Cool Tools, lesser known tools that can improve your life

J Howard wrote:Awesome thread. As far as blades go, I don't have a particular item I recommend, but I'd like to point out the importance of a quality sharpener. My best knife was $3 brand new, only the best because with it I bought a $20 sharpener with it. Also, what's the purpose for the chains surrounding each three blocks of wood in the Splitz-All picture?

Don't know if you ever got an answer to your question.  The chains hold the logs as they're being split, so you aren't chasing around after the pieces to split again or just load out.  Why did they use three logs? No idea, I've generally seen the trick used for axe or maul splitting and usually just one log at a time...

Firewood processors are workhorses, they cut and split the wood quickly, especially the hydraulic units . However , cost some money. Leasing is worth looking at. Usually  you only need 2 months payments and you,re in business. You will make all your own fuel and be able to sell to others. We bag the wood and deliver it. Nice stream of hundred dollar bills...

THere are firewood processors to mount on front or rear of a skidsteer/traktor or stand alone units with 18 hp gas engines.

Look up firewoodprocessors.ca

Cheers ,

Mark the woodland farmer

Man Ya I have an old yankee scewdriver that finally siezed but it did alot of service.. I got it in scandinavia where they would also jokingly call a hammer  an " american screwdriver "  

Here s 2 handtools that are very useful and not expensive.

The bill hook is the greatest for pruning unwanted branches close to the main tree trunck. Fiskars makes this one , hardware store $30.00 called brush axe but its a traditional bill hook or leaf knife, very good steel. Originally used in pollarding/cutting browse for cattle. Grass feeding beef fairly recent development...

The other is a pickaroon which is an axehandle with a steel beak on it for picking up and even tossing wood with.  Saves alot of bending. This one is old beak on new handle.

Sorry for the poor photo. I think my camera froze !

I saw this at the mother earth news fair. My mouth dropped. Why havent i seen this years ago? Simple but brilliant.

Its a pruner with the cutter bent at 90 degrees.

It allows my old achy body to cut baby junipers in an upright position. The key to killing it is getting the bottom leaf cut. It doesnt always happen when cutting at an angle with traditional pruners. The handle has an adjustable length also.

If, as most homesteaders do at times, you use propane, acetylene, or other air-fuel or oxy-fuel torches I think this is handy & worth knowing about.  I use torches in my shop and in other applications — everything from thawing frozen pipes, to loosening corroded nuts or bolts, to bending or cutting steel, or brazing, and more.

Until about a year ago I habitually lit various torches I have with a conventional flint “striker” (or “sparker”).  But they’re fussy, and too often used to have to twist the flint around 90* or so, or replace a worn down flint.

This little device (cost me under $20) just works very easily every time, and the manufacturer promises tens of thousands of ignitions.  I’ve found it to be safe to use with my torches, too.  Amazon sells it and I think probably other places do too.

Hey folks since I have been on an internet frenzy during my visit with family, I of course stumbled upon another cool tool.

This is a unique take on the Hori Hori knife. A subject I posted starting this thread.

So here it is.



It can be found at https://www.etsy.com/listing/595800534/the-soil-key-hori-hori?

Their right up

This incredibly versatile tool is based on the classic Japanese gardening tool, the Hori Hori, or garden knife. It is essentially three tools in one: a trowel, a saw, and a knife. Our version is larger and stronger than a regular Hori Hori. What makes this tool special, however, is the complex handle which allows for an array of grips, grasps, leverages, and useful angles, including for chopping, pounding, thrusting, and digging. Full body weight can be applied while using this tool without bending the blade. This is a trowel that will hold up under the full duress of heavy use. Excellent for foraging, small-scale intensive agriculture, and landscaping. Very heavy duty. Extremely difficult to bend or break.

The tool head should be cleaned regularly with steel wool and coconut or linseed oil, and should not be stored outdoors or in high humidity, as rusting may occur. The blade is not sold fully sharpened.

The blade of this tool is made from AR-400 grade steel. This alloy exhibits high abrasion resistance (AR) and hardness. The addition of carbon and manganese, as well as quenching and tempering increase the hardness of the steel and create a very durable, impact-resistant surface. It is used in applications where abrasive materials such as grains, coal, ore, cement, gravel, light aggregate, and earth are being handled.


Measurements:

Total length: 12.5"
Blade length: 6"
Total width: 7"
Total weight: 2.5lbs"

OK yes it is sort of ugly, but hey that is just hand craftsmanship character right? And of course, it really doesn't matter if it is pretty or not it is how well does it work. My one real issue is the 2.5 lbs. While not super heavy, that weight can get pretty intense if you are using this for a long duration. I would love to see the makers of this find a way to maybe lighten the tool while keeping the design pretty much as is.

I already have and love the Barebones hori hori. But this might be the right hori hori for someone out there, so thought I would share here. I do have to say the idea of the circular grip for more leverage options is really interesting. I could see it being very useful for some applications.