Fourth Fork FFFFFFFF Broken

[boboff]

I have broken my forth fork in as many years, this really annoys me!

This one was a Draper, and one of the tynes snaped when digging up some comfrey.

I am a big chap and reasonably strong, but surely these things should take the pain?

Any ideas on whether it's me, or just not getting good brands, not storing them right?

[The Riff-Raff Element]

I have broken my forth fork in as many years, this really annoys me!

This one was a Draper, and one of the tynes snaped when digging up some comfrey.

I am a big chap and reasonably strong, but surely these things should take the pain?

Any ideas on whether it's me, or just not getting good brands, not storing them right?

It just happens. I never seem to break them, but my wife goes through at least one a year. I blame the Greeks myself: if that bloke hadn't whittered on about "find me a place to stand, and with a lever I can move the Earth" then My Dear Wife wouldn't be quite so damn ambitious about shifting stuff that is clearly beyond the capabilities of the materials.

But he did, so she does.

[grahamhobbs]

My experience is that stainless steel tools are rubbish. The only forks we've broken are two stainless steel ones, that we didn't buy but came by them somehow. I have a very old Bulldog fork, the previous owner had sharpened the tines and it is a fabulous tool with metal straps front and back the full length of the wooden handle. Bulldog still seem to make tools for the trade and are industrial strength but are not expensive.

[wabbit955]

had mine for 21 years and still going strong was only a cheap one when i got it
it dig up many large roots
i never clean it and left out half the year i am bad
got 2 other that found in a skip with bent tynes straighten them out and both are ok

so its got to be you hehe ;O)

[oldjerry]

I'm with the 'stainless stuff is crap' ..dead right.You must have been in a hell of a mood to actually break a tine,Boboff!!

[British Red]

I am a big chap and reasonably strong, but surely these things should take the pain?

?

Nah they don't. I bought one of the all steel "contractor" forks . Its all metal - even the handle. Tines are half as thick again as normal. Bent the tines.

I now use a chisel ended fencing bar for the tough stuff.

[baldybloke]

They don't make em like they used to!! I'm still using my Grandfathers spade and fork. Both of which must be at least 60 years old.

[boboff]

Indeed, it's just such a shame that they make these things disposable.

I got a replacement delivered for £10 from Amazon, wonder if it will be any good, I was only digging out comfrey, but I have shellet subsoil.

[British Red]

I got a replacement delivered for £10 from Amazon, wonder if it will be any good,

I've got August in the lifespan sweepstake

[boboff]

Wow, that would be good!
I'll buy one from Lidl when I see them again, there tools seem to last well.

[grahamhobbs]

Should have kept my big mouth shut, after extolling virtues of a probably 50 year old fork, that night the handle broke!!!