6 photos and had to dash back as it was too cold. Briliant tool, I agree. Thought I never have had any biscuits to go with me tea!

 

[alp]

View attachment 32439 A lot of tools hang on the garage walls. More in the sheds. My most important tools may be my sharpeners and grinders without which even my shovels would become harder to use.

Tools are everywhere. Mower in the garage. In fact, 2. aerators (free) x2 and I am not even a man! very neat, @DirtMechanic

 

[MaryMary]

Usually I am using my shovel, trowel, and ... what is that thing called? I call it a "garden claw," (or maybe a fork...) but I'm sure it has a real name.

What is that called?



Every time I go to the store, I look at a laundry basket on wheels. I think it would be good for hauling garden stuff around the yard. It's tall enough to hold a shovel and rake.

I also think it would be nice to take fishing. It would fit my folding chair and tackle box and a couple poles. I just don't think it would do well in grass.

This is not the one I'm looking at, but it's a lot like this:

I'm thinking it might need modified. I'm going to show it to my "Master of Modifications" the next time we're at the store together. If it's possible to fit it with different wheels, (maybe the ones from an old lawn mower would work?) then I might get it!!

 

[alp]

I actually bought a little organiser, but just how do you put a fork or spade into it?

 

[Perki]

To many to name sheds full, most of them are my dad tools. multi of everything you could possible need. must be 8 - 10 spades maybe even more. I'll not mention the lawnmowers.

 

[marlingardener]

We have tools, mostly duplicates, hanging in both the shed (for use in flower beds) and in the barn (for use in the vegetable gardens). Saves me a lot of back-and-forthing to get tools.
Most important? I think my long handled, four tine cultivator. It is narrow enough to get between plants, and large enough to weed rows. It has a wooden handle which is easier on the hands. I just can't abide the fiberglass handles. Next most important would be my garden knife. It's a cheap knife that for some reason will hold an edge. I painted a red band around the handle because I tend to lay it down and forget where.
Most tools hauled out to do a gardening job? When planting the vegetable garden I have my trusty cultivator, a pair of scissors to cut open seed packets, a hoe, and a "refreshing drink".

 

[Colin]

Hi,

Usually I am using my shovel, trowel, and ... what is that thing called? I call it a "garden claw," (or maybe a fork...) but I'm sure it has a real name.

What is that called?



Every time I go to the store, I look at a laundry basket on wheels. I think it would be good for hauling garden stuff around the yard. It's tall enough to hold a shovel and rake.

I also think it would be nice to take fishing. It would fit my folding chair and tackle box and a couple poles. I just don't think it would do well in grass.

This is not the one I'm looking at, but it's a lot like this:

I'm thinking it might need modified. I'm going to show it to my "Master of Modifications" the next time we're at the store together. If it's possible to fit it with different wheels, (maybe the ones from an old lawn mower would work?) then I might get it!!

Garden hand cultivating tool?

I'm cheeky Mary in that I use one of our council wheelie bins to cart stuff around in; when I fell a big tree the logs are heavy so I carry the logs to the patio and dump them in a wheelie bin to wheel them down to our driveway saving lots of heavy work; this saves dragging the wheelbarrow from the shed?

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[alp]

Hi,



Garden hand cultivating tool?

I'm cheeky Mary in that I use one of our council wheelie bins to cart stuff around in; when I fell a big tree the logs are heavy so I carry the logs to the patio and dump them in a wheelie bin to wheel them down to our driveway saving lots of heavy work; this saves dragging the wheelbarrow from the shed?

Kind regards, Colin.

That, actually, is a good idea! Where can you get something big enough to accommodate a fork or a spade? I have 2 pathetic organisers, but they are just too small for any hoe, fork or spade. I so want to have a hoe. Next on my hit list!

 

[alp]

Hi,



Garden hand cultivating tool?

I'm cheeky Mary in that I use one of our council wheelie bins to cart stuff around in; when I fell a big tree the logs are heavy so I carry the logs to the patio and dump them in a wheelie bin to wheel them down to our driveway saving lots of heavy work; this saves dragging the wheelbarrow from the shed?

Kind regards, Colin.

@MaryMary council wheelie bins

Not a pretty sight. In my son's ex uni, situated in the garden of south England, Canterbury, all the houses were fronted by these monstrosities .. I nearly burst into tears!

 

[Colin]

Hi,

Thanks alp for the wheelie bin pictures. We have two supplied by the council; grey for general rubbish green for recycling; I'm colour blind and both look alike to me. Each bin is emptied every two weeks so in effect one bin per week gets emptied; I just pick the bin with least in it and empty the contents if I need to use the bin to move anything around; things like logs and stones are easy to move around and these bins hold a lot; it beats dropping logs or stones onto toes.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[alp]

Hi,

Thanks alp for the wheelie bin pictures. We have two supplied by the council; grey for general rubbish green for recycling; I'm colour blind and both look alike to me. Each bin is emptied every two weeks so in effect one bin per week gets emptied; I just pick the bin with least in it and empty the contents if I need to use the bin to move anything around; things like logs and stones are easy to move around and these bins hold a lot; it beats dropping logs or stones onto toes.

Kind regards, Colin.

Good idea! Can't blame you. We're still using bags. Thank heavens! I really don't like the bin business.

 

[Colin]

Hi,

We used bin bags for years alp and at first I didn't like the wheelie bin idea but after trying it wheelie bins are pretty good on a number of fronts; animals cannot shred the bins the way they used to shred the bags leaving a mess behind them; bins don't attract rodents the way the bags did and the way life is going these days the council workers are more protected from druggies dumping needlers into bags? I can be cheeky and use one of our bins for my own needs as a large wheeled container.

It's very steep here on the valley side; our driveway is located to the bungalow front; if I need to move anything from the driveway up into the rear garden I have to either carry or wheel it and the same of course if I need to move anything down to the driveway. Many times I've felled big trees in the rear garden and the wheelie bin has been most useful in moving the logs; I can use the wheelie bin as well for wheeling items such as bags of aggregate around; I have a wheelbarrow and two sack carts but I can do the job quicker using a wheelie bin because the bin is outside ready to go? I can think of lots of things that need wheeling around in a garden; bags of compost; stones; bricks; aggregates; the bin can be laid down to roll heavy stones into it; I've just taken our wheelie bins for granted but I'd miss them if they were no longer here. I don't abuse the wheelie bins or damage them in any way; our waste is in pedal bin bags so if I need to use the wheelie bin I just lift out the bags and replace them after using the bin; I've got two useful helpers.

The downside of wheelie bins is they are ugly and big but I made a parking space for ours out of direct sight at the bungalow side; a couple of times a year I wash the bins out. Wheelie bins are generally disliked because they are merely receptacles for rubbish but I look at our wheelie bins differently.

The sun is shining at the moment but please note the wet path and patio which are seldom dry.

Kind regards, Colin.