Tool Talk » Grabbers http://radiusgarden.com/blog News & Info About Radius Ergonomic Garden Tools Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:42:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 What’s the Big Deal with the Gator Grabber? http://radiusgarden.com/blog/whats-the-big-deal-with-the-gator-grabber/ http://radiusgarden.com/blog/whats-the-big-deal-with-the-gator-grabber/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:33:52 +0000 Bruce http://radiusgarden.com/blog/?p=350 [...]]]>
I have problems with my lower back. For many years I’ve suffered from back pain and muscles spasms in my lower back after heaving lifting, prolonged bending, or frequent squatting. These activities pretty much define what it means to garden, so the equation for me has always been: Gardening=Pain. The worst part about it is that the aches and pains last for many days after a weekend of gardening and interfere with many activities during the work week. I don’t like to take too many analgesics, although I have fondly called Motrin “Vitamin M.”

I am often approached by would-be garden tool inventors who have a new twist on a shovel, so I was tempted to ignore an email I received in early 2008 from Bruce Renny in the U.K. introducing me to an unusual product he called the “Grab-O-Saurus.” I’m very familiar with the low quality grabbing tools with pincher ends that have little or no utility in the garden, but I decided to visit his web site out of simple curiosity. What I saw was a rather crude, but apparently effective grabbing tool that looked like a giant pair of tongs. But, I couldn’t get the idea out of my head that and ergonomic grabber tool might be the solution to my back problems.

After playing with a sample of the product I decided to obtain the rights and redesign it within the constraints of its U.S., U.K., and European patents for greater utility and better ergonomics. We added telescoping handles so gardeners could adjust the length and reach as needed for the task at hand. We extensively redesigned the blades, or paddles, to incorporate better grabbing teeth. We we added curvature to the head for more grabbing capacity. We added openings on the paddles to make it lighter weight and more useful in water. It is actually one of the best water gardening tools I’ve ever used for moving pots and rocks and cleaning up ponds. Overall, we improved what was already a great idea. And, yes, I can now do extensive cleanup work in my yard and garden without bending over and without suffering any lower back pain.

What have I used the Gator Grabber for? I’ve stacked logs. I’ve mixed compost just like I would toss a giant salad. I’ve picked up potted plants that have fallen to the bottom of my pond and replaced them on the proper shelf. I’ve loaded several hundred pounds of black walnuts into a trash can. I’ve moved large piles of native wildflower (weed) stems after cutting them in the fall. I’ve stuffed piles of leaves into bags. I’ve cleaned up manure-laden straw in a horse stall. Finally, I just had a lot of fun playing with this amazing, ergonomic garden tool.

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