What tool do you find most useful on the farm for general use (besides tractor)?

[KevT]

It repels ticks, won't do anything for you once you are infected. There is a brand of camping/hiking clothing that has done this. It works at keeping insects at bay, I own several for kayak camping.

 

[wolc123]

Lately, the 3100 psi power washer I garbage picked a few weeks ago has been my favorite tool. I have used it almost every day since I got it running. The house is clean now, the deck, the driveway, the doors on the barn, even my old truck-camper looks good now. It sure makes quick work of cleaning mower decks, and mud from farm implements, tractors and atv's.. That little Honda 190 engine just starts and runs so smooth it is a pleasure to use. It is amazing how much work it does with so little water. And you sure can't beat the price - free. I cant wait to try it on some European skull mounts this fall.

 

[bullbreaker]

For me the "most useful" would hands down be a flat (nail/pry) bar...other than having the ability of gripping something like pliers or an adjustable wrench...a good quality "flat bar" will improvise for an array of common hand tools that are not always handy...i.e., hammer, screwdriver, nail,staple puller, scraper, roofing tool, putty knife, chisel, lever, wedge, etc...etc...they also make great digging/gardening tools...!

Though I "am currently "tractorless". My choise is/was very similar to / Pine's. I always had gloves , small crow bar , flat head screwdriver , and adjustable "metric" wrench close by . So my choise would be small crow bar .

 

[KiotiKowboy]

It repels ticks, won't do anything for you once you are infected. There is a brand of camping/hiking clothing that has done this. It works at keeping insects at bay, I own several for kayak camping.

Repels, yes. Also KILLS. Any tick that doesn't drop off is going to die.

Treating your own clothes is much cheaper than buying pre-treated. Also, buying the permethrin somwhere like a COOP or feed store is much less expensive than buying something like Sawyer brand ( a real rip off ).

As for the comment on a 2nd washing machine ... No. I do generally wash the treated clothing separately but it's really no big deal if it gets mixed.

Ticks may seem to be a minor nuisance to some - but once you get infected, your perception will change. The recent discoveries of Bourbon Virus and Heartland Virus show how serious a single bite can be. Some of these things have no treatment available.

 

[scaredychicken]

it is suspected that my wife may have lyme disease from a tick - her health has really suffered in the past year, and we know that it is more complicated than fibromyalgia alone, still undergoing testing. she had to give up bee keeping last year.

permethrin may be something to consider - thanks for all the info

back to my shovel

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

I think the best tool is the one between my ears, its great for coming up with ways to get things done in a safe manner. My next favorite would be a good set of Channel Locks.

 

[jix]

Doggone Right! Lyme disease is a completely serious chronic infection without a known cure. I have had it for twenty years, its effects are terrible... Pervasive and progressive muscular weakness... chronic fatigue. nerve destruction, mental distress...serious depression..desire to eat bullets. Do the permethrin clothes wash, by all means, tuck your pants into your socks, butyton you collar, use Revolution on your pets. Stay out of short brush near water.... be Very afraid of the deer tick around livestock.-------------

 

[SIMassey]

My vote is this:

Cotter pin puller.
View attachment 428562

I've used it on more stuff than I can count.
Always end up grabbing it when I need to get creative.

Pallet Jack!!! Anything that is stored on a concrete floor goes on a pallet. Things are never in the right place and always in the way, they can be moved easily with the pallet Jack. Best $200.00 I ever spent. Saves the back many times over.

 

[xcrider08]

Leatherman Wave and crescent wrench

 

[tcartwri]

Not a tool - but I won't work on the farm without it ... Permethrin. I soak all my clothing in this, a .5% (that's 1/2 of 1 percent) solution. 6 3/4 ounces of 10% permethrin mixes with 1 gallon of water. Treatment lasts about 6 washings. Buying in gallon jugs makes this cost very little. If you've ever contracted Lyme, Ehrlichia or some other tick borne problem, you'll understand.

I have a coworker who is now on permanent disability from Lyme. The doctors in Canada have no idea of the seriousness of this infection and he went undiagnosed for years. It has completely ruined his life. Marriage, job, house, health, all gone. He had to go to the States to get diagnosed and treated.