Grape Hoe Review.

Worth1 · January 17, 2016

Yesterday after many years of wanting one I broke down and bought a real hoe.
They are known as eye hoes or like mine a grape hoe.
What a fantastic hoe I simply can't say enough good about them.
You hit the soil with them and they work not like the worthless light weight hoes that vibrate and bounce back.
No you cant till up the driveway with one but they are well worth the money if you can afford one.
At around $33.00 for the hoe and handle a person could sacrifice something to save up and buy it.
It also requires some fitting of the handle like you would a pick or new hammer handle.
I haven't completed the final fitting yet because I needed to use it.
This is going to be the cats meow for planting the maters.
That soil you see hasn't been worked in many years over ten I know.
The hoe also cuts through small roots like there is no tomorrow and digs up rocks with ease.
Worth
IMG_20160117_5675.jpg

IMG_20160117_16207.jpg

AlittleSalt · January 17, 2016

We have an Eye Hoe that we used for making mortar in a wheelbarrow. It's large and heavy duty with two eyes. The handle was replaced years ago with a heavy metal pipe. It's too heavy to use for gardening, but it'll make half a batch of mortar in a hurry.

Worth1 · January 17, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

We have an Eye Hoe that we used for making mortar in a wheelbarrow. It's large and heavy duty with two eyes. The handle was replaced years ago with a heavy metal pipe. It's too heavy to use for gardening, but it'll make half a batch of mortar in a hurry.

Salt this isn't as heavy as the hoe you are talking about.
I know what those are and have used them to mix as well.
Mostly for mixing grout for setting fire water pumps and pump motors.

Worth

Worth1 · January 17, 2016

I just tested the hoe out where I want to plant the tomatoes and peppers and it works great.
None of this area is going to get tilled because I spent too much time getting rid of the weed invasion the last time I tilled.
Now it has a nice blanket of Horseherb to choke back the weeds.
It takes about one minute to prepare each spot for a cage and plant.

I am going to do this soon like tomorrow and plant radishes in each spot while I am waiting for the weather to get warmer.

Worth

Gardeneer · January 17, 2016

Worth, you are using it in place of spade/shovel ?
I have used those (Not as heavy duty ones as yours) just for things like weeding the walk ways and light cultivating. Good to have one around.
Q: Why is it called "Grape Hoe "?

Gardeneer

Worth1 · January 17, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

Worth, you are using it in place of spade/shovel ?
I have used those (Not as heavy duty ones as yours) just for things like weeding the walk ways and light cultivating. Good to have one around.
Q: Why is it called "Grape Hoe "?

Gardeneer

I dont want to dig up the soil and disturb it to deep.
It is not compacted and I dont want to kill all of the worms.

The reason it is called a grape hoe is because it was traditionally used to weed and hoe around grape vineyards.
Worth
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...pURwicgKiMuEPg

Worth1 · January 18, 2016

Here we are getting the tomato garden ready for planting in just a little over a
month.
Now is the time to do this not when it is too darn hot.
If you think it is too cold outside just work and you will warm up.
This soil was tilled several years ago and then alone until now.
I sharpened the hoe and the steel is very hard almost case hardened hard.
Not soft at all and this is good.

What I did was raise the hoe up about a foot and started shaving the tops of the ground cover (Horseherb) to the down hill slope of each spot dragging along with it some soil.
This will make a little dam for each planting spot to retain water when it rains.

I then again no higher than about 1 foot high chopped up the soil twice using the hoes weight to do the work.
It was no work at all.
It also did a good job of digging any rocks that were in the soil.
Unlike the light weight hoes where you have to work your tail off.
I have had to use a light weight hoe to make gardens before and it is a lot of work but I love to garden.

Worth1 · January 18, 2016

I just want to add something about the hoe.
If you get one and you have to fit the handle and you dont know how to do this it can be a problem.
This is more than likely why they aren't that popular.
All it takes is a wood rasp and some time.
I have a spoke shave to do these things but you dont need one.
The other thing is just about any long piece of wood is going to have a slight curve to it.
You want to find the spot on the handle where the curve is humping up.
This will be your top of the hoe when you fit the handle.
Mark this on the end of the handle so you can see it.
This way you wont have a handle that is curving sideways which will be a real pain while hoeing.

I will go out tomorrow and give it a go on some tree sprouts and see how it does and will let you know.

PS I just read on another sight where people couldn't get the head on the handle they are complaining there is too much wood.
The hoe slides on the other end of the handle like a pick so it cant fly off.

Worth

Gardeneer · January 18, 2016

Looking good, Worth.
Good tools are worth the money. I have learned it the hard way . Have thrown away few cheap tools.
You are now ready , plants, spot, cages, ..Way to go.

Gardeneer

Worth1 · January 19, 2016

Just to clarify things a little.
To a purist a real authentic Italian grape hoe has an ovulate eye and the handle has a curve in it like a single bitted ax.

But any who.
It was driving me crazy I just had to get the cheap polyurethane finish off the hoe.
Last night I knocked the head off which was pretty darn hard to do and perfected the fit even more.
While I had the head off I soaked it in Tung oil (not Tung oil finish but real Tung oil).
I am just about through with removing the cheap finish with a pairing knife I broke the edge over and am using it as a scraper.
What a chore I should charge them for this.

Worth

Rootwad · January 19, 2016

My favorite hoe is called a strawberry hoe that is no longer made, the blade on one side is about 3&1/2 inches wide and the other side the blade is about 1&3/4 inches wide. I buy every one I can find at yard sales, auctions. Give them to family and gardening friends, put new handles in them if needed. If you need a wooden handle for and type hoe, you can find them at House Handle Company.

Worth1 · January 19, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rootwad

My favorite hoe is called a strawberry hoe that is no longer made, the blade on one side is about 3&1/2 inches wide and the other side the blade is about 1&3/4 inches wide. I buy every one I can find at yard sales, auctions. Give them to family and gardening friends, put new handles in them if needed. If you need a wooden handle for and type hoe, you can find them at House Handle Company.

Is it this one there are several people starting to make these old school hoes again.

http://www.barnyardproducts.com/product/BYS-40X

Rootwad · January 19, 2016

No but similar not a rogue think they were made by Ames. Look like the ones that has the two prongs on one side. Sorry I'm not good at describing things.

Worth1 · January 19, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rootwad

No but similar not a rogue think they were made by Ames. Look like the ones that has the two prongs on one side. Sorry I'm not good at describing things.

No worries it is this one then.
http://www.googleadservices.com/page...CID%253DBMPL10

Worth1 · January 19, 2016

or this one.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...Ye_HK2VMrSShdA

The place where I bought my hoe is crawling with stuff like this.

Worth

January 17, 2016	#1
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Grape Hoe Review. Yesterday after many years of wanting one I broke down and bought a real hoe. They are known as eye hoes or like mine a grape hoe. What a fantastic hoe I simply can't say enough good about them. You hit the soil with them and they work not like the worthless light weight hoes that vibrate and bounce back. No you cant till up the driveway with one but they are well worth the money if you can afford one. At around $33.00 for the hoe and handle a person could sacrifice something to save up and buy it. It also requires some fitting of the handle like you would a pick or new hammer handle. I haven't completed the final fitting yet because I needed to use it. This is going to be the cats meow for planting the maters. That soil you see hasn't been worked in many years over ten I know. The hoe also cuts through small roots like there is no tomorrow and digs up rocks with ease. Worth IMG_20160117_5675.jpg IMG_20160117_16207.jpg Last edited by Worth1; January 17, 2016 at 01:31 PM.

January 18, 2016	#8
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I just want to add something about the hoe. If you get one and you have to fit the handle and you dont know how to do this it can be a problem. This is more than likely why they aren't that popular. All it takes is a wood rasp and some time. I have a spoke shave to do these things but you dont need one. The other thing is just about any long piece of wood is going to have a slight curve to it. You want to find the spot on the handle where the curve is humping up. This will be your top of the hoe when you fit the handle. Mark this on the end of the handle so you can see it. This way you wont have a handle that is curving sideways which will be a real pain while hoeing. I will go out tomorrow and give it a go on some tree sprouts and see how it does and will let you know. PS I just read on another sight where people couldn't get the head on the handle they are complaining there is too much wood. The hoe slides on the other end of the handle like a pick so it cant fly off. Worth Last edited by Worth1; January 18, 2016 at 09:07 PM.

January 19, 2016	#11
Rootwad Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: ky Posts: 39	My favorite hoe is called a strawberry hoe that is no longer made, the blade on one side is about 3&1/2 inches wide and the other side the blade is about 1&3/4 inches wide. I buy every one I can find at yard sales, auctions. Give them to family and gardening friends, put new handles in them if needed. If you need a wooden handle for and type hoe, you can find them at House Handle Company. Last edited by Rootwad; January 19, 2016 at 03:22 PM.

January 17, 2016	#2
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	We have an Eye Hoe that we used for making mortar in a wheelbarrow. It's large and heavy duty with two eyes. The handle was replaced years ago with a heavy metal pipe. It's too heavy to use for gardening, but it'll make half a batch of mortar in a hurry.

January 17, 2016	#5
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Worth, you are using it in place of spade/shovel ? I have used those (Not as heavy duty ones as yours) just for things like weeding the walk ways and light cultivating. Good to have one around. Q: Why is it called "Grape Hoe "? Gardeneer