|
Post by desertwoman on Apr 27, 2023 9:02:01 GMT -5
Mine is still missing but I haven't given up on it. It here somewhere. I guess it needed a rest.
In the meantime I am using my mom's hand shovel, which I usually keep at the house in town.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Jun 6, 2023 22:49:43 GMT -5
I found it!! Buried in the compost pile since last Fall.
I started restoring it tonight, with '0' steel wool, which is what I have at the house. It's looking better, even got down to bare steel in some spots but I need stronger, for the tougher spots, so will go get '2' or '3' steel wool. That isn't just compost caked on that can be rinsed off. It is hardened on.
|
|
|
Post by gardendmpls on Jun 6, 2023 23:10:14 GMT -5
Congratulations. Hope it will be usable. Is there some king of finish you can put on the metal? The handle doesn't look too bad.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Jun 6, 2023 23:15:01 GMT -5
It will definitely be usable. I'll sand the handle and oil it and oil the metal once it is cleaned. I've had it 35 years, should last me the duration.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Jun 7, 2023 8:32:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by davidjp on Jun 7, 2023 8:57:32 GMT -5
Congrats on finding it, sure it will be good to go after some care. I’ve been using this for a few years and find it to be very good, seems to really cut into the soil well and being copper actually bronze doesn’t rust but forms a patina and should last me a lifetime www.gardenista.com/products/copper-hand-trowel/
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Jun 7, 2023 10:46:02 GMT -5
That's a gorgeous one! davidjp, If I hadn't found mine I'd be seriously considering it. But with 35 years in with mine I am going to do everything I can hoping to restore it so that it also lasts my lifetime.
|
|
|
Post by davidjp on Jun 7, 2023 11:04:42 GMT -5
desertwoman, much better to have something with a good history
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Jun 7, 2023 12:08:03 GMT -5
If you're up for it, I'd love to see a photo of your shovel with it's years of patina davidjp ,
|
|
|
Post by datgirl on Jun 7, 2023 16:50:49 GMT -5
glad you found it.
|
|
|
Post by davidjp on Jun 8, 2023 21:18:59 GMT -5
desertwoman , Here it is for what it’s worth Doesn’t look too bad, I do try to keep it clean. I like that it has quite a sharp edge and seems to cut into the soil well. There’s also a lot of rather dubious claims around it, like because it’s copper it doesn’t upset the soils electrical balance and that slugs hate it as it leaves copper behind. I think mainly to justify what is really a fairly expensive trowel made by Austrian coppersmiths. the Beech wood handle feels really very nice in the hand. Never will rust, probably a bit less strong than stainless steel but will not snap or break off but bend instead. Seems very maintenance free part from a quick wipe with a linseed oil rag on the handle once a year. I’ve only had mine for about 6 years so a long way to go to keep up with yours but seems remarkably sturdy Original Austrian website from the people who make them kupferspuren.at/en/
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Jun 8, 2023 23:05:36 GMT -5
That's a beauty. I love how it has aged. davidjp, I'm still working on mine . It's looking much better. I even used it this evening to plant one basil plant, just to give it a go and see how it feels. Probably one last round of a scrub and then will oil it. It looks like it has a history and a story to tell.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Jun 9, 2023 11:59:22 GMT -5
It looks like it has a history and a story to tell. The pitting is there to stay, but my old buddy is fully functional
|
|
|
Post by davidjp on Jun 17, 2023 0:55:32 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by emmsmommy on Jun 20, 2023 6:18:53 GMT -5
Congratulations desertwoman, so glad you found it. Now if I could just locate mine as I haven't seen it this year. Haven't found it in the garden so thinking I may have taken it inside to a really, really safe place that I've since forgotten the location of.
|
|