On Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:32:07 -0800 (PST), Stanley Schaefer
wrote:

On Jan 23, 4:01*am, Larry Jaques
wrote:
On Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:21:35 -0800 (PST), Stanley Schaefer

wrote:
I inherited a gardening tool that I use on the SB, my dad found it in
some bucket of junk he had, probably from one of the multi-greats.
Stamped out of heavy tin with 4 claws about an inch apart. *Handle is
rolled into a taper for a good grip. *All one piece, nothing to split,
chip or absorb oil. * Works well enough for getting the big bundles
out of the pan, then I can use a brush and pan for getting the small
stuff out. *Don't know what the original purpose is, they still have
similar ones in the hardware stores. *Probably for busting clods
before planting flower seeds, I suppose.

Cultivator, used to open up the soil so weeds can come out more
easily.http://tinyurl.com/7kh7mxb*They're great for getting handfuls
of nails out of a bucket, too.

Newfangled version is called the Garden Weasel, a tool which sounds
like the Old West. *The tines ring like spurs. *http://tinyurl.com/7ohl384


The first item is more like it, only that one is pink and plastic.

I did that on porpoise. titter


This one is black iron and has one more tine. I think it's got a bit
longer handle and maybe longer tines, too.

http://tinyurl.com/83hy3xk Ideal for swarf?


Garden Weasel may be used
for the same purpose in the garden, I guarantee it's not going to be
much use for pulling swarf out from under a lathe bed!

I can just imagine the tangles it would cause...


I've seen and used the gadgets for getting bulk nails out, some of the
Real Hardware stores had them in the bins. Were a lot like that
cultivator gadget but I think the tines were closer together. Newer
joints make do with sugar scoops if they carry bulk hardware at all,
just not the same. One of the really deluxe old-timey stores had a
squared-off sheet metal scoop/pan to go with the rake, made getting
the nails out really easy and easy to dump in the scale pan, too.

The small rakes were just great. Real hardware stores were great,
weren't they? The ACE/Fields around here is pretty much still intact
as it heads toward a Lowes in size and content.

--
I have the consolation of having added nothing to my private fortune during
my public service, and of retiring with hands clean as they are empty.
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Count Diodati, 1807