I have 3 hoes. I'm not particularly tall (5' 10.5"), but it seems that
they make hoes for people 5' 8" or less, because two of mine make my
back ache, having to bend over so much. I scarfed an extension on one a
few years ago and attempted a scarf on another hoe recently. The glue
was 1 hour epoxy I've had around for many years to which I'd added some
steel filings from my grinder. The reasoning was that the filings would
make the bond tougher. Well, the glue failed while using the hoe, so I
ground off the glue and tried another glue I had on hand, J-B Weld. I've
had the tubes for probably around 3 years. The packaging claims it's the
"Worlds finest cold weld" etc. Well, I'm using the hoe a couple of weeks
after this and the scarf breaks again!!

I never had trouble with the scarf on the other hoe. The angle is about
the same, around 30 degrees (guesstimating), the length of the scarf
being close to 3x the diameter of the handle.

Better glue?

Dan

Dan Musicant wrote:
I have 3 hoes. I'm not particularly tall (5' 10.5"), but it seems that
they make hoes for people 5' 8" or less, because two of mine make my
back ache, having to bend over so much.

You're using your hoes wrong. Next time, have *them* do the bending over.

Jon

On 7/12/2009 1:28 PM spake thus:

I have 3 hoes. I'm not particularly tall (5' 10.5"), but it seems that
they make hoes for people 5' 8" or less, because two of mine make my
back ache, having to bend over so much. I scarfed an extension on one a
few years ago and attempted a scarf on another hoe recently. The glue
was 1 hour epoxy I've had around for many years to which I'd added some
steel filings from my grinder. The reasoning was that the filings would
make the bond tougher. Well, the glue failed while using the hoe, so I
ground off the glue and tried another glue I had on hand, J-B Weld. I've
had the tubes for probably around 3 years. The packaging claims it's the
"Worlds finest cold weld" etc. Well, I'm using the hoe a couple of weeks
after this and the scarf breaks again!!

I never had trouble with the scarf on the other hoe. The angle is about
the same, around 30 degrees (guesstimating), the length of the scarf
being close to 3x the diameter of the handle.

Better glue?

Ugly, but possibly structurally sound idea: put a couple of hose clamps
over the scarf joint?


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
.com...
On 7/12/2009 1:28 PM spake thus:

I have 3 hoes. I'm not particularly tall (5' 10.5"), but it seems that
they make hoes for people 5' 8" or less, because two of mine make my
back ache, having to bend over so much. I scarfed an extension on one a
few years ago and attempted a scarf on another hoe recently. The glue
was 1 hour epoxy I've had around for many years to which I'd added some
steel filings from my grinder. The reasoning was that the filings would
make the bond tougher. Well, the glue failed while using the hoe, so I
ground off the glue and tried another glue I had on hand, J-B Weld. I've
had the tubes for probably around 3 years. The packaging claims it's the
"Worlds finest cold weld" etc. Well, I'm using the hoe a couple of weeks
after this and the scarf breaks again!!

I never had trouble with the scarf on the other hoe. The angle is about
the same, around 30 degrees (guesstimating), the length of the scarf
being close to 3x the diameter of the handle. Better glue?

Ugly, but possibly structurally sound idea: put a couple of hose clamps
over the scarf joint?

How 'bout a length of light-weight pipe of the correct bore size, drilled at
each end for counter-sunk screws.

In article ,
Dan Musicant ) wrote:

I have 3 hoes. I'm not particularly tall (5' 10.5"), but it seems that
they make hoes for people 5' 8" or less, because two of mine make my
back ache, having to bend over so much. I scarfed an extension on one a
few years ago and attempted a scarf on another hoe recently. The glue
was 1 hour epoxy I've had around for many years to which I'd added some
steel filings from my grinder. The reasoning was that the filings would
make the bond tougher. Well, the glue failed while using the hoe, so I
ground off the glue and tried another glue I had on hand, J-B Weld. I've
had the tubes for probably around 3 years. The packaging claims it's the
"Worlds finest cold weld" etc. Well, I'm using the hoe a couple of weeks
after this and the scarf breaks again!!

I never had trouble with the scarf on the other hoe. The angle is about
the same, around 30 degrees (guesstimating), the length of the scarf
being close to 3x the diameter of the handle.

Better glue?

Dan

I think you're asking too much for any glue alone. You could strengthen
the joint considerably by wrapping in 3 successive layers of fiberglass
+ epoxy. Do NOT use any fast-setting epoxy when strength is important.
No real epoxy reaches full hardness in less than 48 hours.

I googled:

long handled hoe

and got quite a few hits. That's the better option, I think.

wrote:
....

Better glue?
....

Possibly; the metal in the one experiment was bad idea for starters.

If you can make the surfaces adequately flat for a good glue joint you
could add glue surface by also make a saw kerf and fit a spline
vertically although a good joint should hold--a good glue joint is as
strong as the surrounding wood.

I'd use the Titebond Type III waterproof glue since a hoe is used
outside but not expected to be subjected to immersion.

In testing it has more strength than the resorcinals ("Gorilla" glue
types) by a significant margin.

--

Dan Musicant ) wrote:

-snip-
I never had trouble with the scarf on the other hoe. The angle is about
the same, around 30 degrees (guesstimating), the length of the scarf
being close to 3x the diameter of the handle.


I'd find a long handled hoe--- They are out there, just not at your
big box store.

But if you want to scarf a joint that will take that kind of abuse I'd
start with a scarf 5-7 times as long as the diameter. Then I'd use
Weldwood Resorcinol glue-- I did a scarf on a 30 yr old gun'l of a
rowboat and beat hell out of it for another decade. . . then quit
using the boat 15 yrs ago and left it in the weeds. The scarf joints
are still holding.

http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com...52.html?ref=42

Jim

wrote:
I have 3 hoes. I'm not particularly tall (5' 10.5"), but it seems that
they make hoes for people 5' 8" or less, because two of mine make my
back ache, having to bend over so much. I scarfed an extension on one a
few years ago and attempted a scarf on another hoe recently. The glue
was 1 hour epoxy I've had around for many years to which I'd added some
steel filings from my grinder. The reasoning was that the filings would
make the bond tougher. Well, the glue failed while using the hoe, so I
ground off the glue and tried another glue I had on hand, J-B Weld. I've
had the tubes for probably around 3 years. The packaging claims it's the
"Worlds finest cold weld" etc. Well, I'm using the hoe a couple of weeks
after this and the scarf breaks again!!

I never had trouble with the scarf on the other hoe. The angle is about
the same, around 30 degrees (guesstimating), the length of the scarf
being close to 3x the diameter of the handle.

Better glue?

Dan


Go to a better store, and buy a real hoe- they aren't that expensive. A
lumberyard for the trades, not a big box, or an industrial supply, or
even a real farm/ag supply store. Hoes in 'garden centers' and big boxes
are mainly sized for women, because they are who do most recreational
gardening. I'm 6'3", and also have trouble with most yard tool handles
being too damn short.

Or if there is an OLD hardware store near you, they may have full-length
replacement handles.

--
aem sends...

Dan Musicant wrote:
I have 3 hoes. I'm not particularly tall (5' 10.5"), but it seems that
they make hoes for people 5' 8" or less, because two of mine make my
back ache, having to bend over so much. I scarfed an extension on one
a few years ago and attempted a scarf on another hoe recently. The
glue was 1 hour epoxy I've had around for many years to which I'd
added some steel filings from my grinder. The reasoning was that the
filings would make the bond tougher. Well, the glue failed while
using the hoe, so I ground off the glue and tried another glue I had
on hand, J-B Weld. I've had the tubes for probably around 3 years.
The packaging claims it's the "Worlds finest cold weld" etc. Well,
I'm using the hoe a couple of weeks after this and the scarf breaks
again!!

I never had trouble with the scarf on the other hoe. The angle is
about the same, around 30 degrees (guesstimating), the length of the
scarf being close to 3x the diameter of the handle.

Better glue?

Better joint. You need one that is *much* longer. Reinforcement wouldn't
hurt either...either some wood/brass/steel pins/dowels or serve the joint
with heavy twine and saturate that with epoxy. And forget the steel filings
and JB Weld...either plain epoxy or type 2 yellow glue should work well.


--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Dan Musicant ) wrote in
:

I have 3 hoes. I'm not particularly tall (5' 10.5"), but it seems that
they make hoes for people 5' 8" or less, because two of mine make my
back ache, having to bend over so much. I scarfed an extension on one a
few years ago and attempted a scarf on another hoe recently. The glue
was 1 hour epoxy I've had around for many years to which I'd added some
steel filings from my grinder. The reasoning was that the filings would
make the bond tougher.

No,it's just a filler.It actually weakens the bond.
If you want to epoxy wood,you need a THIN epoxy like a boat-building epoxy
such as West Systems,RAKA,or System Three.The epoxy has to soak into the
wood.you use thin epoxy on the wood surfaces,then use wood flour or fumed
silica as a thickener,to fill gaps in the joint. You can't clamp too hard
or it squeezes out too much epoxy and starves the joint.
Now,if you could glue a metal tube over the scarf joint,epoxy would be
good.

IMO,good wood glues are better than epoxy for this application.
Use a waterproof wood glue.

Well, the glue failed while using the hoe, so I
ground off the glue and tried another glue I had on hand, J-B Weld. I've
had the tubes for probably around 3 years. The packaging claims it's the
"Worlds finest cold weld" etc. Well, I'm using the hoe a couple of weeks
after this and the scarf breaks again!!

epoxies take a few weeks to gain full strength.


I never had trouble with the scarf on the other hoe. The angle is about
the same, around 30 degrees (guesstimating), the length of the scarf
being close to 3x the diameter of the handle.

Better glue?

and a longer scarf, about 4" long.
Dan




www.systemthree.com;

you can download their Epoxy Book,VERY informative about using epoxies and
fillers.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

I have 3 hoes. I'm not particularly tall (5' 10.5"), but it seems that
they make hoes for people 5' 8" or less, because two of mine make my
back ache, having to bend over so much.

Buy a longer pole at your local Ace hardware..

On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:38:28 -0500, dpb wrote:

wrote:
:...
:
: Better glue?
:...
:
:Possibly; the metal in the one experiment was bad idea for starters.
:
:If you can make the surfaces adequately flat for a good glue joint you
:could add glue surface by also make a saw kerf and fit a spline
:vertically although a good joint should hold--a good glue joint is as
:strong as the surrounding wood.
:
:I'd use the Titebond Type III waterproof glue since a hoe is used
utside but not expected to be subjected to immersion.
:
:In testing it has more strength than the resorcinals ("Gorilla" glue
:types) by a significant margin.

I posted a thread here on 07/12/2009:

Subject: Glue for scarf on garden hoe

Got some good responses (10-12 or so). I've been waiting for warm
weather to try a plastic resin glue I have lying around, but it hasn't
come (supposed to be at least 70 F to work OK). I am wondering reading
the thread again if I shouldn't try something else. I like the post
above, especially the spline idea, which is easily implemented with a
thin bladed saw and a rectangular slug of steel, and some decent glue. A
48+ hour epoxy would probably suffice, but think getting that Titebond
III might not be a bad idea. Does Home Depot carry it? A decent sized
hardware store?

Dan



Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net

Dan Musicant wrote:
On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:38:28 -0500, dpb wrote:

wrote:
:...

Better glue?
:...

Possibly; the metal in the one experiment was bad idea for starters.

If you can make the surfaces adequately flat for a good glue joint
you could add glue surface by also make a saw kerf and fit a spline
vertically although a good joint should hold--a good glue joint is as
strong as the surrounding wood.

I'd use the Titebond Type III waterproof glue since a hoe is used
outside but not expected to be subjected to immersion.

In testing it has more strength than the resorcinals ("Gorilla" glue
types) by a significant margin.

I posted a thread here on 07/12/2009:

Subject: Glue for scarf on garden hoe

Got some good responses (10-12 or so). I've been waiting for warm
weather to try a plastic resin glue I have lying around, but it hasn't
come (supposed to be at least 70 F to work OK). I am wondering reading
the thread again if I shouldn't try something else. I like the post
above, especially the spline idea, which is easily implemented with a
thin bladed saw and a rectangular slug of steel, and some decent
glue. A 48+ hour epoxy would probably suffice, but think getting that
Titebond III might not be a bad idea. Does Home Depot carry it? A
decent sized hardware store?

Yes & yes but Titebond II would be entirely adequate. BTW - in reference to
the post to which you replied - Gorilla glue is not resorcinol.

You would be better off using a steel dowel rather than a spline.


--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

On Oct 30, 7:04*am, Dan Musicant wrote:
On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:38:28 -0500, dpb wrote:
wrote:

:...
:
: Better glue?
:...
:
:Possibly; the metal in the one experiment was bad idea for starters.
:
:If you can make the surfaces adequately flat for a good glue joint you
:could add glue surface by also make a saw kerf and fit a spline
:vertically although a good joint should hold--a good glue joint is as
:strong as the surrounding wood.
:
:I'd use the Titebond Type III waterproof glue since a hoe is used
utside but not expected to be subjected to immersion.
:
:In testing it has more strength than the resorcinals ("Gorilla" glue
:types) by a significant margin.

I posted a thread here on 07/12/2009:

Subject: Glue for scarf on garden hoe

Got some good responses (10-12 or so). I've been waiting for warm
weather to try a plastic resin glue I have lying around, but it hasn't
come (supposed to be at least 70 F to work OK). I am wondering reading
the thread again if I shouldn't try something else. I like the post
above, especially the spline idea, which is easily implemented with a
thin bladed saw and a rectangular slug of steel, and some decent glue. A
48+ hour epoxy would probably suffice, but think getting that Titebond
III might not be a bad idea. Does Home Depot carry it? A decent sized
hardware store?

Dan

I realize you are already into your project and probably already have
the scarf joints cut, but aemiejers has it right - it's a lot easier
to just buy the correct hoe at a store for men. The hoes that
landscapers use are almost a foot longer than the homeowner variety.

R

On Oct 30, 4:04*am, Dan Musicant wrote:
On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:38:28 -0500, dpb wrote:
wrote:

:...
:
: Better glue?
:...
:
:Possibly; the metal in the one experiment was bad idea for starters.
:
:If you can make the surfaces adequately flat for a good glue joint you
:could add glue surface by also make a saw kerf and fit a spline
:vertically although a good joint should hold--a good glue joint is as
:strong as the surrounding wood.
:
:I'd use the Titebond Type III waterproof glue since a hoe is used
utside but not expected to be subjected to immersion.
:
:In testing it has more strength than the resorcinals ("Gorilla" glue
:types) by a significant margin.

I posted a thread here on 07/12/2009:

Subject: Glue for scarf on garden hoe

Got some good responses (10-12 or so). I've been waiting for warm
weather to try a plastic resin glue I have lying around, but it hasn't
come (supposed to be at least 70 F to work OK). I am wondering reading
the thread again if I shouldn't try something else. I like the post
above, especially the spline idea, which is easily implemented with a
thin bladed saw and a rectangular slug of steel, and some decent glue. A
48+ hour epoxy would probably suffice, but think getting that Titebond
III might not be a bad idea. Does Home Depot carry it? A decent sized
hardware store?

Dan

Email: dmusicant at pacbell dot net

Dan-

Having lengthened and repaired a number of garden tools over the
years (more of a "can it be done / an academic exercise" than a
practical solution" ..here are my thoughts & expereinces.

Wood glues (Titebonds, woodworkers glue) are better than epoxies in
this application.
A 3:1 scarf is too steep, something more like 6:1 is better
A few #6 SS screws screws will help.

Buying a tool with the right length handle makes more sense. I assume
you;re wanting like a 60" handle rather than a 48" handle?
Buying a replacement handle is a faster, cheaper, easier solution.
And at this point it is probably way better way to go than a new long
handled hoe.

cheers
Bob