Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions that we get asked the most. If you have a question that is not in the list below please contact us via the details at the top of this page.
Q: I thought copper was a soft metal. Does it stand up to normal garden use?
Q: How do you sharpen the tools?
Q: Won't the copper go green over time?
Q: How long do the tools last?
Q: Do the handles need any special care?
Q: Does copper deter earthworms?
Q: Can using the copper tools reduce slug damage?
Q: Does the Implementations online shop use cookies?
Q: I thought copper was a soft metal. Does it stand up to normal garden use?
A: In its pure form, copper would be too soft a metal for most garden tools. However, our tools are made of a range of copper alloys. The blades of all the tools are solid bronze, containing over 90% copper; the remaining part is tin. Bronze is more hardwearing and keeps its sharp edge better than pure copper. It is still not as hard as steel, but as it is sharper and smoother than steel, we find that there is less resistance from the soil when we work with these tools.
Q: How do you sharpen the tools?
A: There are two ways; either file the blade with a fine metal file or put the blade on a piece of wood and hammer it. If you use a file, run it slowly at an angle to the blade, at about a quarter of the speed with which you would sharpen a steel blade. However hammering is a skilled job, as you can see from this video...
Q: Won't the copper go green over time?
A: No. The green is verdigris, which is formed when copper comes into contact with acid. Copper roofs have verdigris because rainwater with its absorbed carbon dioxide is naturally slightly acidic. Groundwater is not naturally acidic. Even acid soil is not acidic enough to cause verdigris. Our tools acquire a slight brown patina over time, (see our old trowel on the right hand side of this page) that can be cleaned off with a metal polish if you want to restore the original shine.
Q: How long do the tools last?
A: These are long lasting tools which should out last most of us. However if for some reason you are unhappy with your tool we offer a no quibble lifetime guarantee. We will refund or replace any unused tool. We will also repair or replace any faulty tool. Of course this excludes normal wear and tear. The handles and shafts are guaranteed for three years, and we also supply replacements.
Q: Do the handles need any special care?
A: All the handles have been treated with a single coating of boiled linseed oil. It is good practice to oil the handles yourself from time to time and store the tools out of the rain and direct sunlight. Do not wash the handles.
Q: Does copper deter earthworms?
A: Earthworms are annelids, a different family from slugs and snails (molluscs). Annelids have haemoglobin just as we and other mammals do, whereas molluscs such as slugs and snails have haemocyanin, based on copper.
The use of iron or copper tools should have no effect on the earthworm population. Certainly they are there as much as ever in our garden, and we have used exclusively copper tools for several years now.
Q: Can using the copper tools reduce slug damage?
A: That is our experience from our own garden, and the experience of many users of the tools. More about this on the Slugs and Snails page of this site.
Q: Does the Implementations online shop use cookies?
A: The shop uses session cookies, so that the system can remember the details of your basket as you move from one page to another through the site. No personal information is stored.
Our old Castor Trowel
(approximately 6 - 7 years old) clearly showing the brown patina
