If you want to get away from toxins. Use the old fashion, well made hand tools that get the job done. I hear you about the fumes, I was using my brother's weed wacker that burns oil to cut my winter rye, I was literally choking on the white smoke... That's the last thing I want around my garden. Anyways, I found a decent video of old fashioned hand tool(sythe) versus a newer, weaker, more polluting weedwacker, watch who cuts the strip off weeds the quickest. And weedwackers are supposed to be new technolgy?it seems like we are going a little backwards, shouldn't technology mean better built, more durable, less polluting? It seems like it's just the opposite now a days. Make everything as cheap as possible, when it breaks, throw this one in the lake, buy a new one.. The cheap shtt they make today just gets me so frustrated.. I like stiff done right.. Here is a link that might be useful: Weed wacker vs scythe

What I have noticed is that most pruners are too big, clunky, and tiring to use even for a woman like me with big hands and only a touch of arthritis (so far). If a smaller and lighter tool will help you, Bahco pruners ("secateurs") are available in a small size and are the best totally functional ones I can recommend. The Bahco "Ergo" series offers pruners in 3 sizes: small, medium, large. The small size fits my hand perfectly, is very light and compact, and can be used all day long with no strain -- every other part of my body may ache, but not my hand or wrist. I've been using them for more than 6 years now and currently have 3 (so I can always find at least one to use!) of the "PX-S2" model (the "S" stands for the size, "small" -- the medium-sized model would be PX-M2). The other model of pruner in Bahco's "Ergo" series is one with rotating handles (PXR-S2), which I haven't tried (but agree with Diane that Fiskar's with rotating handles are really bad -- a pair my mother gave me some years ago made my hand and wrist hurt almost immediately, were incredibly heavy and awkward to use). Bahcos are not the cheapest, but are very high-quality (made in France) and all parts are replaceable. Seems to be a number of online sources, including, of course, Amazon -- but make sure the product offered is the size wanted. (original link below didn't work, so I've put in another one -- not quite so specific, but if you click on the "Brochure" button there, you get a PDF with every detail possible) Here is a link that might be useful: Bahco This post was edited by catspa on Sat, Jul 27, 13 at 12:06

I don't often comment but I just had to comment about this subject. I worked in public safety for almost 20 years. For every violent crime you see reported on the news (gun shot, stabbing, carjacking, armed robbery, home invasion, etc.), there are countless others that aren't reported on TV or in the newspaper. And I'm not just talking about in big cities or the 'bad areas of town'. These days, the number of violent crimes are going up at staggering rates and they are affecting EVERY one and at ANY time of the day or night. When I was growing up, my mom used to comfort us when we were scared by telling us that no one would break in while we were at home. She would say, "Those bad men only want to break in when no one's home. They want to get in, steal all the stuff and get out quickly without being noticed. They usually don't want to hurt anyone." Well, that is just not true anymore. These days, people are just flat out cruel and they would just as soon shoot you as to look at you. They WILL come into your home regardless if you are home or not. In fact, they often look for targets who are home so you can lead them to where all your expensive items are and even take them to other locations to get more. With that in mind, here are a few things you can do to avoid being a victim: 1) ALWAYS BE MINDFUL THAT NO ONE IS FOLLOWING YOU...when you leave the bank, ATM, a nice restaurant, the mall, etc. If you EVER even think you are being followed, drive to the closest police station. DO NOT GO HOME!! 2) ALWAYS LOCK YOUR WINDOWS & DOORS...in your home and automobile. 3) LEAVE ON EXTERIOR LIGHTS AT NIGHT. Motion censored and/or timed lights are a great addition to a few that remain on all night. Mix it up to keep from getting in a routine that someone would notice. 4) GET A DOG (or at least have a sign that indicates you own one) 5) INSTALL AN ALARM SYSTEM with a BATTERY BACK-UP and ALWAYS HAVE IT ARMED and MONITORED, NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY IT IS!! The sophisticated home invader knows that many people don’t turn alarms on regularly! So if you have it, always use it! By the way, if you don't have a landline and/or you are in a remote location, use a satellite alarm monitoring company. 6) IF YOU ARE A FEMALE LIVING ALONE, BUY SOME MENS BOOTS from a thrift store and set them outside your door to make it look like there is a man living there with you. You can put them beside your imaginary dog's bowl on the porch! :0) 7) ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR GUT! That first gut instinct is almost always right. Listen to it! Below is an article about a home invasion that happened close to my home very recently. It was in a very affluent area and ended very badly. A 78 y/o grandmother and her disabled granddaughter returned home from running errands and were surprised by burglars as the men were about to leave the home. From the getaway car, one of the suspects fired a single shot from a handgun, striking the disabled woman in the head, killing her. To read more, the article is here: FAYETTE CO GRANDMOTHER PLEADS to FIND SUSPECTS IN FATAL HOME INVASION I hope this info helps at least one person stay safe. Blessings, ~Addy~ P.S. There's some additional safety info in the link below: Here is a link that might be useful: HOME INVASION ROBBERY - Protect Your Family With A Security Plan

Morning, Sorry for the double post. I am not sure how I did that and times so far apart?? I should finish the mirror but I was having too much fun playing with my glass bits. Shaking my head. I can see already these tools are not done costing me money. I have already run two batches through the tumbler. Yep is stinks but I love the feel of the glass when it is tumbled. Just thirty minutes and the edges are still crisp but not sharp. I can't wait to try gluing down some to something. This is going to save me so much time not having to use my dremel so much. And yes my tubbler stinks. No where to put it in the laundry room where the cord will reach so had it in the kitchen last night. I was pleased it is not too noisy as I expected. I sat five foot away from it ant talked easily on the phone to my Mom last night. Time to get myself in gear here. Thanks again on the sweet mirror comments. I will get it done soon and post back. Oh and the crooked yellow rose. I saw it was crooked when I took the picture and straightened it. Forgot to get a new picture. Chris