Maintaining and keeping hand tools in good condition.

New inventions of hand tools is not a new concept and humans have been designing and inventing new and innovative hand tool designs for centuries and still are. There are new and different varieties of hand tools on the market all the time and although the design and function of hand tools remains more or less the same, decorative designs and colour choices change all the time. There are many hand tool sets that are designed specifically for females and males and even children in order to encourage them to get out and about in the garden.

When looking for hand tools the most important aspect is quality, this doesn’t mean that you have to spend a small fortune in order to have good tools but it does mean shopping around and choosing the correct ones. If your hand tools are taken care of and stored correctly when they are not being used, there is no reason why they will not last for years to come. In fact more hand tools are spoilt and ruined these days through not storing them properly, rust and contamination which will all render your tools useless.

Hand tools made from forged metal are generally stronger and will last longer and the handle of the hand tool is also important. A handle made from reinforced resin will also prove to be stronger and hence last longer. Another important aspect is to choose hand tools and tools in general that are the correct length for the height of the person. If you are shopping for yourself, this proves easy as you can measure the height of the tool and purchase one that is the correct length.
Purchasing hand tools that have bright colours is also another important aspect, this may seem trivial but once we have used our hand tools, we tend to leave them somewhere random in the garden and when we come to use them again, we simply can’t find them. Hand tools can be damaged by mowers and can rust whilst left out in the rain.

Hand tools will last a lifetime provided they are of a good quality and they are looked after and maintained. Home owners spend a fortune replacing lost or damages hand tools over the years simply because they have left them out in the elements or have simply lost them. Cleaning you hand tools and storing them correctly will not only save you money but will keep your tools working and in good order.

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Cleaning, maintaining and sharpening Garden hand tools.

Summer is almost upon us and thoughts turn to digging out our old tools or replacing new and worn ones. We can almost forget where we have left them, maybe in an old shed or the garage and when we find them again, they may not be in the working order they originally were. All too often we end up replacing hand tools and buying new ones but in fact if you take proper care, your hand tools can last the test of time. The most important factor is to make sure you select and choose carefully when buying hand tools. Make sure you take the time to look at what is available on the market and depending on your budget, always try and buy good quality tools that are comfortable to use and of a good quality.

The key to maintaining your tools is cleaning and storage after use, especially over the winter period when they are not likely to be used. Many home owners leave tools outside after use and hedge trimmers are a popular tool to leave outside in the garden which will ultimately blunt the blades and render them unusable.  When we come to find them again, they are likely to have rusted a little and the blade will be ineffective leaving us very frustrated. Hand tools need to be cleaned after use and then put away safely for the next time they are required. Tools should always be stored off the floor in order to reduce the amount of damp and if they can’t be stored off the ground then place them on plastic which will help reduce the amount of damp absorbed.

Many hand tools will become blunt over time but they can be successfully sharpened again in order to make them effective. Spades, forks hedge trimmers and trowels can all be sharpened effectively but all guidelines should be followed and any safety wear needed should be fully worn before you begin any sharpening task.
All rust must be removed from any tools before sharpening and you can use steel wool to do this, you also need to file down any chips and gouges in order to create a smooth surface. Honing stones and oil stones are really good at sharpening prunes and shears and for heavy duty equipment such as spades and shovels, files can be used.  There are many different types of files and it is important you use the correct one for the equipment you are using but a round mill file is a good tool to use for heavy duty equipment.

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