Doing it yourself? Get the proper tools

Tag : hand tools
By Jim Walker
Signal Senior Writer
jwalker@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x524
Posted: Oct. 3, 2008 9:49 p.m.



In these uncertain times, many people are cutting back on expensesby eliminating certain purchases or services they feel are lessthan vital. While no one, of course, would ever drop theirnewspaper subscription, they might buy a fewer lattes each week orstart drinking tap water instead of bottled. They might only getone massage a month and maybe let the psychic figure out why theyhaven’t been called. A few folks, innovative or misguided asthe case may be, might even consider eliminating their gardeningservice. If you’re one of these, here’s a word toconsider: “amortization.”

To do the job yourself, you will need the proper tools. And if youhave none of them, purchasing those tools might cost you more thana couple years’ worth of gardener bills. You might not see areturn on your investment until around 2010. And, if you have a bigyard and want a riding mower, make that 2113.

However, for those bold enough to consider going it alone,we’ll take a look at the various tools and machines you mayneed to purchase, and get a little advice on choosing and usingthem from Keith Oien, sales manager at the Valencia Do It Center.

Lawn mowers
We’ll assume that you have a tract-home-sized yard, whichwould normally make a riding lawn mower a bit overkill. But ridingor not, the powered lawn mower is usually the biggest-ticketpurchase a homeowner will make tool-wise. Powered types include gasand electric, and you can always go old school with a hand mower.

Gas vs. electric: “Gas-powered lawn mowers have typicallybeen what people think of,” Oien said. But, in his opinion,they have several drawbacks when compared to electric lawn mowers.Most importantly, Oien feels, gas mowers create air pollution.Beyond that you have to remember to purchase the gas, and if yourmower has a two-cycle engine, you have to mix oil with the gas.“You have to use a fuel stabilizer if you don’t use themower for awhile,” he added.

Gas mowers also require tune ups, and their air filters requireregular cleaning — more often under dusty conditions. Oiensaid that with all the regulations on gasoline in California it isprobably cheaper to use an electric mower than to use a gas one.

While gas mowers may be more powerful in general, Oien feels youusually don’t need all that power. If your lawn is so longyour electric mower can’t cut it all at once, raise the mowerheight for the first pass and then lower it for a second pass.

“I find electric mowers very easy to move around.They’re lighter,” Oien said, and he doesn’t feelrestricted by the extension cord.

The Do It Center has gas mowers from $159 to $269, and electricmowers from $169 to $239.
Hand power: Your final choice in lawn mowers is hand-powered. Oiensaid these are more suitable for smaller yards and for people whowant the exercise. “They’re definitely lowercost,” he added. However, the height adjustment onhand-powered lawn mowers is limited and, if you let your grass gettoo long, it will be difficult to push through. The Do It Centerhas a hand-powered lawn mower for $89.

Trimmers
When it comes to cleaning up the edges of your lawn, you can gowith cord-type trimmers or the more precise edgers. The unitsintended specifically for lawn “edging” include largeelectric models ($89) and hand-powered models ($29).

These days many folks use the cord-type trimmers for cutting weedsand for edging their lawns. These come in gas-powered and electricmodels. Oien said the electric models are much lighter than the gasmodels. With either type you choose the diameter of the cord youuse to cut, depending on what you are cutting. These cords areavailable at the Do It Center from 0.050 to 0.105 inches. Oiennoted that, especially with the heavier cords, you need to becareful when you are using them around trees.

Blowers
Blowers find a variety of uses in the yard. You can herd leaves onthe ground or blow them out of rain gutters. You can push the grassyou “edged” off your driveway and back on the lawn andyou can even “sweep” your garage with a blower. The DoIt Center has a gas powered blower for $149 and an electric modelfor $49. There is even a vacuum “blower” with a bag,with which you can suck up your leaves and clippings.

Oien reminds that the “low-tech” alternative to ablower is a rake.

Chain saws
While chain saws might go beyond the limits of general yardmachinery, they can come in handy for tree trimming. The Do ItCenter also has a unique machine called the“Alligator,” which is a cross between a lopper and achain saw. One jaw is the saw and the other more of a grip. Thisretails for $99.

Hedge trimmers
If you have hedges, junipers or bougainvillea or just aboutanything that keeps growing outward and upward, you need a hedgetrimmer. These days most people use electric hedge trimmers. The DoIt Center has a 22-inch (blade) model at $84, a 20-inch at $59 anda 16-inch at $34. There is also a cordless electric hand trimmer at$49. “That’s for little places,” Oien said.

Can you say manual?
Even the laziest yard-worker will need a number of hand tools toclean up and touch up and dig.
Rakes: The Do It Center has rakes from $5 to $14, in many styles.Some are made of plastic and some of metal. Leaf rakes haveflexible prongs for duties such as raking up leaves, and smallerleaf rakes are available for getting under and around shrubs. Thereis even an “adjustable” leaf rake. Bow rakes have stiffprongs, for raking garden soil.

Shears, loppers and pruners: Shears are used to manually trimhedges, and loppers are for thicker stems, such as rose stems.Pruners are used to cut branches. The Do It Center’sselection of these three tools ranges from $10 to $30.

Hand saws: Unlike typical wood saws, which have smaller teeth forneater work, hand saws for yard use have larger teeth that areangled to both cut and clean on forward and backward strokes. Thishelps cut through the green wood of branches.

Shovels and such: If you’re going-a-digging, the Do It Centerhas you covered with shovels of many types and sizes from $6 to$32. There are hoes and cultivators at $14, and aerators from $27to $29.
Wheelbarrows: Many homeowners find a wheelbarrow essential. Withthese you can move dirt, sod, logs and the clippings you want toget to your recycle barrel or compost pile. They are useful formixing garden soil as well. The Do It Center has these from $34 -$69.

Fertilizer and weed sprays
You may have only realized it from the bill, but your gardenerprobably added fertilizer to your lawn and shrubs regularly. Nowit’s your turn. You may also want to use a weed spray, unlessyou enjoy digging out your unwanteds. Get advice on fertilizers andweed killers from your garden shop professional.
You can spread fertilizer using a hand spreader ($10 to $13) or arolling spreader ($22 to $69). Some weed killers and fertilizerscome in convenient jugs that attach to your hose. You apply themwhile spraying water from the hose.

Outfitting
Finally, do not go gentle into the yard jungle. Gloves areessential. The Do It Center has gloves from $2 to $24. Some offer abetter “feel” and others more protection. There arealso hats and “Slogger” shoes at $19.