I like boiled linseed oil. Dries quickly, nice smooth non-stick finish and soaks in really well. Just watch the flammable warnings and follow the instructions with any oil as the rags you use can spontaniously combust. A friend of mine had a garage fire because of oily rags. I think she said it was danish oil though.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Spontaneous combustion normally happens as the oil drys the rag acts as an insulator for the oxidizing oil this produces the heat and in turn causes the action to speed up more oxygen and heat so you get a fire.
This applies to most oils, paints, solvents, even latex gloves so good house keeping is the order of the day.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
Maybe they're just making tools with crappier wood than they used to? I have a fork which is about 80 years old and it's fine.
Could be, although that's a much better design than you get these days too. The connection between the fork and handle allows for more flex than the rigid push fit types that are common now and the metal area is much longer up the shaft so there's less stress on the handle in one area. I spoke to a guy who refurbs tools for charity and he said he'd take one of those designs over the new ones anyday especially when it comes to fitting a new handle.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
But @Hostafan1 if you had cleaned & oiled it just once or twice it would look more like this one. I inherted this from my father & it was not new when he was given it. But we all agree they don't make them like this anymore- mores the pity!
I now clean the border spade after I've been naughty and used it for mixing concrete etc. (set cement bonds really, really well to stainless steel I once accidentally discovered!), but don't normally clean any garden tools as such. Bit of wd40 and sharpening of secateurs and other bladed steel items when they start to lose their edge but that's about it.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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This applies to most oils, paints, solvents, even latex gloves so good house keeping is the order of the day.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
Could be, although that's a much better design than you get these days too. The connection between the fork and handle allows for more flex than the rigid push fit types that are common now and the metal area is much longer up the shaft so there's less stress on the handle in one area. I spoke to a guy who refurbs tools for charity and he said he'd take one of those designs over the new ones anyday especially when it comes to fitting a new handle.
I always clean tools after use,Occasionally give cutting tools a WD40 spray(other oils are available as they say)
Happy gardening
Jolly G
But we all agree they don't make them like this anymore- mores the pity!
I think it's fine.