Repairing garden hand tools - Mattock

This post illustrates how to fix the wooden shaft onto the head of the various garden tools that are sold in Spain, in this case a mattock. The metal wedge which secures the shaft is called a cuña heirro forjado.

If you have to buy a new shaft for your garden hand tools, a good garden tip passed onto me by a blacksmith or farrier; is to rub up and down the handle with a hammer head or metal shaft, thereby flattening the grain and polishing the handle. A light coat of linseed oil will help keep the handle weather proof and comfortable in the hand.