Yes I have a fiskars grass shears with the rotating head, I've read reviews on these where people say that they can't get on with them but for my needs they are perfect, I must have had them for 10 years at least and they still operate well, what's more I found the original packaging the other day and noticed that they have a lifetime guarantee.
I prefer a stainless steel fork as I'm always forgetting to bring them in. You just have to be careful if you feel strong resistance and wiggle it back and forth to loosen the soil. If you don't, the tines get bent but I've never known them to snap.
@Allotment Boy I’m surprised to hear that about Bulldog, mine were new last year and were very well constructed and finished - I have tried very hard to bend the tines on the fork but I’m pleased to report, no joy I’m no Mr Muscle, nor Uri Gellar, but both the Fiskars (now a compost heap turner) and Spear and Jackson (garden sculpture?) looked like this very rapidly:
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Felco secateurs, and I like the Wolf range with detachable heads. I have 3 handles of different lengths including an extending one which is brillant when I want to rake an area level and avoid standing on it when working.
Most of my garden tools are Spear and Jackson. Spade, fork, rake and hoe are all 45 years old (bought them for my first garden - remember having to save up for them). All have done a power of work in that time in various gardens and various soils. Even the years I spent as a jobbing gardener. Still as good as new. Always fancied a SS spade but couldn't bring myself to replace the trusty one I had. Hand tools are a mix of Wolf, Felco, S&J etc.
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
I've got stainless steel garden and border spades and forks. Had them for years and have no idea of make as the labels have long since disappeared. The smaller spade snapped after a few years, where the blade and the tube into which the handle fit meet. It must have been a fault as it wasn't used an awful lot and actually broke when being pushed into the ground. It wasn't even under pressure from trying to lift at the time. All the rest are still good.
Forgot about my Sneeboer trowel. It's lovely and, like Chicky, a birthday present. I also have some Fiskars loppers and, whilst I love the business end, the extendable handles broke on the second go - and we'd already exchanged the first pair for that reason - so they're a bit frustrating to use for some jobs as half the handle drops off.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
You just have to be careful if you feel strong resistance and wiggle it back and forth to loosen the soil. If you don't, the tines get bent but I've never known them to snap.
I use sneeboer hand tools - expensive, but I have bulit up a collection at Christmas and birthdays over the years
Hand tools are a mix of Wolf, Felco, S&J etc.