Hey everyone, what are you waiting for? It’s already the second week of spring. Even if it’s still a little damp outside, there are some projects you can do now to prepare for the bigger projects soon to come.
Now is the time to survey your outdoor tools. Shovels, rakes and hoes that have been hanging in storage for several months may need cleaning, sharpening or replacing.
Hopefully you cleaned away dirt and mud from your tools before storing them last winter, but, as the old Neil Young song goes, “rust never sleeps.”
Metal parts can be cleaned with sandpaper, steel wool or a wire brush. You should then protect the bare metal by applying a light coat of machine oil with a rag.
An eight-inch flat file is great to restore an edge to a blade. For the best cutting edge on shovels and hoes, only sharpen from one side.
Wooden handles that may have weathered can be smoothed with fine sandpaper or steel wool. Treating the wood with a light coat of linseed oil will help prevent future decay.
These techniques can also be used on your wheelbarrow. Clean away rust from the metal tray, and sand and oil the handles. Invest in a can of “rust-inhibiting” spray paint, and paint bare metal areas.
Check tires for cracks and dry rot. If you have a flat, replace the tire or install an inner tube. Be sure to check the size of the tire before going to the store. There should be numbers on the side of the tire such as 4.10 / 8. There will also be information on the tire that tells the proper inflation. A properly inflated wheelbarrow tire rolls and balances much more easily.
Spring is here, and “Good Friday” is only a couple of days away, so we’re almost ready to start planting in the ground.
Remember, help is just around the corner at your local hardware store.
