Flutterby™! : Weed Wrench 2005-04-29 00:04:47.811299+00

Weed Wrench

2005-04-29 00:04:47.811299+00 by Dan Lyke 9 comments

As I mentioned, I'm covered in poison oak from my ill-fated attempts at removing French Broom. I've got probably a quarter of the area cleared, and I think I'm chastened enough to wear appropriate clothing next time, but I've been thinking about building tool that both kept my hands out of the underbrush and gave me more leverage than I'm getting with rope and the car (which can't always pull in the appropriate direction). It looks like the Weed Wrench has a better gripper design than I was envisioning (although seeing their design has given me an idea...), and isn't another freakin' project.

I've seen a weed wrench in action, but the guy using had no idea what it was called or where they got it. It was tearing up Mimosa's and trash tree's as fast as he could move it. - Thanks Dan!

#Comment Re: made: 2005-04-29 13:08:04.989754+00 by: Nancy [edit history]

Dan, if you're having reactions to the poison oak, an over-the-counter product that has helped me and some others I know, is zanfel. It's about $40 for a 1 ounce tube, but I've tried everything out there and I consider zanfel a miracle drug.

Thanks, Nancy, I just applied $12 worth of it. That whole "measure it in inch and a half amounts" has me thinking of it as "two dollars an inch". Covered more area than I thought, although I'm sure I'll have to re-apply this afternoon.

Meuon, the only issue I see with the Weed Wrench is that the big one is so heavy. Charlene discovered it because a coworker has one, I think what we might do is buy another size and trade back and forth. There are a few stumps we've got which are going to want the medium or heavy sizes, but I'm not terribly keen on cleaning the whole danged area with a 25lb tool.

On the other hand, a few weekend days with that and I'd be putting on some upper body mass...

The title for this one is very interesting just having wed (er read) the "wust" entry.

#Comment Re: made: 2005-04-29 22:35:32.316729+00 by: meuon [edit history]

And today we learned.. Never underestimate the power of two hungry Mexicans with sharp machettes. They busted their butts, loaded a borrowed 24' flatbed trailer 8' high with trees, brush and weeds from the hill in front of the house. for less than the cost of a weed wrench lite ($130). They only wanted $7/hr. I paid $10/hr for the 6 hours it took them ($120 total).

The sad part is, I've tried to get three 'professional' firms to do this, and none would bid it - too hard on that steep of a hill for them.

BIG SUV Log: hauling borrowed 24' trailer.. Still, I'm thinking biodiesel would work in an F150.

BIG SUV Log: But you can rent a big vehicle when you need it. That way you aren't using hte BIG SUV for:

BIG SUV Log: Drove to the grocery store 3 miles BIG SUV Log: Drove to work, 10 miles BIG SUV Log: Drove to work, 10 miles BIG SUV Log: Drove to work, 10 miles BIG SUV Log: Drove to work, 10 miles BIG SUV Log: Drove to work, 10 miles BIG SUV Log: Drove to Atlanta for weekend, 240 miles etc.

I don't have a problem with the existence of BIG SUV, it's when people use BIG SUV as their primary transportation. We were in Asheville, NC, this weekend and it was funny to see Hummers rolling around the cobblestone downtown.

Yesterdays BIG SUV LOG: Parked. I drove Nancy to work in the 'Roo. Went to meetings, picked up Nancy and went shopping, dinner, etc.. Today: Parked. Tomorrow: Service call in truck, Lowes for lumber afterwards..

Lots of people can and do rent a truck or pay for delivery.. but I got a truck and am trying to use it wisely.

Which leads to a good point Eric almost made, it's using them for daily tranportation and things that do not require such a vehicle that sucks. Which, unfortunately, most Hummer/SUV/Truck owners lifestyles and or business needs don't NEED an SUV, it's a fashion statement.

Real conversation with the 19-20-ish guy that just got out of a new Land Rover at Panera Bread downtown:

Me: Nice Rover.. how good does that snorkel work?
Him: Huh?
Me: Snorkel.. for fjording streams and such.. that big black tube
Him: You're kidding right?

Anyway, roof rack, lights and all.. he was clueless, just thought it looked cooler than a jeep and Mommie/Daddy bought him a Land Rover ready for an African safari.