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Wheel Barrows
Strange question I know.
Id like a buy a Wheel Barrow for a gardeners birthday. Are there recognised makes as being the Ferrari of the Wheel Barrow world? Cheers Tim |
"Tim Guy" wrote in message ... Strange question I know. Id like a buy a Wheel Barrow for a gardeners birthday. Are there recognised makes as being the Ferrari of the Wheel Barrow world? No, but there are one or two Minardis. :-)) |
shazzbat wrote:
"Tim Guy" wrote in message ... Strange question I know. Id like a buy a Wheel Barrow for a gardeners birthday. Are there recognised makes as being the Ferrari of the Wheel Barrow world? No, but there are one or two Minardis. :-)) Which leaves me wondering what the Jordan wheelbarrow would look like... Warwick |
"Warwick" wrote in message ... Which leaves me wondering what the Jordan wheelbarrow would look like... Balanced evenly from side to side but slightly unstable and likely to tip forward. HTH. -- Brian "Anyway, if you have been, thanks for listening." |
"Tim Guy" wrote in message ... Strange question I know. Id like a buy a Wheel Barrow for a gardeners birthday. Are there recognised makes as being the Ferrari of the Wheel Barrow world? Wouldn't think so, but I'd get a heavy duty builders barrow. Then it won't fall to bits on the odd occasion when it's used for moving concrete. Unless they're good at mending punctures, one with a sold tyre. DaveK. |
"davek" wrote in message
... "Tim Guy" wrote in message ... Strange question I know. Id like a buy a Wheel Barrow for a gardeners birthday. Are there recognised makes as being the Ferrari of the Wheel Barrow world? Wouldn't think so, but I'd get a heavy duty builders barrow. Then it won't fall to bits on the odd occasion when it's used for moving concrete. Unless they're good at mending punctures, one with a sold tyre. DaveK. I've had a builders barrow for sometime and, unless they're driven over broken glass or barbed wire regularly, I'd go for a pneumatic as they run a little more softly and are therefore "a nicer drive". FWIW, I've never (touches wood rapidly) had a puncture and spare wheels are easy to come by anyway. Perhaps someone else can buy a bicycle repair kit (just in case) and a footpump as a secondary present. Mine likes a little extra air every couple of months. Paul DS. |
I've had a builders barrow for sometime and, unless they're driven over broken glass or barbed wire regularly, I'd go for a pneumatic as they run a little more softly and are therefore "a nicer drive". FWIW, I've never (touches wood rapidly) had a puncture and spare wheels are easy to come by anyway. Perhaps someone else can buy a bicycle repair kit (just in case) and a footpump as a secondary present. Mine likes a little extra air every couple of months. Our builders barrow punctured just once at a very unhelpful moment, a thorn from the shredded hedge clippings my wife had helpfully spread along the path. I'm thinking of getting a tube of the prophylactic gloop that's designed to go into bike tires to deal with holes as they happen. We also have a solid wheeled garden barrow and the pneumatic tired barrow is much nicer to push. Henry |
"Henry" wrote in message ...
I've had a builders barrow for sometime and, unless they're driven over broken glass or barbed wire regularly, I'd go for a pneumatic as they run a little more softly and are therefore "a nicer drive". FWIW, I've never (touches wood rapidly) had a puncture and spare wheels are easy to come by anyway. Perhaps someone else can buy a bicycle repair kit (just in case) and a footpump as a secondary present. Mine likes a little extra air every couple of months. Our builders barrow punctured just once at a very unhelpful moment, a thorn from the shredded hedge clippings my wife had helpfully spread along the path. I'm thinking of getting a tube of the prophylactic gloop that's designed to go into bike tires to deal with holes as they happen. We also have a solid wheeled garden barrow and the pneumatic tired barrow is much nicer to push. about 17 years ago (gulp!) when I was riding my old cycle to and from university I was plagued by a series of punctures (probably picked up from broken glass going through some of the less savoury parts of Manchester - Moss Side and Hulme). I got hold of something called Tuffie Tape (IIRC) - a very tough flexible tape that went between the tyre & the inner tube. Never suffered a puncture after that on that bike. Didn't need it once I'd upgraded to a mountain bike, but that's a different story. Anyway, don't know whether this stuff is still available, or whether it is possible to get it in the kind of width tat would be needed for a wheelbarrow tyre, but it may be worth looking for. -- Richard Sampson mail me at richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk |
Anyway, don't know whether this stuff is still available, or whether it is
possible to get it in the kind of width tat would be needed for a wheelbarrow tyre, but it may be worth looking for. A relative used to have a bike shop and sold stuff called 'slime'. 'Orrible innit? Filled the inner tube with goo so it couldn't puncture. Also sold solid bike tyres (as seen on Tomorrows World), the inner core was like a soft honeycomb. He said they were lousy on a bike as they were so heavy. DaveK. |
davek wrote:
Anyway, don't know whether this stuff is still available, or whether it is possible to get it in the kind of width tat would be needed for a wheelbarrow tyre, but it may be worth looking for. A relative used to have a bike shop and sold stuff called 'slime'. 'Orrible innit? Filled the inner tube with goo so it couldn't puncture. Also sold solid bike tyres (as seen on Tomorrows World), the inner core was like a soft honeycomb. He said they were lousy on a bike as they were so heavy. DaveK. The car-tire places will mend a puncture on a wheelbarrow, no problem. Keep the bits well greased, though, as it may be some years before you need to get the wheel off, and it's embarrassing to find the bearings are rusted in ("Guilty, m'lud!"). I don't know about makes, but if it's to be a special present, splash out on a heavily galvanised one from the builders' merchant. The much cheaper plain black-painted ones are OK if they live in a shed and are kept clean; but they're unlikely to become family heirlooms. -- Mike. |
A relative used to have a bike shop and sold stuff called 'slime'. 'Orrible innit? Yep that's the stuff, iirc I saw some in Asda at a reasonable price. Filled the inner tube with goo so it couldn't puncture. Also sold solid bike tyres (as seen on Tomorrows World), the inner core was like a soft honeycomb. He said they were lousy on a bike as they were so heavy. Yeah I've seen them, I always wondered how bad they were to use on a bike, would be the ideal solution on a wheelbarrow where weight and comfort weren't such an issue, I would have thought. Henry |
If it is a very dear friend, then don't buy a "Walsall Wheelbarrow Company
Limited" wheelbarrow. 'cos he won't be a friend after it has rusted away next year. (If you want to see one, Mike Crowe, PO36 8PG) Crap -- National Service (RAF) Ass. Cosford 24 - 27 June Spitfire Fly Past H.M.S.Impregnable Ass. Sussex 1 - 4 July Visit to Int. Fest of the Sea RAF Regiment Assoc. Scarborough 2 - 5 Sept. Visit to Eden Camp H.M.S.Collingwood Assn Trafalgar Dinner. Coventry October 21 - 24 "Tim Guy" wrote in message ... Strange question I know. Id like a buy a Wheel Barrow for a gardeners birthday. Are there recognised makes as being the Ferrari of the Wheel Barrow world? Cheers Tim |
"Tim Guy" wrote Strange question I know. Id like a buy a Wheel Barrow for a gardeners birthday. Are there recognised makes as being the Ferrari of the Wheel Barrow world? If your friend is into old tools, or likes classy handmade items, and you have deep pockets, how about a wooden one? A friends came from... http://netgardeners.co.uk/adverts/wdcraft.html Heritage Woodcraft of Romsey (ignore the planters they do make proper ones, or did) or http://wooden-wheels.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ will make you one. Nowhere near as practical as a steel builders wheelbarrow (or as light) if you want one to use but sure looks better and with some looking after would become an heirloom. Actually, just like most Ferraris would you want to use it or keep it in the garage? More a piece of engineering art. -- Regards Bob In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London |
--"Tim Guy" wrote in message ... Strange question I know. Id like a buy a Wheel Barrow for a gardeners birthday. Are there recognised makes as being the Ferrari of the Wheel Barrow world? Cheers Tim Buy them a garden trolley instead. It will make their life so much easier. I got mine for a lot less than this locally. http://www.mower-magic.co.uk/acatalo...ley_Carts.html |
In message , pammyT
writes --"Tim Guy" wrote in message ... Strange question I know. Id like a buy a Wheel Barrow for a gardeners birthday. Are there recognised makes as being the Ferrari of the Wheel Barrow world? Cheers Tim Buy them a garden trolley instead. It will make their life so much easier. I got mine for a lot less than this locally. http://www.mower-magic.co.uk/acatalo...ley_Carts.html How about the electric wheelbarrow I saw in B&Q last week. Sorry I didn't really take in much detail about it but I think it was about £150 -- Sue Begg Remove my clothes to reply Do not mess in the affairs of dragons - for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! |
In article ,
Sue Begg wrote: In message , pammyT writes --"Tim Guy" wrote in message ... Id like a buy a Wheel Barrow for a gardeners birthday. Are there recognised makes as being the Ferrari of the Wheel Barrow world? Buy them a garden trolley instead. It will make their life so much easier. I got mine for a lot less than this locally. http://www.mower-magic.co.uk/acatalo...ley_Carts.html How about the electric wheelbarrow I saw in B&Q last week. Sorry I didn't really take in much detail about it but I think it was about £150 I strongly advise against both of those. Trolleys need a LOT more space, and electric wheelbarrows are a gimmick much like a Sinclair C5. In both cases, they might be appropriate for smallholdings, or the occasional garden with a lot of open space and not too many plants, but not otherwise. The best maker of metal wheelbarrows I know of is Haemmerlin, and they last for decades. Buy an inner tube for it at the same time (seriously). I prefer heavy-duty plastic ones (the cheap lightweight ones are hopeless), but they are tricky to get. Buy an inner for one of them, too. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... I strongly advise against both of those. Trolleys need a LOT more space, you must be thinking of different trolleys to the one I have which when takes up no more space than a builders barrow and if you need to it can be easily stood on end, in which case it will take up less space than a barrow. and electric wheelbarrows are a gimmick much like a Sinclair C5. In both cases, they might be appropriate for smallholdings, or the occasional garden with a lot of open space and not too many plants, but not otherwise. Some of us do have large gardens and painful conditions which means that anything which helps us to carry on gardening without hurting or straining ourselves is good. The best maker of metal wheelbarrows I know of is Haemmerlin, and they last for decades. Buy an inner tube for it at the same time (seriously). I prefer heavy-duty plastic ones (the cheap lightweight ones are hopeless), but they are tricky to get. Buy an inner for one of them, too. But only if the user is tall and strong. For small women it often means that the legs do not come off the ground when the handles are grasped and when laden, the effort of lifting and pushing at the same is simply too hard. To use a barrow, I (5' 2") have to grasp the handles, bend my elbows to raise the legs off the ground, and then with elbows bent, push the thing too making the job in hand most unpleasant. I love my garden cart/trolley and consider it to be money well spent. |
pammyT wrote:
For small women it often means that (when using a wheelbarrow) the legs do not come off the ground when the handles are grasped and when laden, the effort of lifting and pushing at the same is simply too hard. To use a barrow, I (5' 2") have to grasp the handles, bend my elbows to raise the legs off the ground, and then with elbows bent, push the thing too making the job in hand most unpleasant. I love my garden cart/trolley and consider it to be money well spent. You can get some hunky person to bend the handles of your wheelbarrow over a round thing so that when you pick it up the legs are off the ground, and your arms are straight. |
In article , "pammyT" fenlandfowl @talktalk.net writes: | "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message | ... | | I strongly advise against both of those. Trolleys need a LOT more | space, | | you must be thinking of different trolleys to the one I have which when | takes up no more space than a builders barrow and if you need to it can be | easily stood on end, in which case it will take up less space than a barrow. I defy you to wheel a trolley through a 12" gap without damaging the plants either side. | Some of us do have large gardens and painful conditions which means that | anything which helps us to carry on gardening without hurting or straining | ourselves is good. As I said, "the occasional garden". Perhaps I should also have said "a few gardeners who can't handle a wheelbarrow". However, you do then have to ensure plenty of open space to move the thing around. | But only if the user is tall and strong. For small women it often means that | the legs do not come off the ground when the handles are grasped and when | laden, the effort of lifting and pushing at the same is simply too hard. Not at all. Modern wheelbarrows and tolleys are a pain in the back for anyone tall, because they are so low. You CERTAINLY don't need to be strong for a wheelbarrow, and I am not, but I agree that you can't be definitely weak. | To use a barrow, I (5' 2") have to grasp the handles, bend my elbows to | raise the legs off the ground, and then with elbows bent, push the thing too | making the job in hand most unpleasant. I love my garden cart/trolley and | consider it to be money well spent. I am 6'2" and have the opposite problem. At least I CAN wheel a wheelbarrow. Most trolleys just bottom at the far end when I stand up - and I can assure you that wheeling one stooped is FAR more of a problem than doing so with elbows bent. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
In message , pammyT
writes "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... I strongly advise against both of those. Trolleys need a LOT more space, you must be thinking of different trolleys to the one I have which when takes up no more space than a builders barrow and if you need to it can be easily stood on end, in which case it will take up less space than a barrow. and electric wheelbarrows are a gimmick much like a Sinclair C5. In both cases, they might be appropriate for smallholdings, or the occasional garden with a lot of open space and not too many plants, but not otherwise. Some of us do have large gardens and painful conditions which means that anything which helps us to carry on gardening without hurting or straining ourselves is good. The best maker of metal wheelbarrows I know of is Haemmerlin, and they last for decades. Buy an inner tube for it at the same time (seriously). I prefer heavy-duty plastic ones (the cheap lightweight ones are hopeless), but they are tricky to get. Buy an inner for one of them, too. But only if the user is tall and strong. For small women it often means that the legs do not come off the ground when the handles are grasped and when laden, the effort of lifting and pushing at the same is simply too hard. To use a barrow, I (5' 2") have to grasp the handles, bend my elbows to raise the legs off the ground, and then with elbows bent, push the thing too making the job in hand most unpleasant. I love my garden cart/trolley and consider it to be money well spent. I now have a plastic barrow which is lighter to push, but I still have the problem of my arms not being high enough above the ground lol. It does put an undue strain on the upper arm having to hold the barrow up whilst pushing. And then the jolt when it catches on a bump on the ground because the legs are only just clearing the ground. But if you buy a 'ladies' barrow it only holds a teaspoonful - I know I am never happy !! -- Sue Begg Remove my clothes to reply Do not mess in the affairs of dragons - for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! |
In article , Janet Baraclough
writes I've yet to see any of those small females have any problem lifting or pushing a fully laden Haemmerlin barrow, up or downhill, up plank ramps etc. Well Janet, you haven't seen me huffing and puffing in my gold slippers with a wheelbarrow. I am 5ft tall and I have an awful job lifting them as my little arms, draped very comfortably in haute couture du jardin, ache dreadfully at the elbow - however it is a very convenient ache, it only comes on when my husband is around! When he is not there, I have no problem with the barrow so I agree even little women can hoist a barrow with the best of them. -- Judith Lea |
martin wrote:
On Wed, 1 Jun 2005 16:47:36 +0100, Judith Lea wrote: In article , Janet Baraclough writes I've yet to see any of those small females have any problem lifting or pushing a fully laden Haemmerlin barrow, up or downhill, up plank ramps etc. Well Janet, you haven't seen me huffing and puffing in my gold slippers with a wheelbarrow. I am 5ft tall and I have an awful job lifting them as my little arms, draped very comfortably in haute couture du jardin, ache dreadfully at the elbow - however it is a very convenient ache, it only comes on when my husband is around! When he is not there, I have no problem with the barrow so I agree even little women can hoist a barrow with the best of them. Do your knuckles scrape on the ground when you walk? Thought not. This is one of the many "different strokes for different blokes" questions in gardening. Of course the factors aren't the same for everybody, but I'm for plain old wheelbarrows, myself. Nick's point about their ability to negotiate narrow gaps is well taken; and I'd add that they go up and down steps, too (with such huffing and puffing as may be necessary). It seems to me that four-wheel trolleys will be no good unless the garden has really good firm paths and lawns going everywhere, and no sharp bends. My guess is that in most gardens with both a trolley and a wheelbarrow, it's the barrow which will be used most often. You can also mix small quantities of concrete or potting mixture in a barrow next to the materials, and then use it to deliver the mix where it's needed. (No Skoda jokes, please: mine has a sunroof, yes, but only one exhaust.) -- Mike. |
"Chris Bacon" wrote in message ... pammyT wrote: For small women it often means that (when using a wheelbarrow) the legs do not come off the ground when the handles are grasped and when laden, the effort of lifting and pushing at the same is simply too hard. To use a barrow, I (5' 2") have to grasp the handles, bend my elbows to raise the legs off the ground, and then with elbows bent, push the thing too making the job in hand most unpleasant. I love my garden cart/trolley and consider it to be money well spent. You can get some hunky person to bend the handles of your wheelbarrow over a round thing so that when you pick it up the legs are off the ground, and your arms are straight. a/ I don't know any hunky peeps. b/ I would still have to lift and push. |
"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... Oh, come off it, that's nonsense. I'm under 5ft 2. Standing straight with my arms fully extended downwards, my longest finger tips just touch the ends of the handles on my builders barrow. (I've just checked). So when I grasp the handles in my palms and lift, the barrow legs rise up at least 4", with my arms fully extended, elbows straight. I do NOT have to bend my elbows to get the barrow legs off the ground or to push it along. How bloody arrogant. I can *assure* you that my barrow does in fact scrape the ground when I lift as I should with straight back and arms.Do you imagine that all barrows are the same? I have bought 2 different ones in the past years and the only way I can lift the legg off the ground is to grab the handles, straighten my back, then bend my elbows. If you read some other posts, the problem is not unique to me either. (Gardeners should be using their *knees* to lift a laden barrow btw, not the elbows as you suggest) But if you are so short that the damn thing is still on the ground whith back and knees straight, how *else* does one push it? Well, I have a large garden and RA, happily use a metal builders barrow at home, and Haemmerlin barrows at the huge NT garden where I work as a volunteer along with similar-height female gardeners and female volunteers, aged from 27 to 75. I've yet to see any of those small females have any problem lifting or pushing a fully laden Haemmerlin barrow, up or downhill, up plank ramps etc. Ahh so because *you* have never seen anyone struggle with the particular barrows you use, you assume that nobody has a problem with barrows and I and the other short poster are making it all up? In addition to my being short, I also have a spinal condition and arthritis. Pushing barrows is difficult and painful. The garden trolley is simple to use and easy to manouver. Sure you would struggle to squeeze between a 12" gap but since I don't have 12" gaps, and nor does anyone I know this is not something I have to worry about. I find I can shift most stuff using my garden trolley and sack barrow without hurting myself. |
Nick Maclaren wrote:
Not at all. Modern wheelbarrows and tolleys are a pain in the back for anyone tall, because they are so low. I'm 6'4" and agree with all that. Trollies /have/ to get thier handles extended upwards, and wheelbarrows are tipped up too much. On top of that, wheelbarrow handles are now so short that I bank my shins on the back of the body while I walk! I've had a pressed steel builder's barrow, and changed it for a welded one. I put blocks under the bearings to get the frame an inch higher, so the nose did not keep banging into steps, and added extensions to the rear legs. I welded on longer handles so I stand further back. My advice: 1. Avoid pressed steel bodies. 2. Avoid self-assembly barrows where bolts pass through holes in the tubular frame. They weaken the frame too badly. 3. Avoid anything with frame tube smaller than about 45mm dia. 4. Avoid solid tyred wheels. 5. Avoid pushed-on moulded handgrips. They come off as easily as they go on. 6. Look for sealed roller bearings in the axle 7. Look for reinforced ends on the rear legs, not just bent tube. 8. Look for a reinforced rim on the body. |
In article , Janet Baraclough
writes Well Janet, you haven't seen me huffing and puffing in my gold slippers with a wheelbarrow. Oh I have, but only in my mind's eye .Could I suggest you get the ones with kitten heels? They'll make all the difference in puddles, and provide some traction in ice and mud. Sorry Janet, but kitten heels are useless, I still have one somewhere in thick deep clay so I have been known to wear gold slippers with a different one on each foot. The mule type ones are best for gardening, easy to slip a foot out of when the mud won't release it. -- Judith Lea |
In article ,
Judith Lea wrote: In article , Janet Baraclough writes Well Janet, you haven't seen me huffing and puffing in my gold slippers with a wheelbarrow. Oh I have, but only in my mind's eye .Could I suggest you get the ones with kitten heels? They'll make all the difference in puddles, and provide some traction in ice and mud. Sorry Janet, but kitten heels are useless, I still have one somewhere in thick deep clay so I have been known to wear gold slippers with a different one on each foot. The mule type ones are best for gardening, easy to slip a foot out of when the mud won't release it. This shows the difference between the sexes. We males wear splatchers, especially when cooking so, when the soup boils over, we needn't do anything until we have finished our beer. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
In article , Nick Maclaren
writes This shows the difference between the sexes. We males wear splatchers, especially when cooking so, when the soup boils over, we needn't do anything until we have finished our beer. What are splatchers? -- Judith Lea |
In article ,
Judith Lea wrote: In article , Nick Maclaren writes This shows the difference between the sexes. We males wear splatchers, especially when cooking so, when the soup boils over, we needn't do anything until we have finished our beer. What are splatchers? Snowshoes for mud :-) It appears not to be in the OED, which is definitely not right. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article , Judith Lea wrote: In article , Nick Maclaren writes This shows the difference between the sexes. We males wear splatchers, especially when cooking so, when the soup boils over, we needn't do anything until we have finished our beer. What are splatchers? Snowshoes for mud :-) It appears not to be in the OED, which is definitely not right. Right, here we go on an Arthur Ransome trip. It was in one of the ones away from the Lake District and the Broads, no? They kept finding these mysterious prints in the mud at low water, and had begun to theorize that there was a brontosaurus or something in the vicinity (sounds like Titty's thought-processes to me), until they met the local boy who used them. I had the impression that the word had been invented for the book. But, if not Ransome, perhaps Aubrey de Selincourt or some other boaty children's writer? -- Mike. |
In article ,
martin wrote: On Thu, 2 Jun 2005 16:25:38 +0100, Janet Baraclough wrote: What are splatchers? Snowshoes for mud :-) It appears not to be in the OED, which is definitely not right. Nor Chambers. Were/are they worn on the fens? I haven't heard of them before. Essex. That could well be right. I thought that they were used in the Fenland, but the Thames estuary and/or Broads are equally plausible. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Mike Lyle wrote:
[[splatchers]] But, if not Ransome, perhaps Aubrey de Selincourt or some other boaty children's writer? Right first time. It was Ransome. |
"Mike Lyle" writes:
Right, here we go on an Arthur Ransome trip. It was in one of the ones away from the Lake District and the Broads, no? They kept finding these mysterious prints in the mud at low water, and had begun to theorize that there was a brontosaurus "Secret Water" and the Mastodon. Loosely based on the area just north of Walton on the Naze. Anthony |
In article , Janet Baraclough
writes Can I get pink ones? Janet. Can I get gold ones? -- Judith Lea |
On 2/6/05 4:25 pm, in article , "Mike Lyle"
wrote: Nick Maclaren wrote: In article , Judith Lea wrote: In article , Nick Maclaren writes This shows the difference between the sexes. We males wear splatchers, especially when cooking so, when the soup boils over, we needn't do anything until we have finished our beer. What are splatchers? Snowshoes for mud :-) It appears not to be in the OED, which is definitely not right. Right, here we go on an Arthur Ransome trip. It was in one of the ones away from the Lake District and the Broads, no? They kept finding these mysterious prints in the mud at low water, and had begun to theorize that there was a brontosaurus or something in the vicinity (sounds like Titty's thought-processes to me), until they met the local boy who used them. I had the impression that the word had been invented for the book. But, if not Ransome, perhaps Aubrey de Selincourt or some other boaty children's writer? The Arthur Ransome society in the USA says it can get hold of 'splatchers' for those wanting them and refers to them as mud-shoes. So you were right first time. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon (remove the weeds to email me) |
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