Garden forks

[rana]

Having bent or broken a number of digging forks over the years has anyone out there got a reccommendation for a decent garden fork, as I am now in the market of a replacement.

[lottie dolly]

last year i paid £20 for a border fork,stainless steele,and ended up returning it with a bent pronge,last week i got one from wilko's,£12.?,this time i got the large one,and it's much better,so far used it twice,and like it better,i thought maybe it was going to be to big for me to handle,but it's great,my son had a much dearer one that fared no better,i am finding my new one so much easier,it's got a slight bend in it,not straight like the cheaper ones,and so far seems a whole lot easier to use,i deffinalely would not waste money on a cheap model again,my advice is not just buy 1 for the price,but feel it first,and please put the receipt in a safe place in case you have to return it,and make sure they got a full money refund,and not just a credit note,as was in my case,i found out to late,best of luck

[poozie]

we love our ergonomic stainless steel Spear and Jackson Evo forks and shovel.

[BrideXIII]

erm paid 2 quid for mine at the local Emmaus charity place, very old, well used and has years left in it

[Two_Sheds]

I just bought a Spear & Jackson one with a lifetime guarantee, from Homebase about £22

(I've kept the receipt)

[danmon_81]

spear and jackson for me......

But....the bulldog ones (no welds - one complete piece of metal) are supposed to be the mutts.

[bobleponge]

I know that they are uber expensive for gardening tools, but yes, I would recommend Bulldog as well. Single piece, allegedly unbreakable, although I'm sure some people see that as a challenge.

[TEB]

Get ours from car boot sales, 50p to a few quid, lasts a season or so

[Epsom Gardener]

I looked everywhere for the best priced quality fork. Finally found a Bulldog one half price at £23 so snapped that up. Just this weekend I saw Chessington Garden Centre has the Spear & Jackson ones on at half price - didn't look at the cost as I have the Bulldog one. I would call before going to make sure they still have the tool you want though. Good luck.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I just bought a Spear & Jackson one with a lifetime guarantee

S&J for me too - managed to break one after about 8 years, but they replaced it immediately.

[Norm]

Some kind soul left me one on the plot I took over tw..er.. a lot of years ago. Weighs a ton, didn't bend lifting sunflower roots and has a new long handle.

[gojiberry]

B & Q have replaced my fork twice in the last 18 months and one of the prongs snapped just after xmas but I just can't be bothered to go back a third time. It was a stainless steel for £20. I have another one which I have had well over a year and it is brill, can't remember where I got it but as it has a slight bend in the handle it could have been Wilco. I know I would not have paid more than £20 as I am so heavy on forks.

Ian

[rana]

Thanks all for your advice - it looks like the favourites are Spear & Jackson or Bulldog - and keep the receipt.................

[Snadger]

I find bulldog tools are long lasting but very 'numb'. I've also got Spear and jackson stainless steel gear which is also a bit numb. Numb is an intangible term I know, but if you are using a tool all day it has to be comfortable to use and feel right.

I'm with bride on this one.............old tools, even antique tools are the ones I prefer!

[geoff]

I have a top quality Spear & Jackson - excellent; Bulldog also has a good reputation. I also have a stainless steel fork from ADSDA, about 9GBP (sorry, this is an American keyboard) which has lasted about 3 years without any problems
Alternatives are

To look for something old & strong in a charity shop, car boot sale, or ask other plotholders if they have a one going spare
Or to get the cheapest you can find in a discount store or DIY store and regard it as disposeable

Homebase DIY stores have a heavy duty range of tools with a distnctive black and yellow finish, but I've forgotten it's name
Some gardening books illustrate a strongly made 2 - pronged fork designed for heavy soil, but I don't know where you'd get one
If you are doing so much heavy work that you are breaking forks, you might be better off with a wrecking bar or a pickaxe to start with