Best Hand Tools

Charly · #1 09/30/11, 11:06 AM

Ok folks, recently you were kind enough to steer us in the right direction on a weed eater - much thanks. Now we are wanting to get our non-electric/non-gas tools in order. Would you please be kind enough to recommend your favorite hand tools, garden tools, etc. and to please name brands if you can. I'm thinking a good garden shovel, scythe, etc. Help me think what I'm missing in my preps here and the best of them. I want good life-long tools. Much thanks.

DaleK · #2 09/30/11, 11:14 AM

Buy used. Flea markets or auctions. I have a guy near me who resells antique tools and hardware and I get almost everything from him. Just be careful that you're getting something old enough to be quality and not just 10 year old junk that's been left out in the rain.

oth47 · #3 09/30/11, 11:21 AM

I haunt the antique stores and flea markets for my tools,I don't buy new if I can find it used.And the tools that I've gathered up will outlast me,and no money to China or Mexico.

wes917 · #4 09/30/11, 11:34 AM

My favorite hand tools are snap one. They are pricey but I'm a firm believer in getting the best tools that you can afford.

Horseyrider · #5 09/30/11, 02:03 PM

For hand tools I have to agree with DaleK. The best shovels, forks, cultivators, and the like are ones I've gotten from antique stores and estate auctions. They've already stood the test of time, are almost always American made, and the original type of recycling. I have garden tools that belonged to my husband's great aunt, who was born in the late 1800s, and they work beautifully. Great balance and easy in the hand, and they clean up well too.

fishhead · #6 09/30/11, 03:43 PM

Get a couple of different sized gimlets. They are really handy for starting holes.

TNHermit · #7 09/30/11, 04:08 PM

GO to

https://www.leevalley.com/US/home/CatalogSelect.aspxand

order all three catalogs. Good People even if Canadian

you will spend enough in gas running around looking for stuff as it takes to afford their stuff

Don't kid yourself good old tools are expensive. Trust me

Capt Quirk · #8 09/30/11, 04:11 PM

Hand augers and bits are a must for no power. Also look into different styles of draw knives. These are good for not only barking logs, but planing too.

Silvercreek Farmer · #9 09/30/11, 04:36 PM

A good spading fork is nice for gardening, seems to work better than a shovel...

TNHermit · #10 09/30/11, 04:43 PM

IF your looking for books on how and what to use them for get Eric Sloanes Books.

http://www.ericsloane.com/

HermitJohn · #11 09/30/11, 04:44 PM

Antique tools from back when people actually used hand tools on a regular basis and didnt have time for junk tools that dont work properly. Tools without handles are nearly give away at farm auctions unless somebody is buying them to make craft items (pictures painted on saw blades and that sort of thing).

Used high dollar imported yuppie garden tools at garage sale bargain basement prices.

And homemade tools. If you weld then its ridiculously easy to design and make tools from scrap such as worn out blades and such from old ag equipment or salvaged lengths of leaf spring from old cars and trucks, that sort of thing. Tubing salvaged from old bicycle frames makes great strong light weight handles.

If looking at auctions or garage sales look for tools with solid socket for handle. If its open on back (can see bottom of wood handle sticking down in little open pocket) and not solid one piece handle socket, then its a cheapy. Oh and spading forks you want one with solid socket for handle, not handle driven over a short "prong" with sheet metal around bottom of handle to hold it together. And you want square tines, not flat tines. Some shovel and spade heads can be vastly improved with just bit of scrap and judicious use of welder.

**clovis** · #12 09/30/11, 05:05 PM

My tools are a mix of brand new Craftsman and high quality used tools.

A brace and a good set of bits are among my favorite tools. When you buy a brace, usually $2 to $5 usually, buy a few screwdriver bits on ebay. The amount of torque you can get with an old brace is pretty incredible.

As for brace bits, most people will laugh, but rusty bits will work fine if you find them cheap. Sure, I have a NICE set of high quality bits, but I usually reach for my old rusty ones. As long as the lead screw and cutting blade parts are good, they will cut just fine.

I do like high quality long handled tools too, and my best ones have been bought used at estate auctions.

I do attend 2 or 3 auctions a week, so YMMV on finding stuff you want.

OldNight · #13 09/30/11, 06:18 PM

For scythes I would recommend the European style - their design is way better. If you can find them used you could get one made by Hand and Foot tool company (made in VT, but now out of business). If you're really interested in learning to scythe properly then I would recommend "The Scythe Book" by David Tresemer, but there are also good resources online - like Youtube.

Buy quality if you can, Lee Valley is pricey and their shipping is very high, but I like their tools.

Johnny's Selected Seeds: http://www.johnnyseeds.com/ has good quality stuff too, although I've only used their broadfork.

willowworker · #14 09/30/11, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNHermit

IF your looking for books on how and what to use them for get Eric Sloanes Books.

http://www.ericsloane.com/

Eric Sloane.....awesome books to have.

TNH.....you do beautiful woodworking......

Danaus29 · #15 09/30/11, 08:16 PM

The best hand trowels I have ever owned (and I have owned a lot of them) are made by Wilcox:
http://wilcoxallpro.com/wilcox3_tools.html