A real Fokina flat cutter is a convenient tool for working in the garden. Fokina flat cutter: what is it and how to use it Fokina combined flat cutter how to use

Gardening is a kind of hobby for most people. Today you can buy any product in the store, but people stubbornly continue to grow potatoes, onions, carrots and other crops. To significantly facilitate this work, it is worth having a Fokin flat cutter on your farm. This tool will replace many of the existing ones and will significantly reduce the time of tillage.

How did the flat cutter appear?

In the mid-90s, Vladimir Fokin was discharged from the hospital after a heart attack. He loved to work on his plot, but big physical exercise were contraindicated for him. The summer resident thought for a long time about how to outwit nature and start cultivating the land. The result of his thoughts was a flat cutter.

With its help, it was possible to do most of the gardening work, and the plants produced a colossal harvest. Soon Fokin's flat cutters spread all over the world and became an integral part of organic farming. They are popular not only in the CIS countries. In America, Australia and Europe this tool is used even more often.

The principle of organic farming

The soil consists not only of a mineral part, but also of an organic part. Moreover, organic matter is mostly in living form. These are earthworms, bacteria, beetles and other organisms. All of them as a whole create unified system which contributes good growth representatives of the flora. Fokin's flat cutters practically do not disturb this idyll, since they do not touch the soil deeper than 5-7 cm. With the same shovel, the soil is turned over to a depth of about 20 cm, and with a plow - even deeper.

Untouched worms and beetles quickly enter into symbiosis with plants and help them bear fruit abundantly. At the same time, the soil always remains loose and airy. This is done by hundreds of worms, which not only dig channels, but also process organic matter into a form that is best absorbed by plants.

For this reason, more and more gardeners are choosing the Fokin flat cutter. Photos showing how to use it show that it is a very convenient and simple device. It copes with most tasks faster than its outdated counterparts.

Different sizes

Initially, V. Fokin made only one type of his instrument. It was ideal for large volumes of work. With its help, you can loosen the ground, remove weeds even on turf, form beds, and mow the grass. But he didn't do small jobs very well.

The large length of the cutting edge did not allow high-quality walking along narrow row spacings. And thinning the rows was quite difficult. Therefore, a little later a smaller Fokin flat cutter appeared. With its help, treating beds from weeds and large thickening has ceased to be a problem. The maneuverability of the flat cutter is perfectly combined with its efficiency.

Today there are several sizes of this gardening tool on sale. It is recommended to purchase at least two of them for your household, since different goals require different capacities. But the operating principles remain the same. The main thing is to customize the tool exactly for yourself. The size itself no longer has of great importance, if you know how to work with at least one of them.

Loosening the soil

One of the first actions that gardeners perform in the spring is to loosen the soil for sowing and planting. The Fokina flat cutter is perfect for these purposes. It’s not entirely clear how they work the first time. But a few minutes of practice - and there are no longer any problems with this.

The bottom line is that a flat cutter does not turn over the soil like a shovel or plow does. In order to loosen the soil, it is enough to simply bring it underground to a depth of 3-5 cm and draw it parallel to its surface, as if cutting off upper layer. This is quite enough for the fertile part of the soil to fluff up and become suitable for sowing plants.

The flat cutter is sharpened on both sides of the blade. Therefore any gardening work can be performed in two directions. If you learn this, loosening the soil will go much faster. Numerous reviews also speak about this. Fokina's flat cutter helps people easily process about 20 acres, which is almost impossible with a shovel.

Weed removal

The second, and probably the most important action that Fokin flat cutters perform is clearing areas of weeds. It doesn’t matter where they grow or how strong their root system. The flat cutter cuts any plants quickly and without effort on the part of the summer resident.

On loose soil, this action can be quickly performed in both directions, as if you were working manual cultivator. The principle of operation is the same as when loosening the soil. Only the depth of the work is different. It is enough to cut young weeds 1-2 cm from the surface. The tool works so effectively that even weeds that have not yet sprouted are cut.

In this case, there is no need to select cut ones. Worms and beetles will quickly process dead plants into fertilizer, which will add nutrients the main crop in the garden.

You can also use the Fokina flat cutter on perennial turf. Photos of such actions are impressive. Perennial grass it is cut off as if it has just grown and has not had time to get stronger, and its stems have become woody. With a flat cutter, any virgin soil turns into a garden bed or flowerbed in a matter of minutes.

Instead of a scythe, a rake and a pitchfork

But not only in the garden is the Fokin flat cutter effective. Let's look at how they can work in the garden below.

Many people know how to hold a braid correctly. In the same way, we take the handle of the flat cutter and begin to work with it just above the surface of the soil. You will be surprised how easily and quickly it cuts the grass. True, for this the tool must be well sharpened. And the steel from which it is made must be durable. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers use the right brand.

We turn the flat cutter 90 degrees and take it like a rake. With one wide tooth you can both stir up hay and rake it into a stack. Certainly, perfect cleanliness you won’t achieve it on the site, but in emergency the tool will help.

Cleaning stalls is usually done with a pitchfork. If there are none or you need to perfectly scrape the floor, use the same flat cutter. Not only will it sweep all the manure into one pile, but it will also clean the stall perfectly. All that remains is to throw everything out onto the street with a shovel.

Series production problems

Many gardeners buy Fokin flat cutters from a garden tool manufacturer. Then it turns out that this tool does not live up to their expectations, and people begin to complain about the exaggerated benefits of the flat cutter. The real problem is that mass production involves stamping. Soft grades of steel are better suited for these purposes, since harder ones require much more effort. Such a tool quickly becomes dull and shows low efficiency.

Therefore, it is worth carefully studying what you are going to purchase. Be sure to check if there is a company mark on the instrument. If it is not there or you have the slightest doubt, it is better not to take such a Fokin flat cutter. It’s not at all difficult to make it with your own hands if you have at least some skills in working with metal and a strip of suitable steel. Yes, it will take more time, but you will get the perfect tool.

How to do it yourself?

In order to make this tool yourself, you first need to know what parts the Fokin flat cutter consists of. Its drawing is quite simple and understandable. This is a long steel blade with several bends.

The picture above shows the dimensions for a large flat cutter. The bending angles are as follows: the first - 95-105 degrees, but slightly rounded, the second and third - approximately 110-130 degrees each.

For a small flat cutter, the angles remain the same, but the dimensions will have to be reduced slightly. The length of the blade is approximately 10-12 cm, the width of the workpiece is 2.5 cm. The narrowing must be calculated proportionally. And instead of three mounting holes, two are made. That is, we leave one hole in the upper part.

After everything is cut and curved, you need to sharpen the tool on both sides.

Handle for flat cutter

After you have made the Fokin flat cutter with your own hands, you need to build the correct handle for it. In its cross-section, it looks more like a rectangle than the circle we are used to.

For work we will need a 1.3-1.6 meter long rail. First, smooth out its corners using a plane. At the same time, we leave 20-25 cm from the bottom untouched, so that later it will be easier to mark the fasteners.

When all the edges are removed, we proceed to the bottom part. Parallel to the axis of the cutting we draw 2 lines exactly in the middle. The distance between them should be 5-8 mm. Then we apply the flat cutter to the workpiece and move it up and down until the handle rests on the upper bend and there is no gap between them. In this case, the bottom hole should be exactly in the middle of the drawn lines. Make a mark with a pencil and drill a hole. We tightly screw the flat cutter to the handle, carefully ensuring that the upper hole is within the boundaries outlined by the lines. We drill the second mounting hole and use a bolt to press the flat cutter.

Harvest bed

Some skeptics will say that Fokin flat cutters are ineffective. Humanity has plowed the earth for thousands of years and received excellent harvests. But they will be wrong. The same Sumerians never loosened the soil deeper than 10 cm, although they already had tools capable of deep plowing. At the same time, there is evidence that the barley harvest among the Sumerians was 300-400%, which is considered an almost unrealistic figure for those times.

The effectiveness of shallow tillage lies in the fact that those who help the plants live in it. At the same time, the natural capillary system of the soil and its osmosis are preserved. This means that even in the worst drought, plants have a source of moisture, and in wet weather its excess goes deeper.

Therefore, before criticizing flat cutters, it is still worth conducting an experiment on at least one bed. Believe me, it will become the most productive on your site.

Modern functional garden tools allow you to effectively carry out work on personal plots. One of these tools is a flat cutter, which is simple and easy to use, can significantly reduce the processing time of areas and optimize gardening work. This device is very functional, so summer residents mainly use it for work in their gardens.

How to work with a Fokin flat cutter

It was invented by V.V. Fokin, a journalist by training and a gardener by vocation. Long years Fokin talked with residents rural areas, studied various garden tools, experimented on my summer cottage With various methods and techniques until he invented the manual one, which now bears his name. Fokin's unique invention became an indispensable assistant for many gardeners, it significantly reduces the load on the spine and has a beneficial effect on soil cover and productivity.

The easiest way to have a beautiful front lawn

Of course you saw perfect lawn in the cinema, on the alley, and perhaps on the neighbor’s lawn. Those who have ever tried to grow a green area on their site will no doubt say that it is a huge amount of work. The lawn requires careful planting, care, fertilization, and watering. However, only inexperienced gardeners think this way; professionals have long known about the innovative product - liquid lawn AquaGrazz.

Let's look further in the article at what the device is and how to use it in the garden, as well as how to make it yourself. Practical and high-quality, it allows gardeners to effectively carry out more than 20 gardening tasks. Photos and videos presented in the article demonstrate the effectiveness of using the tool.

Let's consider basic functions gardening tools:

• loosening the soil;
• weeding the soil;
• cutting weeds;
• pulling out weeds.

The ergonomic structure allows the tool blade to penetrate the soil to a sufficient depth, without disturbing the peace of the useful abodes of the earth. Do-it-yourself gardening work using a flat cutter does not require much physical effort, is effective and practical. However, it is not a magic “magic wand” that can replace the entire garden tools, This auxiliary tool, capable of facilitating various works on personal plots.

Types of flat cutters and how to use

The design is equipped with a curved metal plate with several cutting surfaces, which have different degrees of sharpening and are located under different angles. The ergonomic design of the manual allows you to quickly and efficiently perform various tasks with your own hands. Design features are visible in video and photographic materials. Special attention When using equipment, attention should be paid to timely sharpening, otherwise use will not be effective. Dumb doesn't cut weeds, but pulls it out, which leads to a destructive effect on the ground cover and disturbs beneficial inhabitants.

Types of flat cutters

Today there are several types:

• big;
• small;
• big carpenter;
• small carpenter;
• mighty;
• big guy.

Experienced gardeners recommend keeping two types on their farm, one smaller, the other larger. For example, a big guy is effective at clay soils, and the mighty one, thanks to its wide blade, is indispensable for hilling trees. Functional Features show photos and videos.

How to assemble a new one?

Let's consider further how you can assemble the tool. As a rule, they are sold unassembled. Following the instructions and focusing on the drawing, photo and video, it will not be difficult to assemble it yourself. When assembling garden tools, you must follow safety rules, since sharp blades can cause damage. The drawing, video and photo of the flat cutter indicate that the blade must be installed on a standard rectangular handle using bolts.

How to use it at the dacha

Fixing bolts make it possible to change the angle of connection of the blade to the flat cutter during operation. For convenience, based on the drawing, photo and video, it is necessary to round the rectangular handle to a rectangular shape. If you assemble it correctly with your own hands, you will get functional gardening tools that can be used to carry out garden work on any side without much physical effort.

How to work on a personal plot?

Using the correct techniques for working with a flat cutter will significantly reduce the time required for gardening work and optimize it. The main rule is the parallel insertion of the blade into the earthen cover. If parallel actions are not obtained, it is necessary to align the angle of the blade with respect to the main handle using mounting bolts.

When working you must:

• keep your back straight or slightly tilted forward, relaxed;
• the handle must be held with both hands so that the distance between the girths is 10-15 cm, and the thumbs point upward.

If you feel discomfort or pain in your back and arms, it means that the equipment is not being used correctly and you need to change the position of your back and the girth of the garden tool. To organize competent techniques for working with a flat cutter, you should familiarize yourself with the video and photo instructions. Let us next consider the main functions that can be used for work on a personal plot.

In addition to the main four functions - loosening and weeding the soil, cutting and pulling out weeds, it also performs a number of useful actions on personal plots:

• Weeding between rows in flower beds, flower ensembles, gardens and vegetable gardens. When weeding, use the wide part of the blade, which is launched several centimeters into the soil and sharply pulled towards you.
• Formation of beds and hilling of plantings. Using a flat cutter, it is much more convenient to carry out such garden work than using a shovel or hoe. To hill up plants, use the wide part of the blade, which is lowered a short distance into the soil and, with gentle movements away from you towards the stem of the plant, loosen the soil.

• Leveling the ground cover, filling the planted seeds. Using the wide side of the blade without going deep into the soil, smooth movements towards you level the ground after planting seeds, removing weeds, preparing the soil for planting, etc.
• Thinning beds. In this case, the narrow part of the blade is immersed in the ground a few centimeters and the beds are thinned out with movements toward you.
• By pulling a narrow edge of a blade buried into the soil, it is cracked, improving aeration, and also thins out dense crops. In the formed bed, grooves are cut for sowing using this method.
• Breaking up large lumps of earth. Using the heel of the flat cutter, dense lumps of earth are broken up with intense blows; you can help with the cutting part of the tool.
• Uprooting. The narrow part is inserted under the plant that needs to be uprooted and they begin to rock it. Then the wide part of the instrument is inserted and unwanted vegetation is removed.

In addition, it will help you successfully cut off strawberry tendrils with your own hands, scatter mulch or compost, dig the ground shallowly, remove old bark from trees, clean livestock buildings and outbuildings. All types of work and features of execution using a flat cutter are demonstrated in photos and video instructions. Despite the fact that it can cope with most of the gardening work, in gardening it is necessary to have other equipment - a sector for trimming tree branches and forming landscaping, a pitchfork for working with compost, a shovel for digging deep holes, etc.

Fokin's flat cutter is a tool with which a gardener manually processes the soil and spends minimal amount energy. This tool allows you to maintain health and increase fertility land plot. The creator of the weapon and the holder of the official patent is the Russian inventor V.V. Fokin.

Information about the inventor

V.V. Fokin is a versatile personality. His intellect combines the talents of a journalist, engineer and gardener. He lost the ability to work normally in the garden after he suffered a heart attack. Disability forced the designer think about relief physical labor in the garden plot.

V.V. Fokin studied the behavior of existing soil cultivation tools and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages. Experimenting with various variations, he managed to create universal tool, which was dubbed the flat cutter. The tests were carried out by the author himself on his own large plot.

Tool characteristics

The flat cutter includes several garden tools(small shovel, rake, scythe and others). This versatile equipment allows you to perform a significant number of different gardening tasks. Working with a hoe saves physical effort and time.

Product types

There are six original types of Fokine instrument:

Advantages and disadvantages of a flat cutter

A simple and unpretentious tool has certain advantages.

The disadvantages of a flat cutter are as follows:

• This multipurpose tool is not capable of digging planting holes or cutting hay. It will not cope with large areas of land densely overgrown with weeds.
• It is problematic to replace a hoe with a flat cutter. Specific tools are better suited for this.

On a note! The cutting part, which is often directed toward the surface of the earth, should be sharpened; burrs should only be removed from the opposite edge. When using electric emery, minimal pressure is required, since hardness and reliability decrease as the temperature of the metal increases.

How to use a flat cutter

This chopper reduces the load to the necessary minimum, if the gardener bends over a little and keeps his back straight. At rational use the metal blade moves parallel to the ground level.

For most gardeners, the video “How to properly use a Fokin flat cutter” will be useful.

The difference between an original product and a fake

Pirated copies are sold at low prices, but their quality is disgusting. Illegal companies strive to reduce manufacturing costs and make greater profits; they do not care about the reliability and durability of the tool. Original flat cutter by inventor Fokin determined by the following features:

A fake is distinguished by the following characteristics:

• The fake flat cutter is made of thin, soft and light metal.
• The product is painted and does not have anti-corrosion.
• The box and label are handcrafted.
• The fastening system is missing or does not meet the stated standards.
• The certificate was printed on a regular printer.

Making a flat cutter with your own hands

Manufacturing is not a complicated process. First you need to select the material for the plate and handle. He must have increased wear resistance. The inventor used 65 G steel, which is difficult to process but lasts a long time.

For cuttings, use pine, birch or ash. You will need a hammer, electric drill, pliers, grinder, sharpening stones, a vice and a blowtorch. During manufacturing, you must adhere to the drawings and explanations , which will preserve the properties of the equipment.

An original device created by inventor V.V. Fokin facilitates work on garden plots and allows you to save health and time. There are six varieties flat cutters, which are intended for a specific type of activity on the site. When purchasing products, you need to know the signs of the original and counterfeit versions.

To make your job of caring for your garden or garden easier, there is a special universal tool - the Fokina flat cutter. It can be called an ideal and indispensable tool for gardeners and gardeners. It is quite easy for them to cultivate the land and perform a lot of other functions.

Many users have already appreciated it and are still using it. But how to use such a tool? What functions does it perform? Is it possible to make a Fokin flat cutter with your own hands? Let's find out.

History of creation

You can see what Fokin's flat cutter looks like in the photo. The tool is quite simple but effective. This hand tool invented by Vladimir Vasilyevich Fokin, whose surname the instrument was named after. He was a hardworking and responsible person. Due to great experience in the field of agriculture, as well as the ability to invent, he created this flat cutter. With it you can easily cultivate a plot of land equal to 40 acres. Thanks to it, the fertility of the land increases and productivity increases. Vladimir Fokin created unique instrument, which is very simple but effective.

With its help you can perform many types of work. The Fokina flat cutter is a universal tool that will replace you with a shovel, a fork, a hoe and even a cultivator. Outwardly, he is no different. A flat cutter consists of a curved metal plate, sharpened on all sides, and a handle. It is noteworthy that the handle for the Fokin flat cutter should be rectangular. It is more comfortable and will prevent calluses. What are the advantages of the tool over others?

Features of the flat cutter

Although the flat cutter looks simple, it can perform many functions. This makes it versatile. The tool has many advantages:

1. For organic farming, you will not need to dig the soil, but only cultivate it with a flat cutter. This way you will save your time and effort. In addition, the soil layers do not turn over during processing, which preserves its structure and all microorganisms. Thanks to this, productivity increases.
2. Even a pensioner will be able to extra effort work with a flat cutter. It's not difficult to do this.
3. Thanks to the flat cutter, you can easily destroy weeds by turning them into fertilizer. When you constantly cultivate them, the roots rot in the soil.

As you can see, the benefits of the tool are quite great. With just one flat cutter you can perform about 30 types of work.

Note! The functions of the flat cutter include removing weeds, loosening the soil, hilling beds, cutting grooves for sowing seeds, cleaning livestock premises, stir up hay, mow grass, etc. At the same time, the work requires a minimum of effort.

But how exactly to work with a Fokin flat cutter? Let's find out.

Fokina flat cutter how to use it

It happens that a gardener purchased a flat cutter, but then complains about his purchase. The thing is that he doesn't know how to use it correctly. Yes, and there are no skills to work with the tool. Externally, a flat cutter resembles a hoe, but it works differently. The main purpose for which the tool is intended is soil cultivation.

Loosen the soil

The first action in spring is to loosen the soil for sowing and planting. How can you loosen the soil with a tool? A little theory and practice will help you. We already said that it does not turn over the soil. You just need to insert the blade underground to a depth of 4-5 cm, and then draw it slightly parallel to the surface. It turns out that you seem to cut off the top layer. This is quite enough to fluff up the fertile part of the earth. Then it will become suitable for sowing your plants. And by sharpening the blade on both sides, you can do work in two directions. If you practice, things will go quickly. Judging by the reviews, people cultivate 20 acres of land without any problems. It wouldn't have happened with a shovel.

Advice! In addition, you can level the bed, break up clods of soil, shape edges, and create furrows for sowing.

Removing weeds

Another important step is to remove weeds. The good news is that for work it doesn’t matter where the weeds grow or how strong their root system is. The flat cutter will quickly, efficiently, and effortlessly cut any plant. In this case, the operating principle is exactly the same as in the first case. Only the depth changes. It is necessary to cut off a layer of soil of 1-2 cm. The work of the tool is so effective that it cuts those weeds that have not yet sprouted. It is noteworthy that there is no need to remove weeds. Beetles and worms will process them in no time, making good fertilizer for the garden bed.

Note! The Fokina flat cutter will quickly cope with even long-term wood. The grass is easy to remove without any Herculean labor.

Flat cutter like scythe rake and pitchfork

You can work with the tool not only in the garden, but also in the garden. Do you know how to hold a braid? Likewise, take your flat cutter and start making the same movements as you would with a scythe. It will quickly and easily cut grass above the ground. You just need to sharpen it well. Now, turn the tool 90˚ and grab it like a rake. Thanks to one wide tooth, you can not only stir the hay, but also rake it into a pile. It is clear that it will not be possible to create an ideal order, but it will do as an option. But when you need to clean the stall, a flat cutter will do the job perfectly. You can scrub the floor so that there is no dirt on it.

Making a flat cutter with your own hands

Now let's move on to making the tool. The first step is to make the blade. To do it correctly, look at Fokin’s own drawing. Fokina flat cutter photo:

1. Take metal plate 40 cm long. Warm up the strip blowtorch.
2. Make 3 holes to attach to the cutting.
3. Attach the drawing and mark the bend points on it (4 bends in total).
4. Use a blowtorch to heat these areas and bend the blade at the desired angle.
5. Cool it and cut off the tip working area at an angle of 45˚.
6. Use a grinder to sharpen the blade. It is important to sharpen the blade correctly on both sides.

Belonging to the category of universal tools for the garden, the Fokina flat cutter allows you to perform a fairly wide range of work. At the same time, its operation does not cause difficulties. The official name of this device is “Fokin manual tillage implement.”

Fokin's flat cutter and its role in organic farming

When using a Fokin flat cutter, complete loosening is ensured, although the soil layer does not turn over. This processing technology organic farming is the most gentle because it protects the garden from weathering and erosion.

With regular use of a flat cutter, the soil structure improves due to aeration, which leads to an increase in yield.

Advantages and disadvantages of the tool

Fokin's tillage implement is evaluated according to several parameters, highlighting its following advantages:

• increasing soil fertility;
• convenient use for cultivating the soil without unnecessary strain on the back, which remains straight during work;
• the ability to perform almost 20 operations;
• easy processing of hard-to-reach areas;
• easy maintenance of instruments.

Among the disadvantages, some gardeners cite the inability to completely extract the roots of cut weeds to the surface.

You need to understand that with regular processing, organic residues accumulate and rot, contributing to the growth of the fertile layer. This circumstance turns this factor into an additional advantage of the tool.

Flat cutter device

The design of the flat cutter is a wooden handle, cross section which has rectangular shape with rounded ribs. This solution for the handle is the most convenient, since it does not slip in the palms and does not leave calluses. A metal plate is fixed to it using bolts, which is bent at certain angles, depending on the type of tool. The plate has three cutting surfaces with varying degrees of sharpening and holes for mounting bolts.

What tools does a flat cutter replace?

When used correctly, the Fokina flat cutter can replace several of the most common garden tools. These include:

• hoe;
• cultivator;
• hoe;
• hiller.

If necessary, this universal tool can partially replace a shovel, rake, and even a scythe.

What types of work can be performed

If you work correctly with a flat cutter that seems simple at first glance, then as you master the tool you will be able to carry out almost all garden operations. These include the following types works:

• weeding;
• hilling;
• leveling the surface of the bed, breaking up lumps;
• cutting strawberry whiskers;
• marking furrows and filling seeds after sowing;
• removal of weeds and single weeds;
• loosening the soil;
• equipment of beds;
• thinning of seedlings;
• cleaning tree bark before whitewashing;
• spreading mulching material or rotted compost;
• cleaning small outbuildings when keeping chickens, piglets, sheep there; raspberry tenderloin;
• loosening tree trunk circles; mowing grass.

Before you understand how to use the Fokin flat cutter when mastering it, you should carefully study the recommendations for using the tool set out in the instructions.

Loosening the soil, rules for performing work with tools

When loosening, the principle of operation of the tillage implement is to deepen the wide side of its blade by about 50 mm.

It should be taken into account that the blade is directed into the soil with its sharp end at a slight angle, making it almost parallel to the surface.

After this, the tool is pulled smoothly towards itself or made wide lateral movements, which looks like mowing grass. As a result, the earth, while loosening, does not move.

How to form ridges

Having marked the boundaries of the bed on the loosened soil with a string, they begin its formation by raking soil from the row spacing on both sides in turn. When performing this operation, you should use reverse side flat cutter, pointing the edge of the blade down. The required height of the bed is regulated by the amount of soil poured.

Grooving

For the purpose of cutting grooves or so-called soil slicing, a pruning cutter is inserted into the ground with a narrow edge. Then the tool is smoothly passed along the stretched string along the surface of the bed. And then they place the seeds in the grooves and cover them with soil on the other side.

Weeding and weed removal

If the flat cutter is sufficiently sharpened, then it is quite possible to weed with it. To do this, the blade is buried 30 mm into the soil and pulled towards itself. At the same time, the earth is further loosened. If you need to remove a plant with a well-developed root system, then after the blade is brought under the stem, you need to make a sharp jerk, pulling out the weed.

Hilling

To hill up plants, such as potatoes, tomatoes or cabbage, the wide part of the blade should be lowered into the ground a few centimeters. Then they loosen the soil, simultaneously pulling it towards the stem from all sides and pouring a mound of the required height.

Types of flat cutters and how to use them

Among the assortment of gardening tools you can choose different types flat cutters, suitable not only for a specific job, but also taking into account the type of soil on the site.

Large and small flat cutter

A large flat cutter is designed for working in beds. With its help you can loosen the soil to a considerable depth. This tool is also used for weeding, hilling, and breaking the surface crust. You can use it to mow the grass and remove significantly overgrown single weeds with powerful roots. Analyzing why a small flat cutter with a compact size and light weight is needed, it should be noted that its main purpose is to process light soils. It copes well with weeding between rows of onions, beets, carrots, turnips and other garden crops. In addition, the tool allows you to thin out dense shoots.

Powerful, and in what works it is better to use it

A characteristic feature of the tool, called the “mighty”, is a wide blade, which allows you to quickly and efficiently hill up potatoes, raise the level of the beds to the required height and form them. Use a tool to work on heavy soils. It can easily cut down small hummocks if the garden is located near a peat bog. If necessary, it will loosen a turfy or rocky area and remove perennial weeds.

Poles: large and small

Among the varieties of Fokin's soil-cultivating implements, you can choose “poltiki”: large and small. The first sample has a narrow, long blade that allows you to weed large areas very quickly. When working, it is usually deepened by 30 mm. This device is also used to loosen the soil and thin out crops. A small “poltik” with a narrow blade is the smallest tool in the range of Fokin’s soil-cultivating implements. During operation, it does not damage even closely planted plants, which makes it easier to weed and thin out dense crops.

Strong - assistant for cultivating heavy soils

The shortened wide blade of the “strong” flat cutter allows it to be used effectively on clay soils. This tool is successfully used to develop virgin lands. During operation, the narrowed end is stuck into the soil and one fragment of soil after another begins to fall off.

With the help of a “strong one” you can cut down thickets of weeds and weed out weeds.

Modifications of the flat cutter

In the assortment of flat cutters you can select modern modified samples that differ high efficiency and greatly facilitate gardening operations.

Swift

A special feature of the “swift” modification is the shape of the tool, which consists of two cutting elements connected in the center in the shape of a heart. Depending on the size, there are small, medium and large flat cutters. The miniature version is convenient for working in greenhouses and greenhouses. More large species allow operations to be carried out on open space. With their help they spud:

• potatoes and cabbage;
• mow the grass.

Double flat cutter

An improved universal option is a double flat cutter, which has two blades on one handle: small and large. It turned out more universal option. It will be useful when processing both a large plot and a miniature bed or flower garden. The gardener does not have to purchase several types of tillage implements.

Assembling a flat cutter

The flat cutter is most often sold in disassembled form. The package includes a bracket with a blade, as well as fasteners in the form of two bolts. The cutting can be purchased separately. It is important to follow safety precautions during assembly.

Since the blades are very sharp, you need to protect your hands with gloves. All assembly operations are carried out in strict accordance with the instructions.

Choosing a cutting

If you have to select a handle yourself, then pay attention to its length, which allows you to work with a straight back without causing pain in the lower back. For tall people a handle up to 160 cm long is provided. For gardeners of average height, the handle of the flat cutter varies from 110 to 140 cm.

Installation of the metal part

The process of installing the metal part is not difficult. Mount the iron part of the flat cutter on a selected flat handle, orienting it in accordance with the instructions, and securely fix it with bolts. For reliability, a metal flat gasket is placed under the bolt washer.

Instrument setup

The reliability of the soil-cultivating tool and the absence of problems with its use depend on preliminary settings, for which the small flat cutter has two methods for attaching the blades, and the large one has four. For this purpose, there are additional holes in the bracket. If you are short, it is recommended to install a flat cutter under small angle to the cutting. If the gardener is taller than 175 cm, then the blade is fixed almost at a right angle.

Sharpening rules

Every tool needs to be sharpened from time to time. At the same time, it is taken into account that it is necessary to maintain the standard cutting edge angle. If sharpening is carried out using electric sandpaper, then use minimal effort without sharp pressure and overheating, so as not to reduce the wear resistance of the steel. Manual sharpening involves the use of bars, circles, and sharpeners. Only the beveled bevel is sharpened, without touching the front surface, so as not to increase the angle of sharpness.

Advice: “When work in the garden ends, a tool for winter storage treated with an anti-corrosion compound. You can immerse the metal part in sand soaked in used machine oil.”

How to distinguish an original from a fake

When planning to buy a flat cutter on the market, remember that the promised efficient processing site will be provided only by original instruments. To distinguish it from a fake, focus on the following signs:

• The original instrument has a black blade without streaks of paint;
• the shaft has the natural texture of well-polished wood;
• high-quality structural steel is used for the working part;
• the blades of the original are sharply sharpened;
• On products that are recommended to be purchased in specialized stores from an official manufacturer, there is a sticker between the holes with the name of the tool or the letter F is stamped.

The fake is most often made of soft metal. A low-quality product is indicated by a dull blade and no warranty.

Make a flat cutter with your own hands

Having decided to make a flat cutter with your own hands, first select suitable material. For the working part you will need a metal strip with a width of 40 to 45 mm and a length of up to 400 mm. Steel needs high wear resistance. A good option It will become spring steel, so you can use a spring from a car or a suitable steel angle, which needs to be cut using a grinder. It is advisable to make the cutting from birch - it is quite durable wood. As for pine, this material is excellent for sanding, but does not last long. A quality option It can become ash, the wood of which can withstand processing remarkably well, does not deform and lasts for many years.

The shape of the cutting is made with rectangular cross-section, rounding the edges. After sanding, wipe the surface of the cutting with hot vegetable oil. In order to correctly make the working part, it is necessary to study the drawings available in the instructions, which will allow you to fully take into account the ergonomic properties of this product. Places for bending and holes are marked on the workpiece. To bend the metal, clamp the workpiece in a vice and carefully punch it with a hammer.

You can bend and drill spring steel only after “releasing” the metal. Heating is carried out with a blowtorch. The heated metal is left to cool in air before being shaped. After giving the desired shape and drilling, the “tempered” metal is hardened.

The first bend is performed at an angle from 95 to 105°. For the second, these parameters vary from 110 to 130°. If there is a third and fourth bend, they are performed in the same way as the second.

Finally, use a grinder to remove the edge chamfer at a 45° angle on the end and side surfaces of the future blade. They sharpen it first using a machine, and then make final refinement hand sharpener. All that remains is to assemble a home-made device for cultivating a vegetable garden, securing the working part of the tool to the handle with bolts and washers. The Fokina flat cutter requires competent execution of all operations. Only in this case universal device will not disappoint and will become your indispensable assistant in the garden - after all, the tool can perform 20 different operations!