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Garden Tool Care Master List

Discover the tools that will help you care for your garden tools.

Cleaning Garden Tools

How to sharpen garden tools - rust removing
Brushes to clean wooden tool handles

Wire Brushes
Stiff bristles scrape loose dirt and rust.

Rust Erasing Blocks
Great for rough polishing of pruner parts and removing rust where sandpaper or wire brush are impractical.

Drill Powered Wire Wheels
Good for stubborn rust and grime.

Rubbing Alcohol
Removes sap and other build-up from hard-to-reach places.

White Vinegar
Soak tools overnight to remove heavy or hard-to-reach rust.

Rags from Recycled Clothes
You’ll need em.

Oil for Garden Tools

tried and true linseed oil 1

Camellia Oil
Plant-based, non toxic oil that stays viscous in cold weather. Perfect for pruning tools.

Boiled Linseed Oil
Protects and preserves wood handles. Non-toxic and food safe.

Vegetable Oil Spray
I use this to coat metal tools before winter storage.

Sharpening

Suehiro Compact Sharpening Stone 4

Farmer’s File
An excellent all-purpose sharpening file for flat bladed garden tools, axes, machetes, etc. This file has both single and double cut surfaces. Very useful. 

Half-Round File
Bahco makes some of the best files available. Half round files will sharpen round point shovels and other concave surfaces.

Speedy Sharp
My go-to pruner and lopper sharpener for quick touch-ups.

Diamond Hones
These are great for thorough pruner and lopper sharpening.

Compact Water Stone
This is a great hand-held sharpening stone for sickles, axes, mauls and machetes.

Miscellaneous

How to sharpen garden tools - hoe in vise

Bench Vise
A valuable sharpening aid, among other things. Critical for country-living

Clamps
Hold stuff down so you can use both hands. Useful.

Chisel Sharpies
Helpful sharpening aid.

Free Tool Care
Crash Course

Wooden Handle Care Ebook Cover

Stop settling for dull, rusty tools and cracked handles.
Learn the basics of garden tool care in this 100% free mini-course. You’ll learn:

  • The right way to sharpen a garden tool.
  • How to take care of your wooden tool handles.
  • Our best tips for succeeding with hand tools.
  • How to maintain good posture while working.

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Wooden Handle Care Ebook Cover

Free course includes 4 printable PDF guides
+ over 20 minutes of video.

↳"Super helpful. Detail enough..... not too much and not too little. I saved this so that I can refer back to it. Now I’ll know which file to buy as well."

Mike Plake

About

Formerly an e-commerce store, The Tool Merchants now offers honest garden tool reviews and how-to guides for avid gardeners.
Discover some of the best tools on the market and learn how to care for them so they perform well year after year.

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The Tool Merchants
PO Box 164, Williams, OR 97544
Send us an email.

"Great video! Although I’ve tried to do some sharpening of garden tools in the past, I’ve never been satisfied with the results. After watching this video a couple of times, I went out and did the best job I’ve ever done on my dull hoes! Thanks so much."
GloriaTexas
"WOW! Thanks so much for this tutorial. I fall into the category of "afraid I'll screw something up". Now I feel ready to at least try to love my garden tools a little more."
GailOregon
"Great informative video! After gardening for 30 years I’m finally determined to give my long neglected gardening tools some overdue attention this winter. There’s so much to know – what to use on the metal, the wood (in different stages of wear), etc. This video confirms a lot of what I ‘thought’ I need to do & what to use, but greatly clarified what to use, when & why!"
PatSyracuse, NY
"Excellent how-to. Lucid and thorough, without useless chatter. Clear close-ups to demonstrate his point. One of the best how-to videos I’ve seen."
DaleMontana
"Great video on sharpening! I’ve never sharpened a tool, but today was too much work with dull tools! Thank you!"
MegIndiana
"This has to be the most helpful, very-well paced and pertinent video yet for me. I have never picked up a sharpening tool, but I bought one from the Tool Merchant and can’t wait to use it. I think I have the confidence to do this now. Even though I didn’t have the tool in hand, I practiced the correct movement with you and that helped, too. Want to say thanks very much for your time and skills sharing."
CharleneTexas
"Thank you for a great tutorial. I’m a professional gardener and my tools need some care. I am excited to start the season with them restored."
AmyCalifornia
"As a professional weeder, who’s in the middle of de-rusting, sharpening and restoring my tools midwinter, this video was so inspiring. I hadn’t quite known how to apply the linseed oil and this helped. Keep making these!"
HopeAmherst, MA
"Very helpful with good explanation. Never heard of a spokeshave but definitely will purchase one soon. I had read about the boiled linseed from Tried and True but your video did an excellent job of explaining the differences. Now I’m off to work on my dozens of tool handles."
WhettenAlabama
"I’m a newbie when it comes to gardening so this was really helpful for me. Thank you for sharing these great tips. Keep up the good work. Cheers"
JosephColorado
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Next

About

Formerly an e-commerce store, The Tool Merchants now offers honest garden tool reviews and
how-to guides for avid gardeners.
Discover some of the best tools on the market and learn how to care for them so they perform well year after year.

Instagram Facebook-f
The Tool Merchants PO Box 164, Williams, OR 97544 thetoolmerchants@gmail.com
"Great video! Although I’ve tried to do some sharpening of garden tools in the past, I’ve never been satisfied with the results. After watching this video a couple of times, I went out and did the best job I’ve ever done on my dull hoes! Thanks so much."
GloriaTexas
"WOW! Thanks so much for this tutorial. I fall into the category of "afraid I'll screw something up". Now I feel ready to at least try to love my garden tools a little more."
GailOregon
"Great informative video! After gardening for 30 years I’m finally determined to give my long neglected gardening tools some overdue attention this winter. There’s so much to know – what to use on the metal, the wood (in different stages of wear), etc. This video confirms a lot of what I ‘thought’ I need to do & what to use, but greatly clarified what to use, when & why!"
PatSyracuse, NY
"Excellent how-to. Lucid and thorough, without useless chatter. Clear close-ups to demonstrate his point. One of the best how-to videos I’ve seen."
DaleMontana
"Great video on sharpening! I’ve never sharpened a tool, but today was too much work with dull tools! Thank you!"
MegIndiana
"This has to be the most helpful, very-well paced and pertinent video yet for me. I have never picked up a sharpening tool, but I bought one from the Tool Merchant and can’t wait to use it. I think I have the confidence to do this now. Even though I didn’t have the tool in hand, I practiced the correct movement with you and that helped, too. Want to say thanks very much for your time and skills sharing."
CharleneTexas
"Thank you for a great tutorial. I’m a professional gardener and my tools need some care. I am excited to start the season with them restored."
AmyCalifornia
"As a professional weeder, who’s in the middle of de-rusting, sharpening and restoring my tools midwinter, this video was so inspiring. I hadn’t quite known how to apply the linseed oil and this helped. Keep making these!"
HopeAmherst, MA
"Very helpful with good explanation. Never heard of a spokeshave but definitely will purchase one soon. I had read about the boiled linseed from Tried and True but your video did an excellent job of explaining the differences. Now I’m off to work on my dozens of tool handles."
WhettenAlabama
"I’m a newbie when it comes to gardening so this was really helpful for me. Thank you for sharing these great tips. Keep up the good work. Cheers"
JosephColorado
Previous
Next

About

Formerly an e-commerce store, The Tool Merchants now offers honest garden tool reviews and
how-to guides for avid gardeners.
Discover some of the best tools on the market and learn how to care for them so they perform well
year after year.

Instagram Facebook-f

The Tool Merchants
PO Box 164, Williams, OR 97544
thetoolmerchants@gmail.com

"Great video! Although I’ve tried to do some sharpening of garden tools in the past, I’ve never been satisfied with the results. After watching this video a couple of times, I went out and did the best job I’ve ever done on my dull hoes! Thanks so much."
GloriaTexas
"WOW! Thanks so much for this tutorial. I fall into the category of "afraid I'll screw something up". Now I feel ready to at least try to love my garden tools a little more."
GailOregon
"Great informative video! After gardening for 30 years I’m finally determined to give my long neglected gardening tools some overdue attention this winter. There’s so much to know – what to use on the metal, the wood (in different stages of wear), etc. This video confirms a lot of what I ‘thought’ I need to do & what to use, but greatly clarified what to use, when & why!"
PatSyracuse, NY
"Excellent how-to. Lucid and thorough, without useless chatter. Clear close-ups to demonstrate his point. One of the best how-to videos I’ve seen."
DaleMontana
"Great video on sharpening! I’ve never sharpened a tool, but today was too much work with dull tools! Thank you!"
MegIndiana
"This has to be the most helpful, very-well paced and pertinent video yet for me. I have never picked up a sharpening tool, but I bought one from the Tool Merchant and can’t wait to use it. I think I have the confidence to do this now. Even though I didn’t have the tool in hand, I practiced the correct movement with you and that helped, too. Want to say thanks very much for your time and skills sharing."
CharleneTexas
"Thank you for a great tutorial. I’m a professional gardener and my tools need some care. I am excited to start the season with them restored."
AmyCalifornia
"As a professional weeder, who’s in the middle of de-rusting, sharpening and restoring my tools midwinter, this video was so inspiring. I hadn’t quite known how to apply the linseed oil and this helped. Keep making these!"
HopeAmherst, MA
"Very helpful with good explanation. Never heard of a spokeshave but definitely will purchase one soon. I had read about the boiled linseed from Tried and True but your video did an excellent job of explaining the differences. Now I’m off to work on my dozens of tool handles."
WhettenAlabama
"I’m a newbie when it comes to gardening so this was really helpful for me. Thank you for sharing these great tips. Keep up the good work. Cheers"
JosephColorado
Previous
Next

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