Stormcrow Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 I currently live in an apartment not far from my shop. I don't have a garden, but there is a bit of a yard, and it grows a lot of grassburrs. If you aren't familiar with these, count yourself lucky. They are resilient plants and their seeds are little spheres covered with spikes that have microscopic barbs. These can easily drive deeply enough into unsuspecting flesh to draw blood and hurt like the devil to pull back out. The seeds grow in clusters, and when dry will scatter at the slightest disturbance, spreading themselves and attaching to anything mobile so they may come to soil further afield. These end up in my carpet, where they are suddenly encountered with my bare feet. So I need to hoe the plants in my apartment's yard before they can produce seeds. I didn't have a hoe. The ones available for sale at Home Despot and similar stores are heavy, ugly, with blades at the wrong angle, likely as not made in Communist China, and generally unsatisfactory. Good thing I have a power hammer. This is what I forged out last week. It is forged from a single piece of scrap leaf spring that I had in my shop. I hardened and temepred it, and managed to find a handle to put it on (it was actually more difficult to find the handle than to make the head because stores expect you to buy a new tool rather than replace a handle, a sure sign of our degenerating civilization ). It is held on by friction at the moment, but will be receiving a screw to help hold it on if it becomes loose. It's lightweight, is at the correct angle for use, and is much more interesting and beautiful than what I could have found in a store. It's almost sculptural in form. And most importantly, it works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 It looks like a nice one! I made a hoe for my garden a couple of days ago myself. I made mine for cutting weeds in cultivated soil so it is sharp on all sides. I am quite impressed with the socket on your hoe! Nice job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Shimanek Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Good looking tool and made in America, good on ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 I like it. Nice looking design. Thanks for posting pics of it. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Very nice looking! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormcrow Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Thanks, guys! Bigfootnampa - Got any pictures of it up? Steve - I'm thinking about when I have a table at a crafts show having a display of tools: half of them made by me, and the other half being what you find in Home Despot these days. Let people hold them and use them some, and let them tell the difference for themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Now THAT would be a great idea!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 I would have liked to a hoe like that when I had a large garden and yard, nice work indeed, but out here in the desert it'd be really good for taking the heads off of rattlesnakes. That sure is a nicely forge hoe, a real work of the hoe makers art. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KST1-Derek Fultz Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 good for taking the heads off of rattlesnakes My granddad,in his retirement, always carried a hoe instead of a walking stick when out in the woods and around the home place. He kept it real sharp all the time. He used it for picking up sticks and things from the ground without bending over, cutting sucker limbs from trees, killing snakes (lots of them), and yes, weeding his garden. A truly multipurpose tool. I carry one in the bed of my pickup for pulling stuff out that has slid up against the cab. Wish mine was as pretty as yours Stomcrow. -Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormcrow Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 I've had enough inquiries about my garden hoe and my camp ax that they're now part of my official lineup: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/2011/05/garden-hoes-and-camp-axes-offered-for.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainely,Bob Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Great looking tool there. Nice to be able to make exactly what you need instead of settling for what`s offered ain`t it. Be sure to wear a big diamond earring and your best pimp hat when you get that hoe working out in the yard. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connor bachmann Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 if i may say, that is a fine looking tool. I'm thinking of forging one myself someday. Mine is going to have a tang that will be burnt on though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Christman Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 That right there is a gorgeous, and quality tool. Very fine craftsmanship sir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric sprado Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 What size spring did you use? I tried making one with my LG25 and it was just too much spring for my Hammer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petere76 Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Nice job on the socket, looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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