"Mike Lyle" wrote after...
pb wrote:
....
Am in the process of replacing some of my tools and wanted to buy
decent ones this time. I'm confused about teh kinds of head. What
is
the difference between carbon steel and stainless steel (other
than
colour - am I correct in thinking that carbon steel is grey whilst
stainless is shiny?). Can both be sharpened easily? I'm about to
buy
a Dutch hoe so want something that I can sharpen. Has anyone any
experience of the S&J heritage range? I'm looking at that one at
the
moment as I have one of their border forks and really like using
it
but more for the look and feel of the handle than the make of the
tines. TIA,

Carbon steel will hold a sharp edge, but will rust unless you keep
it
coated with oil. Stainless will not rust but you will not get a
very
good edge.

Yes, stainless is bright, while carbon steel is duller, and in the
shop will usually have a coat of paint. Stainless is a little easier
to work with: less friction. I think this sometimes compensates for
the lack of a sharp edge; but for most purposes I don't think there's
much difference. I go over the Dutch hoe, and very occasionally the
spade, with a scythe stone, but I'm not looking for a knife edge.
Starting again, I think I'd buy stainless spade and fork, maybe not
hoe -- but always with wooden handles. Wood feels nice, is easily
replaced, and I don't quite trust the plastic ones.

If money's tight, though, good carbon-steel tools will last a hundred
years or more if looked after even quite carelessly: just don't leave
them out in the weather. Stainless is probably a bit of a fad.

On handles. I've just had an inspiration: another advantage of wooden
handles is that you could, for a price, get them made to measure.
Geoffrey Smith reckons the standard handle length is too short: he
may be right.

I've got a stainless fork and spade but they were so expensive (British
made) that I don't leave them in my Defender van, so don't take them down
the allotment, the result being they seldom get used. I end up always using
my cheap steel ones.
For a Hoe take a look at the Wolf Garten Push Pull Weeder (the smaller of
the two) an excellent hoe head and you get the (wooden) handle that suits
you as they come in (3?) different lenghts. It's self sharpening too.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London