Thank you so much Gardenerd for this great video. Easy to understand, not intimidating, and very relatable. Too bad I didn't check this out 8 years ago when you uploaded it.
When I was a kid, my father kept all garden tools on an old sheet of plywood in the shed. He kept a plastic tub with the old oil from changing the oil in his car, and he kept an old paint brush in the oil. Our family rule was that all garden tools got wiped clean after use, and "painted" with old motor oil before putting them away. My family uses hot water to rinse away sap. We have lots of pine trees in our yard, and nothing cleans the sap like hot water. (I've never tried sanding them.) I have used WD-40 in the past, but recently, I've just wiped them down with a rag dipped in Crisco. (I'm not claiming that's a good idea, it's just what we have done since one time when the WD-40 was empty...) I've never heard of disinfecting gardening tools, but that makes sense.
Good tips. But don't use WD-40, that isn't really oil, and will evaporate away after a time. It's real use is to drive water out of things (the WD stands for water displacing) like locks or engines.
Have you ever heard of painting the ends of your tool handles (for finding them easily in the grass)? If so, have you done this and what type of paint or spray would you recommend? Thanks.
Never heard of it but it's a great idea if you have tall grass. We don't have grass in the Gardenerd Test Garden (but loads of mulch!) I would think an acrylic or water-based paint would be the safest. Thanks for sharing.
I'm pretty sure that will work, depending on how course it is. You may have to work harder (The Sandflex block makes it effortless, really), but eventually it will work.
Paint shovels & digging tools a fluorescent orange or green then store in an outside corner of garage or tool shed probably closest to man door. Should a disaster occur these needed tools will be quickly available. Should the garage or tool shed collapse you will know where to look for specific tools in the rubble.
We really prefer to use straight rubbing alcohol for disinfecting pruning shears between cuts (especially when pruning diseased plants). I haven't really used bleach for disinfecting, but since it is strong, you'd probably want to cut it by 50% and don't mix it with any other type of cleaner. Alcohol is better for the task if you have it on hand, though.
@@mindya1799 Someone said they found it on the RedPigTools.com page, but I haven't been able to find it. Most tool companies like Corona and Felco make their own pruner oil. I've seen them listed on Amazon.
I'm a big fan of hydrogen peroxide for cleaning tools and disinfecting (also bleaching out grubby soil stains on my garden hat!). Just rinse well after use.
The most easiest easiest is using petrol or gasoline.. use paint brush.. also wear mask.. lol Ooo.. Dont forget to tell everyone who’s probably around “NO ONE SMOKING please” !!😅 Ooo...please dont take as im being troll or sarcastic..but that trully I usually do,cleaning me pruning hand saw after using it.bear in mind i use for prune ficus tree..as you maybe know,ficus sap is very very sticky..😒😞🙄 Anyway,thank you for helpfull thay def i will try.. Cheers☺️🤗👋🏽🌱🌴🌳🌿☘️
From what I can tell, sewing machine oil is a mineral oil, which is a derivative of petroleum. Untreated or minimally-treated minerals oils are labeled as a Class 1 carcinogen. I don't know whether sewing machine oil is processed more heavily or not, so it's a good idea to wipe your tools clean of as much oil as possible before using them on food crops. Everything I read about sewing machine oil indicates that it's fine to use on machines and tools to prevent rusting.
Oddly it's not available on their website, so they must not produce it anymore. But Felco makes a pruner oil that is readily available. I've seen Corona and Fiskers sold pruner oil at one point too.
@@Gardenerd Thanks. I have a question for you if you don't mind. There's a path in the area I live in. It looks like it has been there for a while. Over 20-years. The paths are defined by a very light grained gravel. Maybe an ash. It threads its way between two ponds and is canopied by vegetation in parts. It is a perfect half hour walk, loaded with songbirds, some beaver, Canadian Geese and their goslings, ducks and their broods, fish, frogs, songbirds of all kinds, snakes sunning themselves on the path, all kinds of trees and bushes. It has been neglected. In parts people have bent back limbs to keep the path open. I took my pruning shears with me on one walk, taking out the dead wood, the vines, the lower hanging branches. I went back again with my branch loppers. I am thinking of going back with a rake and smoothing out the ash in the walkways. This thing could easily get addictive. I am even thinking about taking my garden cart, some trash cans, and taking out the debris for disposal. I really don't know if I should be donating (giving away), my time by taking care of somebody else's pathways (somebody else's problem). This was not how I was raised. I tend to want to help, but I was raised to mind my own business. What do you think?
@@jefflovejoy2997 It all depends on whether the path is part of a public park or on private land. If private, I would leave it alone, of course. If it's on public land, it might be worth contacting the local park to find out who oversees that path and its surrounds. There may already be a volunteer crew set up to deal with that kind of maintenance. If there's nothing like that around, it's up to you whether you want to contribute your time and effort in that way. Just make sure to sanitize your pruning equipment before and after so you don't end up spreading disease by accident. That's my 2 cents.
Ah, yes. That's a different pair. As long as we've had them there has only been one red handle. The other was bare. The metal leaves dust on our gloves so it would make sense to replace the missing grip. Thanks!
I suppose you can, but be sure to wipe it really clean afterward. Keep in mind that you wouldn't want to use anything with motor oil on it on veggies you plan to eat until it wears off/soaks in. There is a strong argument against using any petroleum-based oil on tools you plan to use around food, but I have found that cooking oils (which are safer) turn sticky and rancid too quickly. So I use pruner oil specifically designed for the purpose, but I let them sit awhile before using on food crops.
We just checked and it played all the way through. There was a little glitch in the beginning where it stopped playing, but we hit play again and it started up again. Give it another try.
Thank you so much Gardenerd for this great video. Easy to understand, not intimidating, and very relatable. Too bad I didn't check this out 8 years ago when you uploaded it.
Well, we're happy you're here now. Happy cleaning!
Just what I needed ... easy to follow .... thanks for this very helpful video!
Good presentation; Thanks for sharing. Loved your intro; very cool.
When I was a kid, my father kept all garden tools on an old sheet of plywood in the shed. He kept a plastic tub with the old oil from changing the oil in his car, and he kept an old paint brush in the oil. Our family rule was that all garden tools got wiped clean after use, and "painted" with old motor oil before putting them away.
My family uses hot water to rinse away sap. We have lots of pine trees in our yard, and nothing cleans the sap like hot water. (I've never tried sanding them.) I have used WD-40 in the past, but recently, I've just wiped them down with a rag dipped in Crisco. (I'm not claiming that's a good idea, it's just what we have done since one time when the WD-40 was empty...) I've never heard of disinfecting gardening tools, but that makes sense.
Thank you! I bought some good ole Singer oil Lubricant (the one my mum bought for her sewing machine back in the day). Should do the trick!
Great advice... thank you for sharing this information.
Good tips. But don't use WD-40, that isn't really oil, and will evaporate away after a time. It's real use is to drive water out of things (the WD stands for water displacing) like locks or engines.
or squeeky door hinges
To common mistake indeed! It doesn't lubricate..
I subbed your channel and will be following your garden as I tend to my garden and greenhouse this season!
God Bless
Chuck
Subscribed right back. Thanks, and happy gardening!
Have you ever heard of painting the ends of your tool handles (for finding them easily in the grass)? If so, have you done this and what type of paint or spray would you recommend? Thanks.
Never heard of it but it's a great idea if you have tall grass. We don't have grass in the Gardenerd Test Garden (but loads of mulch!) I would think an acrylic or water-based paint would be the safest. Thanks for sharing.
What about silicone spray vs WD-40? It doesn't collect dirt. I use it on my bike chain...
Will steel wool work instead of the Hand Block for cleaning off the pruning shears?
I'm pretty sure that will work, depending on how course it is. You may have to work harder (The Sandflex block makes it effortless, really), but eventually it will work.
Thank you
Awesome Tips!
Paint shovels & digging tools a fluorescent orange or green then store in an outside corner of garage or tool shed probably closest to man door. Should a disaster occur these needed tools will be quickly available. Should the garage or tool shed collapse you will know where to look for specific tools in the rubble.
Excellent
Great tips....thanks so much for a great video- Lucky~
Thank you Lucky Dew Garden for watching and I'm glad you found the video helpful!
What ratio do you recommend for the bleach solution?
We really prefer to use straight rubbing alcohol for disinfecting pruning shears between cuts (especially when pruning diseased plants). I haven't really used bleach for disinfecting, but since it is strong, you'd probably want to cut it by 50% and don't mix it with any other type of cleaner. Alcohol is better for the task if you have it on hand, though.
@@Gardenerd
Thank you
Do you have a link to the pruner oil you use?
I can't find it on line.
@@mindya1799 Someone said they found it on the RedPigTools.com page, but I haven't been able to find it. Most tool companies like Corona and Felco make their own pruner oil. I've seen them listed on Amazon.
@@Gardenerd
Thank you
A 10% bleach solution is adequate to disinfect anything; even in the medical field. 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
instead of alcohol or bleach, can I use hydrogen per oxide?
I'm a big fan of hydrogen peroxide for cleaning tools and disinfecting (also bleaching out grubby soil stains on my garden hat!). Just rinse well after use.
I subscribed because of the intro. WD-40 it is.
The most easiest easiest is using petrol or gasoline.. use paint brush.. also wear mask.. lol
Ooo..
Dont forget to tell everyone who’s probably around “NO ONE SMOKING please” !!😅
Ooo...please dont take as im being troll or sarcastic..but that trully I usually do,cleaning me pruning hand saw after using it.bear in mind i use for prune ficus tree..as you maybe know,ficus sap is very very sticky..😒😞🙄
Anyway,thank you for helpfull thay def i will try..
Cheers☺️🤗👋🏽🌱🌴🌳🌿☘️
How about sewing machine oil which I have on hand?
From what I can tell, sewing machine oil is a mineral oil, which is a derivative of petroleum. Untreated or minimally-treated minerals oils are labeled as a Class 1 carcinogen. I don't know whether sewing machine oil is processed more heavily or not, so it's a good idea to wipe your tools clean of as much oil as possible before using them on food crops. Everything I read about sewing machine oil indicates that it's fine to use on machines and tools to prevent rusting.
Anna Brewer I’m wondering about Mineral Oil, which is safe and normally food grade.
@@Gardenerd WD 40 is also a petroleum product btw
where do you find Red Pig Pruner Oil?
Oddly it's not available on their website, so they must not produce it anymore. But Felco makes a pruner oil that is readily available. I've seen Corona and Fiskers sold pruner oil at one point too.
@@Gardenerd Thank you for your quick reply. Are you talking about the Felco 980 Spray?
@@jefflovejoy2997 That is the product I saw available.
@@Gardenerd Thanks. I have a question for you if you don't mind.
There's a path in the area I live in. It looks like it has been there for a while. Over 20-years. The paths are defined by a very light grained gravel. Maybe an ash. It threads its way between two ponds and is canopied by vegetation in parts. It is a perfect half hour walk, loaded with songbirds, some beaver, Canadian Geese and their goslings, ducks and their broods, fish, frogs, songbirds of all kinds, snakes sunning themselves on the path, all kinds of trees and bushes. It has been neglected. In parts people have bent back limbs to keep the path open.
I took my pruning shears with me on one walk, taking out the dead wood, the vines, the lower hanging branches. I went back again with my branch loppers. I am thinking of going back with a rake and smoothing out the ash in the walkways. This thing could easily get addictive. I am even thinking about taking my garden cart, some trash cans, and taking out the debris for disposal.
I really don't know if I should be donating (giving away), my time by taking care of somebody else's pathways (somebody else's problem). This was not how I was raised. I tend to want to help, but I was raised to mind my own business. What do you think?
@@jefflovejoy2997 It all depends on whether the path is part of a public park or on private land. If private, I would leave it alone, of course. If it's on public land, it might be worth contacting the local park to find out who oversees that path and its surrounds. There may already be a volunteer crew set up to deal with that kind of maintenance. If there's nothing like that around, it's up to you whether you want to contribute your time and effort in that way. Just make sure to sanitize your pruning equipment before and after so you don't end up spreading disease by accident. That's my 2 cents.
Felco sells replacement red grips for your pruner.
Call it nostalgia, but I kinda like the original. :-)
Gardenerd I only mentioned it because the one you show was missing one. Not in the intro though.
Ah, yes. That's a different pair. As long as we've had them there has only been one red handle. The other was bare. The metal leaves dust on our gloves so it would make sense to replace the missing grip. Thanks!
Gardenerd I found a parts list at felcopruner.net , each plastic handle cover is a bit over five dollars, but they seem to last a long time.
Thank yoy
Can you just use motor oil?
I suppose you can, but be sure to wipe it really clean afterward. Keep in mind that you wouldn't want to use anything with motor oil on it on veggies you plan to eat until it wears off/soaks in. There is a strong argument against using any petroleum-based oil on tools you plan to use around food, but I have found that cooking oils (which are safer) turn sticky and rancid too quickly. So I use pruner oil specifically designed for the purpose, but I let them sit awhile before using on food crops.
@@Gardenerd thank you!
thanx
Tri Flow. Spray. Better than WD
I would use vinegar
She look like Milla Jovovich
The video isn't working
We just checked and it played all the way through. There was a little glitch in the beginning where it stopped playing, but we hit play again and it started up again. Give it another try.
My do yanks waffle on so much when trying to expalin something? Just get on with and show us what we want to see and hear.
I can't stand the smell of WD-40
Thank you