|
 Your
Best Garden Tools – How
to Keep them In Great
Shape
By Dan Fenstemaker,
Inventor of the Original
INTELETOOL
The best garden tools
are the best taken care
of garden tools. Just
spending a few extra
moments cleaning and
protecting your tools
after using them or
before you store them
will keep them lasting
for years. Here are some
easy ways to care for
your tools.
Removing and
Protecting Tools from
Rust
1. Keep your tools dirt
and dust free. Dirt and
dust can hold or attract
moisture, which will
eventually lead to rust.
2. Store your tools in a
dry place. Keeping tools
in a drawer or toolbox
is great, and you can
also place a can of
silica gel in tool
drawers or boxes that
creates a protective
layer on metal surfaces.
3. Storing tools in a
damp basement will lead
to rusting, so use a
humidifier to remove
moisture from the air.
4. Spraying your tools
with a light coating of
WD-40, or another
penetrating lubricant,
and then rubbing metal
surfaces with a Scotch-Brite
pad will remove rust.
Don’t use abrasive
surfaces like sand
paper, because it can
scratch the metal.
Degreasing and
Protecting
If, for some reason, you
have grease on your
garden tools, mineral
spirits will remove it.
Simply rub mineral
spirits on with a soft
cloth and remove.
For wooden handles,
linseed oil has
traditionally been used.
Linseed oil protects
against moisture and
also forms a protective
coating on the wood.
Cleaning and Shining
A neat trick to remove
rust, dirt, and other
build up is to fill a
bucket with sand and
make it deep enough to
cover the length of your
tools’ metal surface.
Mix in vegetable oil or
WD-40 until the sand is
moist.
Plunge your tools into
the sand several times
and you will see the
sand and oil remove
corrosion and other
build up. You can also
leave your tools
submerge in the sand all
winter long, especially
if they will be in a
wet, humid environment.
The oils will keep your
tools from rusting.
Storage
Throwing your tools in a
pile or piling them in a
bucket can knick
surfaces and take the
edges off your tools. It
is better to lay them
out on a shelf, hang
them, or store them in a
tool drawer. You can
also purchase matting
that grips your tools
and keeps them from
moving inside the
drawer.
---
Dan Fenstemaker is a
best garden tools
expert. For more great
information on
best garden tools, visit
http://www.inteletool.com. |
