Storing shovels, rakes, other garden tools??

[Beeman]

I have a lot of outdoor tools, shovels, rakes,hoes, picks, sledge hammers, etc. They generally end up leaning against a wall and falling over and becoming a tangle. I need suggestions on how you store and organize yours. Keep in mind we're not talking about 1 shovel or 1 rake, we're talking multiples of each and every kind.

[plowjockey]

Drill a hole cross-ways in the end of the tool handle, large enough to pass a sturdy nail.

Mount a board on the wall. then partially drive a nail to hang a tool, by the drilled hole.

Space the tools according, to maximize space use, such as hanging a shorter sledge hammer, between a longer shovel and rake.

Wipe the tool's metal parts with WD40 to prevent rust.

Marty

[Shrek]

To prevent handle warpage, I hang my tools from larriat loop ended twine tied to a rafter cross beam in my garden barn / carport.

The tool gets "lynched" at a point along the handle end so the tool head dangles about a foot from the ground to provide equal gravitational tension on the vegetable oil wiped down handle to keep it straight.

My "hang em high" tool gallows spaces the tools at about a foot apart from each other on 3 beams in the barn.

As the barn is open breezway'd and channels storm winds , to prevent tangle from "noose dancing", I added some landscape timbers to the floor with tie down twine stapled to it corresponding to each lynch string location so I can wrap the twine hitch rail style around the handle just above the tool end to keep them from dead man swinging and tangling up with the one hanging next to it while not straining the tool like a banjo string, which would negate the gravitational pull effectiveness of noose hanging to prevent handle warpage.

the lynch loop hangers and tie downs are an inexpensive and easy to use storage technique, proven over decades of use by Depression era and before farmers and gardeners.

[Faithful One]

Originally Posted by Shrek

To prevent handle warpage, I hang my tools from larriat loop ended twine tied to a rafter cross beam in my garden barn / carport.

The tool gets "lynched" at a point along the handle end so the tool head dangles about a foot from the ground to provide equal gravitational tension on the vegetable oil wiped down handle to keep it straight.

My "hang em high" tool gallows spaces the tools at about a foot apart from each other on 3 beams in the barn.

As the barn is open breezway'd and channels storm winds , to prevent tangle from "noose dancing", I added some landscape timbers to the floor with tie down twine stapled to it corresponding to each lynch string location so I can wrap the twine hitch rail style around the handle just above the tool end to keep them from dead man swinging and tangling up with the one hanging next to it while not straining the tool like a banjo string, which would negate the gravitational pull effectiveness of noose hanging to prevent handle warpage.

the lynch loop hangers and tie downs are an inexpensive and easy to use storage technique, proven over decades of use by Depression era and before farmers and gardeners.

Maintaining Southern tradition!

We just put a board across at about the 8ft mark and put two nails about 2-3" apart, the handle points down and the shovel snags between the two nails.

[Wisconsin Ann]

We, too, have rakes, etc., laying all over the place. I like the "hang em high" idea. I've seen a couple of farms where the handled tools are put in an open top barrel...handle down. kind of like spatulas in a kitchen tool holder. needs to be in a dry spot tho.

[Windy in Kansas]

Build an outhouse style of building and line it with tools toward the bottom and a row of them hanging along the top. Perhaps you already have the building which could be used.

Since you might spend a lot of time there you may wish to put in sharpening supplies there in storage as well.

[PyroDon]

I suggest linnseed oil over wd40 to prevent rust
It cures more like a varnish sealing the air and moisture out where wd 4o evaporates .
Linnseed oil also leave a nice chestnut finsh and you can use it on the handles as well

[meanwhile]

We have small "lean too" type shed on back of barn. We made wood frames on ground and the shovels set in one frame, the pitch forks in another. I do not like the heavy tools to be stored with sharp parts in the air, and so those set on the ground, but the lighter tools, like hoes, pointed hoe, rakes do set with ends up in the air. We have a board they prop against. We set the broken tool heads in one box for later repair and some hang on nails on the wall. Weed whackers go on nails on the wall.

Good luck

[Corky]

Lets see,
Have some hanging in the barn in the west end. The two nail system. Works great.
Have some in the east end of the barn. Same system.
Have some in the middle of the barn. Rake hanging from a cross beam and a couple of muck rakes leaning against the wall but most hanging.
Have a bunch standing in a plastic tool shed at the end of my vegtable garden.
Have some leaning against the greenhouse.
Have some in the shop.
Have some in a metal shed on the hill.
have some leaning against the back of the house under the eves.

And I am willing to bet I will run across some we accidently left in the woods or a field leaning against a tree.

WE ARE BAD!

[Minelson]

We use the 2 nail system and also have some kind of holder that you can buy at Home Depot. BUT...I have a hubby that doesn't know how to put things back so everything is anywhere...except for my stuff of course

[EDDIE BUCK]

If you have a shelter with open end eves, nail a 2x2 about 4ft from the end,to the rafters, all the way across shelter. Then just slide all the rakes shovels hoes or whatever through the end of the eves and resting on the 2x2 and the rafter joist. They will be protected from the weather and never in the way.

[shagerman]

55 gallon drum. and took a hole saw and cut holes all over the top. put inside my barn in the corner. works great and you can get holesaws for diffrent sizes, for diffrent things,