older tools worth paying extra for

Galeeno

are older iron gardening tools worth getting, and paying for as they do the same job as ones you get from b&q etc,

I mean the ones which have been used for 50 years, but are made from strong metal.

Davesnave

Depends. I have an old garden fork with a reinforced handle which is much stronger than any similar fork produced today, except one I have made entirely of steel. The all metal one is heavier and not so nice to handle, but whether the older one's worth, say, £30 more is a matter of personal choice.

I also have a billhook that's over 50 years old. It cost the same as a shiny modern one, but I'm certain it holds a better edge, as are others who seek these out and keep their secondhand price high. However, when laying hedges nowadays, I find a small battery chain saw much easier/faster than the traditional tools, so the bill hook stays in the bag much of the time. The chain saw cost 15 times as much as the bill hook, but it's worth every penny IMO, despite needing new chains or other spares over time. Other people will shout "Sacrilege!" at the thought of hedge-laying with a power tool...Let them; I have nicer things to do with the time I save.

Finally, I have as Ho-Mi from Korea, as shown here:
http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/homi.html

It's a roughly-made thing like many old fashioned tools, but I find it tough and great for weeding. You wouldn't find it in B&Q, though. Like the ancient twin sided scuffle hoe I rescued from a lady at the tip, it suits me much better than some flashy modern thing made of impossible-to-sharpen stainless steel.

So, would I pay more for an old tool? Yes, but don't write off modern ways of doing things. Shears or a battery hedge-trimmer? No contest!

unrecordings

I've got a couple of generations worth of hand me downs - all 60/70 odd years old, mainly good Sheffield/Leeds/Birmingham brands like Skelton, Bulldog, Brades, Elwell (and Spear & Jackson, but their modern stuff is not very good at all) - They've got decades of use still left in them. But as Davesnave points out - for some things, take the easy route and use power tools (unless you're really into the craft and traditional processes)

-taff

I have a forty year spade, it's great, it's very sharp and most importantly, has a flat blade, the ones you buy now seem to have a curve on the end and they're not as good.
I also have a mattock which is very handy.
I'd definitely go electric or cordless though for some jobs. And if I didn't have marestail everywhere I'd give a rotovator a try initially [I normally do no dig, that would just be for the initial dig and leave]

happybiker

Galeeno wrote: »

are older iron gardening tools worth getting, and paying for as they do the same job as ones you get from b&q etc,

I mean the ones which have been used for 50 years, but are made from strong metal.

Why pay for them? many are thrown away every year as people downsize houses or move into flats . Put want adverts on your local freecycle site and see what comes of it.


Buy a Cheap angle grinder, discs, wire brushes , gloves and eye protection. Learn how to use it. Along with a can of used engine oil and a bottle of Linseed oil you will be able to refurbish any freebys you can lay your hands on.


I'm not a money saving expert but do like to use old tools and much prefer wood handles to modern materials.