Caring for Your Tools

**sanderson** 12/4/2018, 1:41 am

This article was posted on the FB page, My Job Depends on Ag. This is a good time to go through all of your tools and make sure they are cleaned, sharpened and oiled. That includes me!! https://ucanr.edu/sites/placernevadasmallfarms/?blogpost=28798&blogasset=21700&fbclid=IwAR2_Z48_WHvSxJ7WQQuAeocvWgCj0rAiUwh5CB46o3cputDb2vR9D26wx_g

has55 12/4/2018, 9:46 am

Thank you Sanderson for the article! I'm one who doesn't know how to take care of my tools, esp sharpening. I'll admit I haven't tried to find out to do it since youtube is readily available or the internet.

**sanderson** 12/4/2018, 2:48 pm

My tools are the hand tools (SFG) and the manure fork. It's time I do a good cleaning, including sharpening and oiling. I have a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol for the pruners as they are used on both the veggies and landscape such as roses and bushes.

Pruning shears: For a thorough cleaning I use hot water and Dawn with a brush or SOS pad. Hot rinse and dry. Sharpening stone on the angle part of the by-passing blade. For quick cleaning, I spray with alcohol.

It may start raining again so maybe I should hop to it today. There is a 5-gallon bucket of hand tools calling for me. Embarassed

**trolleydriver** 12/4/2018, 2:58 pm

You mean we are supposed to clean and care for our tools. I am afraid mine a very neglected. Thankfully most are put away now for the Winter so out of sight out of mind. Very Happy

**sanderson** 12/4/2018, 3:14 pm

The bucket of tools is handy on the back porch and during the summer, I tend to get a little neglectful. Embarassed

has55 12/6/2018, 10:19 am

sanderson wrote: The bucket of tools is handy on the back porch and during the summer, I tend to get a little neglectful.

I like the 5-gallon storage idea. I'll give it a try.

OhioGardener 12/6/2018, 12:35 pm

I have a old metal 5-gallon bucket filled with oily sand. After using the shovel, spade, hand trowel, hoe, bulb planter, etc., I push it in and out of the sand sever times to clean it and then put it back on the rack where it belongs. Cleans the dirt off, and prevents rust from forming. Been using it for years, and it still does its job.

has55 12/7/2018, 5:29 pm

OhioGardener wrote:I have a old metal 5-gallon bucket filled with oily sand. After using the shovel, spade, hand trowel, hoe, bulb planter, etc., I push it in and out of the sand sever times to clean it and then put it back on the rack where it belongs. Cleans the dirt off, and prevents rust from forming. Been using it for years, and it still does its job.

great to know. what kind of sand and oil?

OhioGardener 12/7/2018, 5:39 pm

has55 wrote:
great to know. what kind of sand and oil?

I used builders sand that I picked up a broken bag of at Lowe's, and used motor oil from when I changed the oil in one of my vehicles - it happened to be synthetic oil, but that wouldn't make much difference.

**sanderson** 12/9/2018, 1:34 pm

I finally cleaned and sharpened the tools! Hot water and Dawn, with a steel Brillo pad on the blades to remove sticky sap and rust build up. Snip, snip. They work so well now when they are clean and sharp. Duh.

**Kelejan** 12/15/2018, 5:17 pm

trolleydriver wrote:You mean we are supposed to clean and care for our tools. I am afraid mine a very neglected. Thankfully most are put away now for the Winter so out of sight out of mind.

TD. Tut! Tut! Very Happy

OhioGardener 12/15/2018, 5:52 pm

**Scorpio Rising** 12/15/2018, 7:15 pm

After washing, I am a big WD 40 fan. All over everything.

**sanderson** 12/21/2018, 3:06 pm

SR, You and my husband! Razz

countrynaturals 5/10/2019, 11:07 pm

Bump!

**sanderson** 5/15/2019, 1:47 am

It was just December when I cleaned everything. Shocked

Now I have to do it all over.

**Kelejan** 5/15/2019, 2:09 am

sanderson wrote:It was just December when I cleaned everything. Now I have to do it all over.

Just like housework sanderson; it always needs doing. But you cannot complain that is five months since you did it. Now let the housework for five months......and see what it looks like.

In a few days I will get that nice bucket that I had filled with sand, place some oil in it and start cleaning my tools. Then they will be much easier to clean and store away in the winter.

**sanderson** 5/15/2019, 2:24 am

Putting it in housework terms, 5 months isn't that bad. Razz

**Kelejan** 5/15/2019, 2:26 am

sanderson wrote:Putting it in housework terms, 5 months isn't that bad.

I agree, sanderson, Very Happy

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