What did you do in the garden today?

[Sally PB]

We are getting much needed rain. Mostly gentle, with a few heavier showers.

Yesterday, I gave the chickens 3 buckets of weeds. Today, they got their usual mash snack.

Next week, we'll have highs in the mid 30s/low 40s, and upper 20s at night. In other words, "normal" March weather. Hoping that nothing is going to be too far along to withstand those temps.

 

[gtaus]

those coated T25 deck screws are awesome for almost every project I've worked on over the last few years.

I agree that the coated T25 deck screws are awesome. Unfortunately, they are more than 2X more expensive than drywall screws. Most of my pallet projects, for example, don't need the more expensive T25 deck screws. I use drywall screws for most of my projects and they are good enough.

I really do like the T25 screws which are stronger and don't ream out. I have used many of them over the years. But, to save money, I use drywall screws most of the time.

 

[Sally PB]

Yesterday, we went to TSC to get a wheel barrow. (It actually will be the best tool for what we need to do.) We thought they'd have one on display, and we'd get one in a box. We took the Jeep, because we could fit a big box in it, and not have to take the trailer.

No, they assemble all of their carts and wheel barrows. And, it won't fit in the Jeep. So, hubby went back home to get the trailer, and I sat in the parking lot, on one of the (assembled) picnic tables with the wheel barrow. It was nice and sunny, at least!

A woman came along, looking at the 4-wheeled carts, and I chatted with her a bit. I pointed out that the handle on the two larger sizes converted to "tow mode" behind a riding lawn mower and she thought that was just the greatest idea ever!

A salesman came out to see if she needed any help (he already knew why I was there), and started showing her the 4-wheeled plastic carts. I heard her ask, "And can I tow it behind my lawn mower?" He pointed out how the handle could be set up to do just that.

I felt like I should get a commission.

 

[gtaus]

I can attest to the Gorilla style cart being a superior tool for moving pretty much all bags of things. Mine even has a dump feature and it's saved me a ton of time and headache! I used it to move that 6 cubic yards of mulch yesterday.

Yep, Dear Wife can easily haul bags full of mulch with no problem using a Gorilla cart. She would never consider using our old wheelbarrow. She is just too small and not strong enough to keep a wheelbarrow from tipping over.
Two of my Gorilla carts have the dump feature, which I agree is very nice. My third cart is the kind with wire mesh sides. It does not have a dump feature, but the sides can be removed.

It's a different design, but it has some advantages over the watertight bins of the other Gorilla carts. If I need to store something in the cargo bay, like loose mulch, I would use the wire mesh cart because if it rains, the water can flow through the mesh whereas the solid plastic bins would be a wet, muddy mess after a hard rain. So, it's good for me to have the option of either type of cart.

I used a wheelbarrow for two loads at first because my cart was full of weeds, I dumped them on the ground after my wheelbarrow wheel sunk into a gopher/mole tunnel and sent me and the load tumbling into one of my favorite sage bushes. It will live, at least.

That's what I mean about wheelbarrows not being nearly as safe as the 4-wheeled Gorilla carts. Good thing you did not hurt yourself. More than once I wrenched my back with the old wheelbarrow trying to prevent a tip over. I don't worry about that with the 4-wheeled carts.

 

[Molpet]

Yep, Dear Wife can easily haul bags full of mulch with no problem using a Gorilla cart. She would never consider using our old wheelbarrow. She is just too small and not strong enough to keep a wheelbarrow from tipping over.
Two of my Gorilla carts have the dump feature, which I agree is very nice. My third cart is the kind with wire mesh sides. It does not have a dump feature, but the sides can be removed.

View attachment 3772020

It's a different design, but it has some advantages over the watertight bins of the other Gorilla carts. If I need to store something in the cargo bay, like loose mulch, I would use the wire mesh cart because if it rains, the water can flow through the mesh whereas the solid plastic bins would be a wet, muddy mess after a hard rain. So, it's good for me to have the option of either type of cart.



That's what I mean about wheelbarrows not being nearly as safe as the 4-wheeled Gorilla carts. Good thing you did not hurt yourself. More than once I wrenched my back with the old wheelbarrow trying to prevent a tip over. I don't worry about that with the 4-wheeled carts.

I have tipped over with 4 bags of feed, because I was on a slope. I now put 3 bags and use a different route. Cart fits through the outside basement door and right to where I store the feed.

 

[Minanora]

I agree that the coated T25 deck screws are awesome. Unfortunately, they are more than 2X more expensive than drywall screws. Most of my pallet projects, for example, don't need the more expensive T25 deck screws. I use drywall screws for most of my projects and they are good enough.

I really do like the T25 screws which are stronger and don't ream out. I have used many of them over the years. But, to save money, I use drywall screws most of the time.

Ah yes, see, my stash of T25s, I got lucky! I frequently search the clearance end caps and nooks and Home Desperate and Lowes to find good prices. A few years ago I came across lots of boxes of the off color (totally baby poop yellow) deck mate screws in various lengths for a STEAL. I'm certain that they cost more to make than what I paid for them. I bought all of them, naturally. Same thing at Lowes a few times for similar fasteners. Also how I wound up with my kitchen sink and shower tile. Both are beautiful! Sink was a custom order return, tile was clearance.

I've busted my knuckles open through my gloves with the phillips head all purpose screws enough times now. I'm a wuss. I do use the ones for hanging sheetrock; and that's it. We have boxes and boxes of them; Father in law was also a contractor for a long time. We try not to do those projects very often these days. I get carried away with the red dot and spend far too much time making perfectly smooth walls. Our home has plaster over gypsum panels and the guy did some of the best smooth plaster I've ever seen in my life. Every wall is perfectly plumb. I, of course, have to match it any time we open up a wall or replace a ceiling light fixture.

Goodness I'm chatty today. Moving along, I took some photos of my clover seeds sprouting when I went to release the flock and do my afternoon watering. I'm very excited about this project; I used my hula hoe to cultivate several inches down into the hard packed dirt, raked out all of the clumps and used a broadcast hand spreader to sow the seed. I've been shopping for a tiller but while I wait for the frugal part of me to give in, I slave through projects with the tools I have in the shed. Lets hope they fill in before the purslane starts to emerge!

 

[gtaus]

I did the same thing as an excuse to buy a big ole thing of Cheese Balls "for my son's party".... to use the jar for storing beer tap brush plugs. Ehem, I ate most of those cheese balls, I'm certain of that.

Yep, I know what you mean. The other day I walked past a big plastic jar of Cheese Balls and thought to myself that I need to find another reason to use a large plastic jar! If those Cheese Balls go on sale, I might have to buy the jar and think of what to use it for later. The zip tie storage idea has already been satisfied. It would have to be something different.

Oh, wait! I just thought that I should consolidate all my bungee cords into a big plastic jar! Perfect!

Yesterday, we went to TSC to get a wheel barrow. (It actually will be the best tool for what we need to do.)

Even though I now have three 4-wheeled Gorilla-type carts which I use most of the time, I did fix up the 30+ year old wheelbarrow with new parts. I had to replace the rotted wheel and all the rusted metal supports under the tray/bed. It was worth fixing up and putting back into service. Sometimes, like you said, the wheelbarrow is the best tool for a particular job. However, I use the Gorilla carts almost all the time these days.

FWIW, I bought my carts at Menards and at the time they had some kind of "house off-brand" carts on sale for $50-$75 less than the equivalent name brand Gorilla carts. My off-brand carts are just fine, but I do think the Gorilla carts are built a little better. For some reason, Menards no longer sells those other off-brand carts. They only had Gorilla carts on display last time I looked.

 

[gtaus]

Ah yes, see, my stash of T25s, I got lucky! I frequently search the clearance end caps and nooks and Home Desperate and Lowes to find good prices. A few years ago I came across lots of boxes of the off color (totally baby poop yellow) deck mate screws in various lengths for a STEAL. I'm certain that they cost more to make than what I paid for them. I bought all of them, naturally. Same thing at Lowes a few times for similar fasteners.

That's a good point. If you find something in the clearance rack, you might get lucky. Good for you. I would have bought all of them too.

I did buy a number of boxes of screws at Menards when they were almost giving them aways (after rebate). But I play the rebate game and was willing to wait to get my rebate check later. Saved a lot of money.

I also bought all of their generic brand brad nail variety packs when they went on sale. Got about $5.00 per pack of brad nails for less than $1.00 per pack. They must have been clearing them out because a few weeks ago I wanted to see what the current price on them was but they no longer carry that item in the store (or online). Good thing I stocked up when the sale was on.

 

[WthrLady]

Cold and windy day.
Built a cedar deck box.
Tons of inside work.
Planning on mowing the hayfield for spring and rolling it to set seed after that.
Clover seed should be here tomorrow or the next day and I'll repeat the seed setting after tossing that.

 

[Minanora]

Yep, I know what you mean. The other day I walked past a big plastic jar of Cheese Balls and thought to myself that I need to find another reason to use a large plastic jar! If those Cheese Balls go on sale, I might have to buy the jar and think of what to use it for later. The zip tie storage idea has already been satisfied. It would have to be something different.

Oh, wait! I just thought that I should consolidate all my bungee cords into a big plastic jar! Perfect!



Even though I now have three 4-wheeled Gorilla-type carts which I use most of the time, I did fix up the 30+ year old wheelbarrow with new parts. I had to replace the rotted wheel and all the rusted metal supports under the tray/bed. It was worth fixing up and putting back into service. Sometimes, like you said, the wheelbarrow is the best tool for a particular job. However, I use the Gorilla carts almost all the time these days.

FWIW, I bought my carts at Menards and at the time they had some kind of "house off-brand" carts on sale for $50-$75 less than the equivalent name brand Gorilla carts. My off-brand carts are just fine, but I do think the Gorilla carts are built a little better. For some reason, Menards no longer sells those other off-brand carts. They only had Gorilla carts on display last time I looked.

Haha! I love it. Hmm, maybe I could consolidate all of my bungie cords this summer.

Yeah I wouldn't mix up any concrete in my 4 wheel cart; that's a metal wheelbarrow task when it's called for. My gorilla cart was a gift that I thought I'd never use; turns out it's been heavily used; especially since I got the goat heads under control.