A few weeks ago I posted on painting the wooden handles of some of my garden tools. This week I am working to make more colorful garden tools, specifically my tools with plastic handles.
Paint was out of the question, I just don’t think it would hold up to the heavy use, wear and tear. So…I decided to wrap the handles with duct tape. Neon orange duct, to be precise.
I do have a concern about how easy the tools will be to clean if wrapped in duct tape, so I tried this on just one tool for now (my least used tool as you’ll see by the sticker still on the business end).
Let me tell you, this method goes a LOT more quickly than the painting project did. Quick application, no drying time. Like with the previous project, I cleaned the tool thoroughly first. After it was dry, I simply wrapped the handle with the duct tape, working my way from end to end. Note that the result is not as fine looking as the painted tools turned out. With the curves on the handle, it was not possible to get a smooth wrap. So while there are some wrinkles in the tape, I don’t think it’s a big deal and it’ll still do what I need it to.
It isn’t necessary to completely cover the handle. The reason I am covering the handle is to make it bright and colorful, so that it will stand out easily when laying in the grass. Also, I’m hoping that a couple layers of duct tape may also provide a bit of cushioning and grips for my hands.
As we are winding down the active garden season, I may be limited on how much I get to use this trowel until next spring. I will certainly let you know how it worked out next year when I’ve had a chance to try it out! At first blush the handle did seem to be easier to hold on to, the tape seems to give it more grip.
While I am at it, here is a tip that the man found: stick a bread clip into the ending edge of your roll of tape. Makes it easier to peel up next time you use it.
That’s it for today! Hope your week is going well.
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