I think the correct German name for that tool is a 'Karst'. It's used in vineyards which are very rocky and narrow between the rows to airate and plant new plants. Great tool, as you said mostly for rocky ground. For softer grounds there are 'Haue' which are the same tool, but with a narrow spade instead of forks. Great for turning ground and planting.
You use the large muscles of your legs and your body weight to leverage the broad fork. You use weaker, although not necessarily weak, upper body muscles for the swing fork, plus the shock of that fork hitting the ground is transferred to your upper body. It’s a lot more work, which you may not realize when you are younger. Years from now you will realize the difference. I’m 78 and can still use a broad fork with ease. Swinging a tool into the ground/wood repeatedly will quickly give me a very sore back and shoulders. Why I went a hydraulic log splitter and retired the splitting mail years ago.
When I was young, we used the swing fork to open potato hills and carrot beds and the like, working across the bed then pulling it to you. In our wet, stony ground it worked much better than the conventional 'digging fork', which was inclined to plug and harder to sink in. I'll happily attest to the excellence of the hand tools I've bought from you- *much* better than anything available to me locally, and well worth the cost- they are 'heirloom quality'.
If the video was half an hour long you would have dug all the ground. Here in Portugal we have something identical with 4 points, we call it "Enxada de Leiria", (Leiria is a city)
I think the correct German name for that tool is a 'Karst'.
It's used in vineyards which are very rocky and narrow between the rows to airate and plant new plants.
Great tool, as you said mostly for rocky ground. For softer grounds there are 'Haue' which are the same tool, but with a narrow spade instead of forks. Great for turning ground and planting.
You use the large muscles of your legs and your body weight to leverage the broad fork. You use weaker, although not necessarily weak, upper body muscles for the swing fork, plus the shock of that fork hitting the ground is transferred to your upper body. It’s a lot more work, which you may not realize when you are younger. Years from now you will realize the difference. I’m 78 and can still use a broad fork with ease. Swinging a tool into the ground/wood repeatedly will quickly give me a very sore back and shoulders. Why I went a hydraulic log splitter and retired the splitting mail years ago.
Nice!!! ET has some great tools. Glad I discovered them!
When I was young, we used the swing fork to open potato hills and carrot beds and the like, working across the bed then pulling it to you. In our wet, stony ground it worked much better than the conventional 'digging fork', which was inclined to plug and harder to sink in. I'll happily attest to the excellence of the hand tools I've bought from you- *much* better than anything available to me locally, and well worth the cost- they are 'heirloom quality'.
If the video was half an hour long you would have dug all the ground.
Here in Portugal we have something identical with 4 points, we call it "Enxada de Leiria", (Leiria is a city)
That's a good broadfork. We cover a lot of ground with it.
We need to order a few next order.
Vertical fork is needed to have lever bracket aside, face to men.
Its certainly going to be cheaper than a new broardfork