Quality Gardening Tools

[NoTrespassing]

Hey All,

Is it possible to purchase quality garden tools in the USA? I'm talking about shovels, hoes, rakes, etc.

Last year I bought two garden hoes and both are made from junk steel that won't hold an edge or even take one for that matter. The same is true with the shovel I bought this year. I'm to the point where I think I need to check out estate sales and buy some tools that are at least 40 years old. I remember my dad sharpening tools that would hold an edge all summer.

Kevin

 

[/pine]

AMES may not be the best but they are not junk either IMO...

AMES | Tools For Landscape & Garden Around The Home

 

[Jstpssng]

Just because it says "Made in USA" doesn't mean that it's good quality. I bought a digging spade which I really liked at the local surplus/salvage store (Marden's, for anybody familiar with Maine.) I let somebody use it and she insisted that I gave it to her, so I spent about 3 times as much to replace it with a USA brand with a lifetime warrantee... the first time that I used the thing I folded the blade. Then the pins in the fiberglass handle loosened up so the D handle was floppy. Last week I was setting property line cornerposts with a coworker when mentioned that it would be a great shovel for cleaning lags on his excavator... at the end of the day I put it in the back of his truck.

So to repeat the OP's question; where can I buy a decent digging spade, preferably USA made? (Actually the Ames spade from the link above me might be worth looking into... if I can find one.)

 

[Alan W.]

Ive had some name brands fold the blade also. Will never buy another “premium” fiberglass handled shovel. I have already replaced all those handles with wood due to breakage.

I have a large hoe that was made in Austria and it holds an edge excellent and its about 30 years old.

While looking at the shovels stand on the blade and see how much flex there is when you put pressure on the handle.

 

[5030]

Ames and Fiskars and Corona for me. (not Corona Virus or beer either.:laughing:

 

[om21braz]

You might check out this place:

Lehman's Hardware Store | Order Online

 

[i7win7]

Lowes - Kobalt brand looks solid point of origin unknown

 

[SEKhobbyist]

We've had good luck with Razorback brand from Tractor Supply.

 

[Jstpssng]

We've had good luck with Razorback brand from Tractor Supply.

They didn't list the shovel that I want but Grainger's did.
It looks a lot more rugged than the True Temper I just ordered, to be sent to my local hardware store. When I break that, I probably will stop wasting my money on junk and buy this. RAZOR-BACK Landscaper Spade, 26 In Handle, 7 In Blade - 13F612'|'24517 - Grainger

 

[dlctcg]

If your going to look at RazorBack you might want to check one these companies for pricing:

A. M. Leonard
RazorBack All Steel Spade with 15in Blade | A.M. Leonard, Inc.

Gempler's
All-Steel Spade — Gempler's

Might want to check them for other quality hand tool too... I have dealt with both in the past with good results....

 

[MF2604h]

I have a Razorback Shovel with the fiberglass handle. Very strong and rugged. I have a lawn care and landscaping business so I use it all the time. I can jump on it and put it through roots. I got mine from Home Depot. It cost a little more but well worth it.

 

[CADplans]

I will never buy a wood handled tool,, of any sort,,

only fiberglass for me,,

 

[Ford850]

You might check out this place:

Lehman's Hardware Store | Order Online

I have a couple of their Amish made hoes. They have high quality thin blades that slice the soil easily for weeding.

 

[Doofy]

I dislike all manual labor tools and that is why I bought a TLB.

 

[buck12]

Ames and Fiskars and Corona for me. (not Corona Virus or beer either.:laughing:

Fiskars makes great stuff. I have one of their pole pruners, axe, extendable limb saw, several of the loppers, and my wife has several of the hand pruners. All quality tools. Do they make hoes, shovels, etc.?

 

[buck12]

Lowes - Kobalt brand looks solid point of origin unknown

Just last week, my BIL was helping me with a trenching project. He had a Kobalt shovel and it really felt like a quality tool.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Hmmm. Almost every hand garden tool I have is probably 50 to 100 years old. I have picked them up at flea markets, inherited from my Dad, found on road dead or left by visiting plumbers. I have a couple of fiberglass handled manure forks (yeah, the first one is broken) and a mattock I bought maybe 30 years ago. I even have an old Yo-Yo and a grubbin' hoe I got from my Dad. The old garden hoe I have is well worn, and was that way when I got it 50 or so years ago. My old double bladed axe handle (that I replaced) was stamped "Western Auto". It was a gift from a co-worker about 1975; he was using it too close to a close line, and ended up almost decapitating himself.

 

[Spindifferent]

These are the absolute best tools I've ever used:

Gardening | Rogue Hoe Distributing, LLC

HIGHLY recommend and worth every penny!

 

[4570Man]

I dislike all manual labor tools and that is why I bought a TLB.

Same here. I still end up doing a little shoveling but I’ve found the ace hardware brand tools to be pretty decent for the amount I use them. Someone mentioned Kobalt brand being good. I guess they’re sturdy but the steel handle is too heavy. I’d rather have a wood handle anytime.

 

[Oaktree]

So to repeat the OP's question; where can I buy a decent digging spade, preferably USA made? (Actually the Ames spade from the link above me might be worth looking into... if I can find one.)

Do you have an Agway near you? I've had good luck with shovels, rakes, hoes, etc. from there.