How to choose hand tools for grounds maintenance: handle and blade

To work the soil you need hoes, spades and forks; to clear it, rakes; to cut, secateurs, shears and pole pruners; for firewood, axes, hatchets and wedges. Even before the type, choose the handle length (in the collection it ranges from 450 to 1,150 mm) so that you work with a straight back, and forged or carbon steel for tools that strike or are used as levers. For everyday use look for tools under 2 kg; for splitting wood, 3 kg and more also make sense.

The types

• Hoes, spades and forks: they are used to break up, turn over and move soil and material. The tined fork is the choice for hay, straw and compost.
• Rakes: fine-toothed for leaves, cut grass and light debris; more widely spaced, sturdier tines for levelling soil and gravel. The number of tines in the collection ranges from 3 to 22.
• Axes, felling axes, hatchets and splitting wedges: for cutting and splitting wood. The axe or felling axe cuts, the wedge opens the log when the grain is hard.
• Shears and secateurs: for branches and shrubs. For high branches there are pole pruners and telescopic pole loppers.
• Replacement handles: to put back into service a tool with a good head and a broken handle.
• Whetstone: for sharpening the blades of axes, scythes and shears.
• Olive harvesting nets: spread under the tree to collect the crop, such as the 4x8 m Vigor net.

How to choose according to the job

The features to look at

• Handle length: in the collection you find handles from 450 mm (short tools, for one-handed use) to over 1 metre. If it is too short you bend over, if it is too long you lose control.
• Material: forged or carbon steel for the parts that strike; galvanised, painted or stainless steel to resist damp and rust; wood for the handle, aluminium when weight matters.
• Finish: powder-coated, galvanised and nickel-plated finishes protect against rust. They do not change how the tool works; they extend its life if you leave it outside.
• Weight: from the few hundred grams of a pair of shears to the kilo and a half of a splitting axe. For whole days of work, a light tool matters more than strength.
• Width and number of tines: a wide rake covers more surface, a narrow one gets in between the plants.
• Handle and eye diameter: if you buy a replacement handle, check the diameter of the eye in the head.

Common mistakes

• Choosing the handle from the catalogue and not according to your own height.
• Using a felling axe to split: the blade chips or the handle breaks. For splitting you need a splitting axe or wedges.
• Buying untreated steel tools to leave outdoors: after one season they are rusty.
• Not sharpening, and not cleaning the sap off the blades of shears and secateurs: they cut badly, crush the branch and encourage plant disease.
• Carrying on using a tool with a cracked handle or a loose head: it is one of the most common causes of injury.

Frequently asked questions

How long should the handle of a hoe or a rake be?

It should let you work with a straight back and your hands at mid-torso. As a practical rule, the handle of hoes and rakes reaches chest or shoulder height; if you are very tall or very short, look for a replacement handle of the right size.

Wooden or aluminium handle?

Wood absorbs vibration and is easy to replace; aluminium is lighter and more resistant to damp. For levering or striking, such as splitting wood, wood remains the most widely used choice.

How do I look after my tools at the end of the season?

Clean the soil and sap off the blades, sharpen the cutting ones with a whetstone, rub the metal parts with a light film of oil and store the tools somewhere dry.

Can I replace the handle instead of buying a new tool?

Yes, if the head is intact. Check the type of fitting and the diameter of the eye in the head: in the collection you will find replacement handles in various sizes.

You will find all the hand tools for grounds maintenance in the collection: if you are not sure about the size or the type, request a quote or ask the AMES technicians for advice.