What types of Weeding Tools, Weed Pullers, Weed Poppers, Weed Twisters, Weed Hoes
or other Garden Weeders do You Need? Special Weed
Problems in your State or Region?
How Big
are your Weeds? Match your tools with the most troublesome weeds in your garden
or state... Need a Back-Saving Solution?
How many different
Weed Twister Tools,
Weed Augers, Weed Spinners
are there?
How to select a
matching drill (not
free!) for garden augers
and twisters?
Select a region at right to search Ergonica Catalog
for Free Weed Identification Documents (PDF) to download by regions,
states, provinces in USA, Canada, Australia, Europe,
Central America, South America, Africa ...
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1 - Weed Tools Terrains - Matching Weeding Tools with Your Weeds and Needs
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Weed twisting-spinning tools are very
popular today and differ either by name, design and / or the way they
actually work. Several precise weed twisters are now on the
market, two with the same name of "weed twister", some that are power-drill driven
or motorized, an
auger root remover, a corkscrew weeder, weed spinner, spinning tools, and other
hybrid types
described below.
The Ergonica WEED TWISTER has double-coiled tines
like two entwined corkscrews that provide for efficient penetration of the soil
and effective loosening and lifting of the target roots. This is a
patented design unique to the Ergonica Weed Twister.
The incomparable versatility of this tool and multitasking capability is
evident when studying the Weeding Tool Terrain
Hierarchy. This twister is able to penetrate deeper into
tough soil than other competing twisters and pullers. Built with
tough steel for industrial use in farms and forest land management, the
no-moving-parts simplicity of this patented tool allows for lighter
weight than other twisters and pullers of similar length. The
drill-powered
Turbo Weed Twister by Ergonica gives you more speed and ease. This is
the only twister that can also be applied to precise tilling as well as
deep root extraction. For trail maintenance and conservation, this
tool serves not only as a heavy duty deep root extractor, but the manual
models also double as a
great walking staff and additionally as protection
against predatory critters. A recent innovation is a T-Handle Adaptor
that allows you to use the drill-powered Weed Twister manually if your battery runs low, for example.
The Rittenhouse weed twister
has a single triangular blade that must be twisted against the flat
surface for penetration. A lever is provided to use your foot to push the
blade into the roots. The Ergonica tool does not require the use of your
foot to push the coils into the roots because of the efficient double-coil
design. The required foot application of the Rittenhouse tool also limits
the reach of the tool when used in flower beds or hillsides, for example.
This limitation applies to all tools that require foot action to
operate.
A third "weed twister" by Hastings is no longer available on the market.
Weed Queen is almost identical to the
Rittenhouse weed twister, as described above, and is presented at
weedqueen.com. Apparently, neither the weed queen nor
the Rittenhouse weed twister have patent claims. If they did,
there would be some serious contentions of violations of intellectual
property. Pricing of the weed queen is lower than the Rittenhouse
weed twister, however the manufacturers of the weed queen do not publish
specific dimensions to enable a technical comparison between the two
look-alikes. The limitations of the weed queen are identical to
those of the Rittenhouse weed twister, assuming the dimensions are
similar.
A cork screw weeder by Dewit has a single coil or
corkscrew that comes in two lengths: about 30 cm and a long handle model
of 90 cm. The coil is 5
inches in length with a precise diameter of 1.5 inches. The double
coil design of the Ergonica Weed Twister is designed to function like a
fork in order to grab the roots at the apex of the two twisted tines.
Without the forked apex, a single corkscrew lacks a mechanism to grab and
efficiently remove the root once entwined, therefore, more work is
required to screw the single corkscrew deeply into the root system. The forked coils also
enable the Ergonica Weed Twister to serve as a precise cultivator, which
functionality does not apply to the single corkscrew tool. See
video of corkscrew weeder.
An IWF Weed Extractor by Wolf-Garten
features a single 6-inch prong with two blades that are shaped like
shark fins on one side. The D-handle supports twisting against the
flat side of the blades which design may cause considerable resistance
depending on soil type and condition. The 36-inch handle qualifies
for the long-handle class, but the ergonomic value is compromised
somewhat by a heavy 4 pound weight, which is nearly three times heavier
than the 36-inch Ergonica Weed Twister, for example. Even the 54-inch Dual Grip
Weed Twister weighs a pound less than this shark-fin twister. The
straight prong with parallel blades allows this tool to go deep, but the
only way to penetrate the soil is to push straight and hard with the
D-handle. You can view this tool and others by clicking the links
in the Weeder Features Chart
below.
The Chaselink Speedy Weedy is a hybrid twisting
tool with three straight prongs and an ejecting mechanism. Like
other multiple-prong tools, the effective depth of penetration is
limited by the length of the prongs. A "T" handle at the top of
the 39-inch shaft helps you rotate the tool against the straight tines
to engage the roots prior to lifting up. The removed roots are
ejected by pushing down on the spring loaded plunger. The
difference between this multi-prong tool and others by Fiskars and
Hound Dog is that the prongs do not include a mechanism for clamping the
roots between them. The twisting motion is therefore needed to
entwine the roots between the prongs. Twisting straight tines is
not as efficient as twisting coiled tines as those featured by the
Ergonica Weed Twister. This tool is available both in the US and
UK and is listed in Garden Tools
and the Weeder Features Chart
below.
A Turf-Tec WeedAway is another hybrid twister
much like the Chaselink Speedy Weedy and also contains an ejection rod
to remove the weed from the tool after popping the weed out of the
ground. The Turf-Tec WeedAway tool uses three 1/4 inch steel
spikes to twist weeds from turfgrass areas without bending over and is
designed to be a really heavy duty weed removal tool designed for the
rugged maintenance of everyday use. It also has a heavy duty price
tag at the 3-digit level. Although the length of both the
Speedy Weedy and the WeedAway are the same 39 inches, the heavy duty
steel construction of the Turf-Tec tool is most likely noticeable when
comparing its weight against that of the aluminum built Speedy Weedy.
Even though their weights are not specified, these tools most likely
weigh twice or thrice the weight of an Ergonica Weed Twister of
comparable length. Their ability to seek and destroy deep roots is also
limited by the length of their spikes. The Turf-Tec WeedAway is
also listed in the Weeder Features Chart
below.
The WeeDigger or Weed Digger from
Flexrake features a fork with two straight tines each with a sharp hook.
Apply by push, twist and pull with either a 9-inch or 36-inch wooden
handle. Whereas most twisting tools feature a "T" handle or
"D" handle, this tool has only a straight wooden pole with no special
grip or handle for twisting. Twisting with straight tines
also is less efficient than twisting with coiled tines, like those
featured by the Ergonica Weed Twister. The length of the tines
also limits the depth of penetration. This tool is not offered for
sale directly online but may be found in some hardware stores which
distribute Flexrake or Hula-Ho products.
Other twisters include a garden claw tool on the market that is applied by twisting, but
this tool is actually a cultivator designed to till a much larger diameter area
than the other twisting tools and cannot grab and lift individual weeds. If
you're looking into a hand tool for industrial or agricultural applications,
several alternatives are also compared on the Hand Weeder Science page. The
Ergonica Weed Twister also provides several models with lengths from 36 inches
up to 60 inches. This feature, not offered by other twisters, allows
you to select the best match for your height and the type of application at
hand, such as weeding in home gardens, lawns, raised platforms and farms. Some people like the longer lengths
to reach under bushes or between landscaping fencing, or to reach from a wheelchair, for example.
The power drill D-WeeD-R has been
promoted on TV quite aggressively through home shopping networks. We have tested
the D-WeeD-R and ran into problems because our drill was so fast that the weeds
quickly wound around the shaft and created a messy removal situation.
Perhaps a slower drill speed may work better. Many weeds were also
torn off from their roots, allowing the roots to revive at a later date.
The quality of steel was also poor and when the cross-pin broke, it was
impossible to replace, even though a replacement was provided. If
the quality were improved and a slow drill applied, this could be an
effective tool.
The Dandelion Terminator DLT100 is
designed much like a 1-inch drill bit with a 14-inch shaft. An
additional 12-inch extension is also available from the manufacturer.
It is not designed to remove the dandelion roots, but merely to suppress
it's growth, much like mowing will accomplish. The astute shopper
may wish to use a generic 1-inch drill bit with a standard extension to
test the concept before purchasing this tool.
The 36-inch and 42-inch drill-ready
Turbo Weed Twisters by Ergonica are longer than most of their competitors
and include an extra sleeve grip to provide a high level of precision
and two-handed balance of weight and movement. The sleeve
grip and high precision are unique to this tool design.
No Free Drill: There are also
several augers that drill a hole into the soil with the ability to
remove any plants or roots in their paths. This includes a Weed Claw
that features a blade appendage to a power-driven twisting prong. Several
of these claws and twisters are illustrated on the
Garden Tools page. Some questionable TV promotions offer a
free drill to accompany the Awesome Auger? If it sounds
too good to be true, buyer beware! Drill-powered tools require
a careful match with a drill that may be costly and heavy to lug around.
With a few exceptions, these tools also generally require a certain amount of stooping, based on the
length of the auger bit, usually no more than 24 inches, and most are not designed to help clean up the
considerable dirt and debris they leave exposed on the surface of the soil.
For ergonomic considerations, look for an auger or drill powered weed twister with a
minimal length of 36 inches. The
Ergonica Turbo Weed Twister is designed not just to remove weeds, roots
and all, but also to grab the roots in its coils for easy disposal. No
basic auger can claim this root lifting and disposing feature. For
doing a lot of tough weeding at the root level, such as in agriculture or land
maintenance, a heavy-duty tool like the Turbo Weed Twister may be the best way
to go.
Paint Mixer Weeders
Several motorized weed spinning,
weed spinner - twister tools on the
market are designed around the paint mixer concept, a thin rod as
long as 30 inches, with one or two small cross appendages that extend the radius
to pull weed stems. These appendages are small because they cannot withstand a lot of
torque from the spinning drill due to the material used and the way they are
attached to the rod. For small weeds with shallow, thin roots, these tools
may be handy especially due to their low cost. One drawback is that grasses and lengthy weed stems
are likely to be severely entangled with this paint mixer type of design.
The double-coiled Ergonica Weed Twister in contrast is designed to quickly eject
short and long stems by reversing the rotational direction. Most other
drill-powered weed augers do not provide this time-saving facility, which can be
seen in the video on this page. The Ergonica tool is also made of high-grade
tempered steel suitable for industrial applications, which is not true of most
other motorized twisting, spinning weed removal tools of this class.
Matching Drill: Select a high power (12
- 24 volts) cordless
drill with a dual / variable speed and reversible option. The tougher your
soil, such as with clay or dry dirt, the more power you will need. More
power with less speed, such as 500 rpm or less, will make the power-weeding job much easier.
A chuck size of at least 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch capacity will accommodate more durable and
longer drill bits. The popular Ergonica Turbo Weed Twister ups the ante to a
minimum 1/2 inch chuck (see Drill Examples below). If you can get a cordless drill with good
power that also weighs less than 5 pounds, so much the better. At
least 275 in./lbs. of torque will give you adequate twisting power and two
batteries will allow you to keep working while charging a spent battery.
Variable clutch settings allows the drill to safely stop twisting upon heavy
resistance, such as when you encounter a root that is too large or you hit a
rock or other solid object in the soil. This protects your auger or twister as
well as your hand and wrist from excessive stress. A variable
clutch and hammer drill option will also help to protect your drill from
overheating in tough soil.
Keyless chucks are handy and can
save you a few moments when changing drill bits. Some experts assert,
however, that keyed chucks give you a stronger hold on your bit than the
standard keyless variety. Some hammer drills use a unique keyless
SDS chuck for compatible SDS shanks.
This is a special design that produces great holding power and support for
hammer / percussion and impact drills. Weed augers and drill weeders do
not generally come with an SDS shank, however. The Turbo Weed Twister is
one of the few weed augers and drills designed with a 3/8 inch hex shank
which gives strong torque support when fitted with a 1/2 inch keyed or standard
keyless chuck.
Drill Examples: You
can see a good selection of suitable cordless drills
at Ergonica Superstore with some Amazon.com comparisons.
High powered cordless drills with the features outlined above are always
useful, not only in your garden, but for all your other drilling, driving screws
and do-it-yourself jobs around the house. Expect to pay $100 to $300
or more for a high-power, high-quality cordless drill. The 36-inch or 42-inch
Ergonica Turbo Weed Twister will make a great match with any professional drill with a 1/2 inch or larger chuck. For example,
several positive
tests shown on video have been made with the a Makita 3-speed hammer
drill,
Makita model BHP451.
Compare prices for several
1/2 inch cordless drills
at Amazon.com. See the Weeder Features Chart below
for a convenient comparison of these weed twisters and other types of weed
pullers across selected features.
To twist or not to twist, that is
the twister?
For many gardeners, no single
weeder does everything you may need to do. If you need to
remove dandelions by their roots from your lawn, you may chose one of the
precise weed twisters or other lawn
weeders that are not of the hoe-blade type. If you need to remove smaller weeds efficiently from
larger areas, you may pick from several of the hoe-type
tools or the multitasking Ergonica Weed Twister. If you need to do both, as do most gardeners, you may select two or
three tools that best match the weeds and circumstances in your garden as well
as the way you like to work. Some people enjoy collecting a variety of unique gardening
tools for weeding and other purposes. New garden tools are fun, but also
require a bit of experimentation and study to get the best use of each tool.
The best use advice for the Ergonica Weed Twister, for example, is provided on
the Weed Twister
website. Are you ready to stop pulling and start twisting?
Weeder Type Classes and Weeder Features
In addition to the eight major classes of
weeding tools identified in the Tool Terrain Hierarchy, each tool has different
features as we have defined for ergonomics, for example, back-saving or
short-handled, or levels of precision. You can also further distinguish
tools by price, and weight and whether available on the web or in your
local retail stores, and so on. We have taken some of these features and
made a chart to show how a variety of tools measure up respectively. If
you are a serious shopper, you can also make your own spreadsheet and add any
features that are important to you.
The great variety of weeding tools
available show more creative ingenuity and diversity than possibly any other category of hand tools. This is no doubt a reflection of the great variety of weed shapes and sizes and
the different types of situations in which these misplaced plants are found.
It is also a reflection of the preferences we each have for either using power
tools or no power tools, for example. Likewise, some people prefer complex
tools with moving parts, whereas others prefer simple tools with no moving parts,
an elegant solution. If you have back pains or arthritis, for example,
your body may tell you which types of tools to select. If you're buying
tools for a farm or land management operation, you need to look for industrial grade tools
that match the vegetation and terrain in your region. A responsible
employer will also look after the safety of workers in the fields by equipping
them with ergonomic tools. After all, even with the best equipment,
spending hours a day in the sun pulling weeds is no picnic! Still in development
there are several robotic weed removers for large fields and agricuture and
possibly a Roomba
for your home garden.
As stated above: Different weeders for
different weeds! How many different types of saws do you have in your
tool shed? How about screw drivers? How about shovels or pruners,
for example? Does one pruning tool handle all your needs? Probably
not. There's no single weeder that can claim to handle all types, sizes
and shapes of weeds, either! We offer the Eight Major Weeder Tool Classes
and Weeder Features Chart to help you zero in on a few of the types of tools you
need to make your life in the midst of weeds a little easier. If you're
a professional weed maintenance specialist, land manager or farmer, this may be
a good time to get serious and get smart about appropriate tool selection.
You may consider testing a careful selection of new tools to see which ones help
you the most. Our old traditional tools may still have a place in
our garden while we try out new tools and new methods of gardening, such as
organic or polyculture methods. You will find one of the largest selection
of all types of weeders, mulches and chemicals, including organic herbicides,
for review or purchase on the Garden Tools
page.
Remember that most of the unique
tools we describe are not distributed to retail stores. If you're not
comfortable with online shopping for garden tools, please consider that paying for shipping is
kinder to the environment than driving your vehicle from store to store!
You may consider a little inconvenience in the shipping time and cost for the
benefit of the best tool that fits your weeds and needs. (It's safer and less time-consuming, too!)
The
Weeder Features
Chart below includes examples of individual products described by the features we have
defined and selected primarily by the convenience of weeders found
on the web. This selection includes primarily the middle range of
terrains, within a few inches above and below the soil surface, to which most of
the weed pullers, twisters and poppers are devoted. This chart, which
separates long-handle and
short-handle weed removal tools into two groups, is not presented as a comprehensive list. We
frequently
identify and describe other products as a result of continuing research. The
feature terms used in the chart are defined as follows:
Download the Weeder Features Chart in Microsoft Excel
Format
By downloading this chart you can study it
at a more convenient time and edit the list to add and compare other tools of
interest. You can also add additional columns to compare other features
such as dimensions, weight, shipping charges and taxes that are offered by
various vendors. Do your homework to make a selection of one or more tools
for your home, garden club, company or farm. Simply click on the Download
link above and OPEN or SAVE as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet on your PC disk.
This is a free download to help you with your weeding tool
purchase evaluation.
Clearly, there are many
good choices to help you do the job of weeding. Your weeding tool arsenal
may need several new tools for weeds of various sizes and shapes. If you're narrowing
down your selection to two or three choices, such as a weed
twister and a special hoe, for example, you can examine the web site for each tool
using the links on the Weeder Features Chart
above or the
Garden Tools page. Perhaps your choices may include one or more Ergonica Weed Twisters
of different sizes, because
you have little time to spare and need it's multitasking capabilities. You
may also select other twisters or pullers with certain features that match your
needs and preferences. With two or three well-chosen hand tools, your most
stubborn weeds will finally meet their match. But don't throw away your
old wide-blade hoe just yet. If you sharpen it up a bit, it may still come
in handy at times! And don't forget, buying cool tools is the fun part!
Make sure you also allow yourself enough time to twist or rip those weeds before
they block your path!
If you have studied the details of this
page and can answer the following questions correctly, you can qualify to
receive a Weeding Tool Apprentice Certificate by Ergonica:
What are the pros and cons of using a
traditional wide-blade hoe for weeding?
Name three weeding tools that are
suitable for removing dandelions from lawns?
What kinds of weeding tools should you
be looking for in Organic gardening or
sustainable agriculture?
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