The Sharpest Tool in the Shed: A Gardener's Obsession - Gardenista
“You hardly ever see professionals use tools of stainless steel,” declares Louis Decae, an enthusiastic Dutch toolmaker. “Carbon steel can be forged very thin and hardened easily. It stays sharp for a very long time,” says Decae. “Because the tools are put in the ground a lot, the cutting edge wears out fast, so the tools are bad cutting,” he charmingly explains. Stainless steel requires expensive specialist equipment to be sharpened. “Tools that are used in the ground—like spades, edge cutters, trowels and hoes—have to be strong and sharp.” This Short Pointed Hoe is made from carbon steel; 24€ from De Tuinheeren. Would you cut steak with a butter knife? “Tools forged of carbon steel and especially the ones with hard wooden handles will last over a hundred years,” says Louis Decae. Garden “scoop,” more commonly known as a trowel, 19€. “The making of these tools is very labor-intensive,” says Mr Decae. “The most important garden tool is a sharpener,” says Louis Decae, who really doesn’t do blunt, ever. This is the diamond file, best friend of the Bahco secateurs which are also stocked by De Tuinheeren.