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carbon steel heads
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, Hayley |
#2
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#3
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pb wrote:
In article , says... 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. -- Mike. |
#4
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"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 |
#5
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Slight correction re sharpening of stainless....a perfectly sharp edge can
be obtained and will hold its sharpness longer than the carbon steel.....not as easy to get it as sharp as carbon steeel but sharp it can be....mine are damned sharp....sharpened slowly on a wheel with a few cooling offs during sharpening..H bob Hobden" wrote in message ... "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 |
#6
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"Harold Walker" wrote in message
... Slight correction re sharpening of stainless....a perfectly sharp edge can be obtained and will hold its sharpness longer than the carbon steel.....not as easy to get it as sharp as carbon steeel but sharp it can be....mine are damned sharp....sharpened slowly on a wheel with a few cooling offs during sharpening..H bob Hobden" wrote in message ... "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. Yes you can get stainless sharp but not as sharp as suitably heat treated high carbon steel. For spades that's splitting hairs - you don't need 'em that sharp, and if you've got sticky clay then stainless is preferable. For 'Dutch hoe' I absolutely agree with Bob, the Wolf ones are carbon steel, self sharpening, cut on the pull and push stroke and are almost self cleaning unless the soil is wet, they are also well priced. For knives, stainless is the most common but for serious knife work - ie professional grafting/budding you need good carbon steel blades - preferably the German 'Tina' brand. -- Rod My real address is rodtheweedygardeneratmyweedyisp Just remove the weedy bits and transplant the appropriate symbol at. |
#7
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#9
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The message
from pb contains these words: In article , says... Slight correction re sharpening of stainless....a perfectly sharp edge can be obtained and will hold its sharpness longer than the carbon steel.. Unless the stainless steel is surgical quality, it will be neither as sharp, nor will it keep its edge as well as carbon steel. Really good garden tools are made from forged carbon steel castings, then hardened and tempered. ...not as easy to get it as sharp as carbon steeel but sharp it can be....mine are damned sharp....sharpened slowly on a wheel with a few cooling offs during sharpening..H I like SS spades and forks for use on heavy soil, for when they are well maintained they tend not to stick to it so much. Anyone who uses edged tools for a living will use carbon steel, chisels, saws, chefs knives are all carbon steel, a jagged edge obtained from a grinding wheel may well feel sharp, like a serrated knife, but it comes nowhere near a good carbon steel. Stainless tools also tend to be thicker than carbon steel, not so much of a problem with a spade or fork but a hoe for instance needs to be thin to work properly. The trouble with most stainless steels is their grain, and if you try to sharpen them on an oilstone the stone is soon clogged with tiny particles, and the chrome in it ruins a decent steel. [1] [1] hard steel fluted sharpening rod. -- Rusty Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
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