Make Equipment Maintenance a Fun Part of Gardening
by Jim Black, OSU Hood River Extension Central Gorge Master Gardener Volunteer
Master Gardener Scott Fitch sharpens his hand tools with an inexpensive steel file.
Photo by Jim Black
Designing our garden beds and irrigation system, choosing the right plants for each site, and nurturing them through the spring, summer and fall are all reasons that we are passionate about gardening. However, sometimes in our excitement, we fail to make time for maintaining the tools that make the work possible. On October 12, Hood River County Master Gardeners will offer a class on winterizing and storing gas-powered and battery-operated equipment, as well as proper care of hand tools. We hope you’ll join us at 10 am at the FISH Food Bank Garden, 1130 Tucker Road, Hood River—and bring a hand tool or equipment blade that needs sharpening for some hands-on learning. Master Gardeners will be there to assist you.
Caring for Garden Hand Tools
The trick to keeping your hand tools in top shape for many years is to clean and protect them after every use. And there really is a trick to that! Fill a bucket large enough to hold your largest hand tool with a coarse (sharp) sand (stores often sell construction sand that is damp, so dry it in a wheel barrow before pouring it in your bucket), add a cup or so of light-weight petroleum oil to the sand, and mix well. You only want enough oil to thinly coat your tool, so avoid adding more than you need. Do not use linseed oil or other oils that harden in air.
First, clean your hand tools under a faucet with a brush if necessary, let dry, then poke them in the sand a few times to remove fine rust and stubborn stains. Then wipe with a course cloth or burlap. A protective oil film will remain on the surface.
Always store your hand tools in a dry location.
A good winter project is to sand then paint wooden and steel handles with an exterior finish, and to replace any loose fasteners on the tool. If you buy quality hand tools and maintain them, they can last your lifetime. Investing in them saves you both money and annoyance if you care for them.
Winterizing Gasoline-Powered Equipment
Since this can take some heavy lifting, consider inviting a friend to spend an afternoon in your work area where you each can winterize common pieces of equipment, assisting one another when needed. You can do this on your own, of course, but having a friend makes the time much more pleasurable—and you can talk about your gardening plans for next spring.
The tasks are similar for most gas engines, but find your manual for the equipment, if you have one, or use a website that will give you recommended maintenance steps. (Virtually all lawn and garden equipment have a manufacturer’s website with a downloadable manual.)
Use the instructions as a guide, but it’s also a good idea to prepare a checklist to have a record of what and when you did the winterization, and attach that notated list to the equipment.
An example for a 4-cycle engine might look like this:
__ empty gas tank (outdoors, with a suction device, or by disconnecting the outflow tubing and draining into a clean container.) If the gasoline is not mixed with oil, it can be used in your vehicle or one of your snow-removal machines. If it can’t be reused, many landfills have hazardous waste centers that accept flammable liquids. But call first since many are only open a few days a month. In Hood River, O’Reilly’s Auto Shop also accepts used oil with no fee, but not gasoline. Or, if you do not wish to remove the gasoline, you should add a gasoline stabilizer as directed and fill the tank.
__reconnect gasoline outflow tubes.
__start engine and run until all gasoline in the lines has been spent and the engine quits. If you added stabilizer, skip this step.
__after engine has cooled, remove oil.
__clean all exterior surfaces with a brush, compressed air, or shop cloths. This would include thorough cleaning of any collection bags. A light-weight oil or polish may be applied to surfaces if the machine will be stored in an unheated outbuilding.
__sharpen blade.
__refill oil reservoir with the recommended oil to correct level. If you wish to wait until spring to refill the oil, do attach a bright tag reminding you to add oil before starting the machine.
__change or clean spark plug if recommended. Adding a few drops of crankcase oil before reinserting the spark plug is a good idea.
__change or clean filters as recommended
__store all equipment in a dry, enclosed location for winter.
__in spring, use a plastic gas container rather than steel to reduce chance of rust.
Battery and Electric Equipment Tips
For lightweight, easy to start, and simple maintenance, electric tools can’t be beat, and new models have been remarkably improved with advancements in battery production.
How to purchase: Corded equipment is generally inexpensive and efficient. Buying quality brand names is often the easiest way to end up with a reliable tool, but some obscure companies also manufacture great machines. Most are made with plastic, so carefully examine the craftsmanship to avoid those with ill-fitting or flimsy parts.
Will the extension cord make the work you want to do cumbersome? If so, a battery-powered tool may be the better choice.
For battery equipment, know the power needs before selection. If you’re buying a string weed whip or leaf blower, for example, limit your choices to equipment with higher voltage batteries (56V is common). These are usually substantially more expensive, but the savings in time and frustration make the extra cost worth it. You need power to make those machines work efficiently and well. If, however, you are buying an automatic pruner or other hand tool, a lighter-weight battery (18-24V) will do the job well and you’ll appreciate a lighter device as you prune your fruit trees.
Maintenance is generally simple. Like all tools, clean electric or battery tools after each use, wiping down the exterior, brushing any debris from blades, and applying an oil or WD-40 to steel parts to prevent rust. Sharpen as needed. Avoid using or leaving tools in rain or in wet areas.
Batteries should be charged after each use and removed from the charger after full charge, then preferably stored indoors in a dry location. Note any parts that are subject to breaking and purchase extras. That’s important for two reasons: you won’t want to wait for a part, and manufacturers often update battery-operated equipment and discontinue furnishing parts. An extra battery is also worth the cost if your work can’t be completed in a single charge.
Do remember that tool care is an important part of being a good gardener. Take pride in your equipment and invite a friend to bring their tools for some shared maintenance fun, and maybe a cup of coffee and a cookie.
For additional information, see the following:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/12281/gardentoolscare.pdf
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=18779
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/12281/sharpeninggardentools.pdf
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