My hoe is suffering from head shaking syndrome cause by a loose handle to head connection. Loose Head Syndrome! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Normally when this happened, I will correct it the Chinaman way because this was taught to me by my father and his father thought him the same way and so on .... err all of us are Chinaman! Chinaman Style! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Holding the end of the handle and just whack it down hard vertically a couple of times on a hard surface and this will normally solved the problem for awhile. Problem always starts when the impact end of the handle is either worn out or broken, in this case it is worn out. Worn out end ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) When it is worn out, it is almost impossible to get an impact on the shaft to move the hoe head into a tighter fit because the surface is flushed. My latest non workable trick was using super glue which I thought it'll work In the past I had tried using nails but it just destroyed the handle after awhile. I thought of using heat to expanding the hole and then inserting the shaft but I guess it would be too costly because I'll need a real hot fire and I am quite sure if the surface of the handle that is in contact with the hole would just turn into charcoal and it is back to square one! I tried googling but I did not get an acceptable hit. moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
So the problem is that your hoe won't sit still at the bottom of the shaft? It moves upwards? We use a metal thingie and hammer it into the bottom of the shaft when that happens with axes and such. It widens the bottom and locks the head. I don't know if you understand what I'm talking about and I'm not certain that I understand your problem correctly, but at this link you'll see the thingamagog I mean: http://www.tingstad.no/default.asp?menu=114&view=cat/info&VARENR=272964&NK=22109560 Ehm, how about winding some gaffa tape around the bottom end of your shaft? My universal remedy for fastening something that won't sit still.
KK, We use a "thingie", too. It is called a wedge. usually one is about 2-3 cm wide and has a "narrow" edge on one side that you "nail" into the handle to "split" it wider, and that should tighten up the handle to fit the hoe better. It is the same concept as a nail, but it is wider and works muck better.
Thanks Droopy, Carolyn, I used that thingie in my hammer and it is much smaller. It came with the hammer when I bought it about 35 years ago and when the handle broke, I retrieve it and reuse it. I was able to buy a replacement handle but not the wedge thingie. Tomorrow I'll run down to the hardware shop and try to get one.
Hopefully you have found a solution by now, but if not you can try this; drill a small hole in the metal head and put a screw into the wood. Just a small one will do, and the hole will be there if you ever replace the handle.
An alternate use of the wedgie thing instead of splitting the shaft is to put the wedgie in-between the shaft and the hoe ring. Then pound it into place, if it comes loose again use two wedgie things. Jerry
Thanks Rockhound, I'll keep that in mind. Jerry thanks for the thought. I had got the wedgie thingie just two days ago after visiting a couple of hardware stores. Pounding the wedgie in right in the middle of the shaft for me takes great effort with a 3lb hammer. I do not want to imagine putting it in between the hoe ring and the shaft!
Another thing to try is remove the head and make a saw cut in the wooden handle just as far down as the head part goes. Then put the head back on a cut a WOODEN wedge to fit in the slot you made. When the thin wood wedge is driven as far as it will go, saw off the extra. I hope that's clear without a picture.
This was my first thought also Jerry. Maybe you could investigate expanding foam KK? Don't know if it would be tough enough but you could 'pour' into the crevice.
KK, did you get your hoe fixed? I was wedging our small sledge hammer yesterday, and thought of you and your hoe problem.
Frank I don't think expanding foam could work because it is just not tough enough. Marlingardener I had been using it for awhile now and I can confidently that it worked perfectly. Wedgie ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The wedgie took quiet a pounding to install it and the hoe shaft suffered a small crack during the last couple of blows. I guess it wouldn't had cracked if I was able to drive the wedgie in right in the middle. Cracking ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The crack is non-migrating so I don't have to worry much ... I hope!?!
Looks like you did a great job with the wedge. Love that hoe blade. Quite the tool. Even if the old handle breaks it could easily be replaced and buy or remake one to fit the hoe. Might want to start keeping an eye out for a nice piece of wood for future generations of that dandy tool. It looks like it could be an heirloom. :-D
Thanks Jewell, I actually inherited it from my father and I have no idea where he got it came from. Yes I am looking out for a good handle but I have no idea whether any of my children wants it.
