The Repair Cafe, run by a dedicated group of volunteers with a focus on fixing things, has seen an increasing interest in the servicing of garden tools. It is great to see people bringing their secateurs, shears and loppers to be sharpened.

Doing maintenance on all garden tools will prolong their life, make them easier to use, reduce the spread of disease and make them safer to work with.

For spades and shovels you should remove the dirt at the completion of each working day. This can be done with a wire brush, wearing safety glasses and gloves.

Wooden handles need to be oiled regularly. Start by giving them a light sand to remove any splinters. An easy way to oil is to keep a soft rag in a sealable container with oil in it. Linseed oil works well with a little added turpentine. 

Secateurs need special care. Wipe the secateurs down with warm, soapy water after each pruning session.

Then rub the blades with vegetable oil to prevent them rusting, as some sap can be quite corrosive.

If the blade seems blunt, run a sharpening stone over it. If the blade is too badly damaged you can replace it.

Keep your pruning saw clean with a nailbrush. Dip it into bleach or tea tree oil to sterilise it before pruning prize plants or if you suspect a plant is diseased.

You also can use WD40 or kerosene in a spray bottle mixed with a motor oil to lubricate the tool.

The Repair Cafe volunteers are more than happy to help you achieve a great result.

We are able to do some sharpening and are willing to teach you.

Bring along your favourite tool (maximum of three items per person).

The Repair Cafe is free and opens the first Saturday of the month, 10am to 1pm, at the Sustainability Activity Centre on Gateway Island, next to La Maison Cafe. 

Our next session is this Saturday, July 2. 

For further information visit ecoportal.net.au. 

We look forward to seeing you.