Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Graeme on February 27, 2015, 06:29:08 PM
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I am probably a bit preaching to the converted but has everyone tried one of these?
The best thing I bought last year was a azada digging hoe
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31zbAms8suL._SX300_.jpg (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31zbAms8suL._SX300_.jpg)
Found it was also good for digging foundations - took me half the time and a lot less back ache than digging with a spade - less jarring the wrists
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Our local grave digger swears by 'em ;D
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Looks similar to an Italian hoe ('zappa'). I have a couple in different sizes - fairly cheap to buy in Italy - and they're excellent tools.
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Funny you should say that , Graeme - as it happens that is very similar to the last piece of kit we got here - a mattock -
[attachimg=1]
It is a VERY useful tool. The two different "faces" are extremely tough and make easy work of tree roots and so on and make it possible to remove stumps I wouldn't have believed we could without mechanical equipment. And, as you mention with your new toy, easier on the back than an alternative, be it spafde or trenching tool.
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Looks similar to an Italian hoe ('zappa'). I have a couple in different sizes - fairly cheap to buy in Italy - and they're excellent tools.
I think Frank has one too?
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Here we call it "rotøks" lit. root axe. Very handy as you say, I have inherited both my father's and my father in law's!
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Funny you should say that , Graeme - as it happens that is very similar to the last piece of kit we got here - a mattock -
(Attachment Link)
It is a VERY useful tool. The two different "faces" are extremely tough and make easy work of tree roots and so on and make it possible to remove stumps I wouldn't have believed we could without mechanical equipment. And, as you mention with your new toy, easier on the back than an alternative, be it spafde or trenching tool.
Got quite a few of them but they have a short handle - these things have a very long handle about 1.2-1.4 m - which means a lot more throw and a lot less back ache
I even have a mattocks with fibreglass handles to reduce the feedback on the wrists
If I spend every waking hour in summer when I am not working building stone walls at home it plays havoc with my wrist - I even bought a eastwing rock hammer which has helped but it 'rings' when you hit anything with it - now that is an evil tool - you seem to get twice the weight of blow due to the design - more toys
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What kind of rock gardens do you have? Jungles?
I usually use a trowel to replace a dead alpine.http://www.srgc.net/forum/Smileys/classic/wink.gif (http://www.srgc.net/forum/Smileys/classic/wink.gif)
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When I was a lad everyone had a mattock ( why does this bloody machine substitute mystical for mattock?)
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Looks similar to an Italian hoe ('zappa'). I have a couple in different sizes - fairly cheap to buy in Italy - and they're excellent tools.
I guess you must drive to Italy - you'd have fun getting one of those on a plane!
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What kind of rock gardens do you have? Jungles?
I usually use a trowel to replace a dead alpine. ;D
Ahh! you got us there, John :D ;) :D You're right , we should need nothing biggger than an knife and fork, eh? ::)
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I think Frank has one too?
Nah, I think Franks has a Dweezil.....
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Funny you should say that , Graeme - as it happens that is very similar to the last piece of kit we got here - a mattock -
In these parts we call that a pick mattock. There is also this one, an edge mattock.
johnw
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What kind of rock gardens do you have? Jungles?
I usually use a trowel to replace a dead alpine.http://www.srgc.net/forum/Smileys/classic/wink.gif (http://www.srgc.net/forum/Smileys/classic/wink.gif)
rock garden is last thing to be built - and I am some way off getting on that job (although I have it on the plan) - I have a couple of pyramids of building stone at the moment about 100 tons that I need to get used first - I have already earmarked the bits/cubes for the rock garden at the quarry (they are using them to block off bits of the quarry road) and it will be a crane job as they are about 1m cubes (I could do with some Egyptian builders.....)
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I guess you must drive to Italy - you'd have fun getting one of those on a plane!
Brought one back in the car and another in a suitcase in the aircraft hold! They sell the heads and shafts separately which makes packing easier. http://www.handyofficinepiazza.com/prd_images/img_1024_2208.jpg (http://www.handyofficinepiazza.com/prd_images/img_1024_2208.jpg) The one stashed in the luggage also had a smaller, narrower cutting edge - what my father-in-law called a woman's zappa ::) They're also lighter than a UK standard mattock so not as tiring to use - but the latter is brilliant for the heavier jobs.
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I think Frank has one too?
Hot Rats David! - weasels would have to rip my flesh before I'd succumb to punning references to Mr Z. ;D
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;D ;D ;D
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Nothing to do with gardening, well thats not true. I wont have to get my hands wet and dirty cleaning filters in my pond anymore , so I will have more time to get my hands dirty in the garden. Not fitted yet but works like a washing machine, just spins when dirty and throws all the muck away and it computerised so just plug and play, well thats what they say. We will wait and see.
Angie :)
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I bought a similar long handled tool but with 2 heavy prongs, instead of the blade. Designed for stony ground. It works OK and is probably less tiring than the mattock I also have. The main problem I found is the angle of the blade to the handle is not ideal. It would be better if I was 6" or more shorter to get a better attack angle. Maybe Europeans are shorter than me (~5'9") on average or using these things make them that way ;-) I bought it online from somewhere in Norfolk I think. I think Monty Don used one somewhere too.