Why you check out those cheap reels....

[foakes]

At one time, I did some part-time work for an older guy who was a friend.  He worked side by side with me —- because he needed someone reliable to do some of the heavier work.

He had 320 acres of almonds and Thompson Grapes.

I just replaced and replanted older trees that fell over during heavy winds.  Pulled wire, dug holes, staked new trees, gave each 5 gallons of water to start, chain-sawed old trees into firewood, etc.  Just basic stuff that was needed.

Don had an older Dodge pickup with a tool box in the bed.  He also always carried 2 shovels and one hoe.  These were old tools, but were made from top quality steel.

At the end of each day of work, he would rinse off the tools in water —-then spray the steel with WD-40.  Also about once a month, he would take his angle grinder and put a 60° sharp edge on the shovels and hoe.  When I asked him why he did this —- he just replied that he didn't have to work as hard as his tools that way.

The first half of his working career, he was a master carpenter —- the second half prior to retirement, he farmed.

Maintenance is key, and it should be done by the operator —- whether it is a shovel or a reel.  Then, you know it was done properly.  We can trust what people do or say —- but verification is the next step.

Good post, MolBasser!  Thanks.

Best, Fred