Allotments 4 All
General => The Shed => Topic started by: Jeannine on May 23, 2007, 19:30:17
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I need to buy a really good hoe for weeds, I would like one that I can get very sharp, any suggestions please. Ease of use is much more important than cost. XXJeannine
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I don't even know HOW to hoe, but I know I need one so will be looking at this with interest.
;D
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What is the Wolf push and pull like
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Kitchen Garden May mag rates Swoe, Lite-Lift and Joseph Bentley Dutch Hoe and wimmin were particularly keen on the Swoe and Lite Lift.
;D
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It's cheaper to buy a file and sharpen your own hoe. Sh!tty as it may be.
So much of gardening is a rip off nowadays.
PS please forgive me. I'm a liverpool fan and we just lost.
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I have always recommended the Wolf Push-Pull.
With the long handle. I can clear an area 2sq/m from the same position with very few strokes.
For inter-row hoeing it's great because, if you pull, you can't cut the plants down.
It takes a keen edge.
I mostly pull - far less effort than pushing.
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Thanks Tim, It is the one I had almost decided on and appreciate your confirmation,could you also tell me if you suggest any of the other attachments too.
I have been told it sharpens itself??
XX Jeannine
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1. I do have the large & small Draw Hoe heads. The small one I use without the handle for inter-plant work.
2. No way!!
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Tim, being a simple soul and even simple instructions take time to penetrate the grey cells, does "No Way" mean, "Yes way" (like the sales blurb says) or "not a chance, you still have to sharpen" ??
::)
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Tim, the company ad I read says it sharpens itself which I thought was good as the blades are serrated and I was trying to think how I would sharpen them , so now I am unsure again. Do you manage to sharpen them, can you share with me how please? XX Jeannine
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If this is the one, Jeannine, the 'serrations' are 'wavy'- I use an old fashioned 'stone' that I use for my scythe & sickles.
Self-sharpening, KP? I need convincing. If you could make a self-sharpening knife, you could make your fortune?? I still sharpen as often as I sharpen my spade.
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Thanks Tim, I am going to go for it, XX Jeannine
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DUCK!!!
My bigger Draw Hoe, of course, is mainly for ridging potatoes.
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Yes I was going to get that one too. XX Jeannine
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I'd like to interupt this thread if I may and ask Tim for his advice!
When you sharpen a hoe with a stone how do you do it? Do you drag the stone bag and forth over the edge of the hoe? Do you sharpen it as much as a knife??
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I've never been much good even sharpening knives either lol, so are we drawing the stone from underneath the cutting surface upwards or doing both sides of the "blade".
The next lesson i need, is how to hoe .... really I have very little idea. I know "push pull" should give me a clue, but I'd like to have some idea before I get on the plot and look a real ignoramus ! :-[
and Jeannine, what handle are you getting ??
???
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Oh, dearie me!! I'm not the sharpening guru, but I'll try - my way!!
With the serrated edge hoe, I use the 'stone' as shown, aiming for a 39 deg slope - greater than a knife because it's got to cope with stones. Just push it back & forth. I could, equally, use a round metal file - diamond or steel.
With the scythe, sickle or billhook, I use a swishing wrist movement, like tossing something out of the car window (!), still at 30 deg to the edge.
In all cases,I then gently wipe off the 'burr' from the other side.
As to hoeing, I don't know whether I am 'correct' but, with the 'push-pull' thing, I prefer to slide it out to it's full extremity, drop my hand to cive a cutting angle & pull gently in. It's the least tiring way. Yes, there are occasions where you have to 'stab' as well.
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I think I'm getting the picture! :P
I see lot of frantic "push chopping" going on around me.
And how often does one have to sharpen (I know that is like asking how long is a piece of string in that it would largely depend on how often you used the tool) but ... once a week/month/season (and I KNOW the answer will not be the third option). :P
Also I see there are two widths of the push pull Wolf. 10cm and 15cm. How big is yours tim ? :P I'm thinking a 10cm would be better for my (hopefully will be by the end of the season raised) beds.
I've not got a lot of space so the 15cm would be overkill ? (good thinking or wide of the mark ?).
;D
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Can't answer that - ours is 15cm, which is fine for the wide open spaces & for standard row spacings! Maybe the wee one would suit a small bed better? And you could use it without the handle for intricate work?
The thoughts in my last post were, of course, with bigger areas in mind, & with seedlings rather than established weeds - they're a different matter - weeding, not hoeing!
How often? once a year? Or when it doesn't cut!
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How often? once a year? Or when it doesn't cut!
(http://img116.exs.cx/img116/1231/z7shysterical.gif) fair enough !
Thanks so much for letting me bounce my ideas off you tim !
It really helps to find out what everyone else does. I think the smaller one would suit me OK (smallish beds, smallish plot, smallish me). Now just to figure out which of the miriad of handles to choose!
;D
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Can only see 2 handles - 1 & 1.4m? For beds, the shorter?
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there's telescopic ones, aluminium ones, wooden ones, short ones, long ones, extra handles for ones ............ the list is endless.
http://www.garden4less.co.uk/wolf-garden-multi-change-handles.asp (http://www.garden4less.co.uk/wolf-garden-multi-change-handles.asp)
;D
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tim - i hope you're on commission ;) ;D ;D ;D
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Oh, I was looking in another site!
I would think the 32cm one for beds? Ours is the 1.4m one.
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Sorry this is a bit off topic, but I read this post this morning and thought I can't wait to get my hoe in my hand again. That's got to be a good sign!! It's p****ing down outside though and I'm off to Dolphinton in 10 minutes. MAybe later.
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Sitting in my basket I have Large Draw hoe,Large Push Pull,120 Handle and 150 Handle....figuring handle lengths might suit us both. There was a 20% discount if you bought 4 things and free delivery total of £41.33.
Tim, the only last question I have for you,well I think, the above is for the aluminium handles, but I am unsure as to these versus wood?? Can you help just a little bit more. I was thinking weight for me .
XX Jeannine
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Don't know - your guess!!
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Glad to hear that, Grawcr- hope you get some good weather soon!
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Don't know - your guess!!
:o
call yourself a sales agent ?
keep me advised Jeannine. I was thinking wood, but then I'm a traditionalist ! Aluminium would be lighter though.
congrats grawrc, just remember those baby steps. you'll get there gal.
;D
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Hey come on Mrs KP, I thought we were in this together. Have you made up your mind yet.
Thanks Tim, you have been a angel with all my questions.
Grawrc, If you really really need to do some hoeing ,it has stopped raining in Hull,I think I could manage to share the job if you are having a real need. You take it easy, good to hear you thinking about your garden,and hoeing is good. XXX Jeannine
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I was just about to measure the broom handle, when I fell asleep.
I shall do it now.
;D
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... and thanks from me Tim for the advice on sharpening!! ;D
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OK, 120cm aluminium (1m makes me bend, 140cm and I've not enough control - and I am a control freak.
Now to find another head and handle. Am thinking the 32cm mini handle ........... and ............ the soil rake. Mine is very very old !
Right, let's go price it up.
;D
hmph, someone has got the small push pull in their cart and not checked out yet :-\ ..... Jeannine ???? :P I can't have it for another 2 hours !!!!
:-[
Just worked it out manually £32.53 with discount.
You decided yet ?
;D
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It's not me I have the big one in there, i will go and check to be sure
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Sitting in my basket I have Large Draw hoe,Large Push Pull,120 Handle and 150 Handle....figuring handle lengths might suit us both. There was a 20% discount if you bought 4 things and free delivery total of £41.33.
XX Jeannine
Which site did you get your prices from ? Are they any cheaper than Longacres (.co.uk) ?
Also, anyone know where I can get a winged hoe (shaped like a jet fighters wings) ?
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I've gone through check out, I didn't have anything in my cart, it had cleared itself, so I had to start again, John got involved too so we have bought both sizes and two handle sizes. He said he has a good draw hoe but he wanted push pull for himself.
I didn't get any trouble having to wait so they must clear their carts fairly quickly. POP back and look quick . XX Jeannine
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ray made me a hand one I can use when I'm kneeling :)
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Pesky there is a link on this post a few comments earlier, it is agood price, I have been looking all over.
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thought i'd put my purchases up on here, but it was obviously in the pm ! 8)
I got a 120cm aluminium handles, 32cm mini handle, 15cm push pull and rake head for £34.29.
The smaller push pull disappeared out of stock before i got my grubby mitts on it, but I'm sure the bigger one will be just fine and if I feel the need for an ickle one later, i'll get one then !
Can't wait for it to arrive so i can practice in the garden before trying out my skills in public ! lol
;D
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PhotographsXX
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Oh no ! That's private. :D and seeing as I'm the one that takes the pics, it'll be staying that way.
;D
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I was watching on old episode of GW on UKTV gardens last night. A chap on there swore by his "blade hoe" which seemed to work on a similar principle to the oush-pull one but the blade was much thinner. Anyone got one of these?
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I made my own, a stirrup hoe with a blade made of 1mm stainless steel. It is a fabulous weapon, and chops the weeds a treat ...
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=18171.20 (http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=18171.20)
Derek :)
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I'm dangerous with a Dutch hoe and don't get on too well so I'm thinking of making it a "sculpture" in my veggie patch along with a similar old fashioned 2 prong fork and a narrow spot weeder tool.
I love my Wolf push me -pull you head so much I bought a second so OH and I can both play at the same time. We have a selection of handle lengths from hand for close work on my knees, to waist high T bar for the half-moon, chest high straight handle for use with the pruning saw attachment in trees (and for Possum when she was shorter) and long for hoeing, raking, cultivating etc. I find the long wooden handle sits well in my hands but the long aluminium one is lighter.
We also have Wolf loppers and a fertiliser distributor dooberry (lawn weed and feed and so on) but my secateurs are trusty Felcos.
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Forgot to answer the question of wood or aluminium shaft.
Accepting the problems that folk have in lifting, I think it is fair to say that the wooden ones are best - because their weight does the work for you. Both in the drawing & push-pulling modes.
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The decision was made for me tim, they didn't do the wooden one in the length I wanted therefore I went for the aluminium one. I realise that I could have cut the top of the wooden one, but I didn't want to do that.
Waited for everyone to disappear tonight and had my first go at hoeing.
Thought I did ok. Seemed easy enough, like using an upright hoover (?) - ish ! and it definitely worked. However, I do think I need the smaller head, which I'll purchase when I can think of something else that I need to take me to free delivery (and when they've got it in stock).
How you getting on with yours Jeannine ???
;D
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Am loving this thread! Work mates would have their opinions of me confirmed if they knew I was avidly reading about hoes!
Just checked your blog KP...it looks great! Such a lot of hard work in a short time, you have done really well
;)
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Hi Mrs KP. I am doing fine with mine,much better than anything I have had before.
2 things though. We bought both sizes and two handles, one about a foot longer than the other,one for me and one for John......wrong.
I started with the smaller one and the shorter handle, within a few minutes I realised it was too short and swapped it for Johns. Next I tried the bigger head on the longer handle. Much better.
So the short one is at the back of the shed along with the shorter handle.
Ain't life funny !!!
XX Jeannine
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Am loving this thread! Work mates would have their opinions of me confirmed if they knew I was avidly reading about hoes!
Just checked your blog KP...it looks great! Such a lot of hard work in a short time, you have done really well
;)
Gasp !!!!! How blase have I got ? I planted things tonight and DIDN'T TAKE PHOTOS !!!!!! :o
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Hi Mrs KP. I am doing fine with mine,much better than anything I have had before.
2 things though. We bought both sizes and two handles, one about a foot longer than the other,one for me and one for John......wrong.
I started with the smaller one and the shorter handle, within a few minutes I realised it was too short and swapped it for Johns. Next I tried the bigger head on the longer handle. Much better.
So the short one is at the back of the shed along with the shorter handle.
Ain't life funny !!!
XX Jeannine
I must admit that I found myself stooping with the 120cm working as far away from me as I would a hoover. Once I'd straightened myself up, I found it unusual working so close ! Maybe with a bit of practice, I'll get used to it ! ;D
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Nah...John will have to learn to stoop.
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I really must apologise for being so tunnel-visioned on the push/pull hoe.
Here, & here http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,34483.0.html & probably elsewhere.
Virtually all my hoeing is in cultivated ground & the PP is great for that. But - come to ground that is trodden down, especially with tufty grass in it, then a Draw Hoe, & a heavy one at that, is a must for hacking into it.
And, of course, for earthing up.