"OK, I should have said.. Compare this to a solid steel shaft and a pipe, a pipe can be more ridged and stronger with the right mixture of various alloys of equal weight." Konrad, The reason I responded to that part of your post was that for a long time I believed pipe was stronger than solid rod. Someone who worked in the oil fields once told me that. His erroneous explanation for it was that since pipe had two surfaces (inner and outer) each surface added strength, therefore pipe was stronger than rod. He confused the truth that - pound for pound pipe is stronger than solid rod. But it was years before I learned the truth, and I've come across others who believed the same myth I did. The topic is near to my heart since I believed a myth for so long, so my response was more general info. You're a machinist so I know you're familiar with these things, I was just clarifying for others.

LOL You are people of my own heart. This rose is 4 years old and has been taking over since it was planted. I have no other explanation for the demise of everything near it while the Golden showers furthest away is going relatively well. Last night when I walked past it a long cane attacked me and I fought back! I got my heavy jacket, my gloves and pruning shears and started hacking at it. I have to chop it up into small pieces and put it in a trash bag. Anything longer than about 6" won't go in the bag and stay there. There are actually 2 bushes planted next to each other so it is going to take me some time to get rid of them. Jerijen, your idea of a flamethrower has its charms. After an hour's work it didn't look like I had touched the bushes and last fall I pruned it way back. One long long cane has even made it over the fence and is trying to attack my neighbor. The last time I grew roses was years ago in Mobile, AL so I'm having to re-learn about growing in a northern climate. I'm going to have to get new climbers now but don't know what to get. But that's another post. Thanks for being supportive of attacking The Beast. The first blood has yet to be shed but I haven't hit the heavy canes with their 3/4" thorns yet.... :/

There is a company in Canada, Timmins that sells quality tools and handles. I just bought a stainless spade with an ash handle and an angle on the blade so kinetically accurate it reminds me of the days when things like this were commonplace. They sell planting spades that are bullet proof but a spade is not a pry bar. I also bought a Dutch hoe, that they call a shuffle, that makes me feel like a craftsman just holding it in my hands. Back to replacing a handle: I have always found that getting the old piece out of the ferrule was the most difficult part of the job. Sticking it in the fire would burn it out but don't try this with with one bought at the bandit store as the metal may melt before the wood burns.

Its pretty. Right now I'm using my garden tools. I want to do some outdoor mosaic this spring, but it probably won't be my shovel! Its a good example tho, to keep us looking at things in different ways. Kathy