Comments on: Fiskars 7872 Extended Reach Weeder

By: Nathan Stewart

Nathan Stewart — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:41:38 +0000

I absolutely loved this tool for about 15 minutes, until I hit a rock and it broke. The lever you step on is plastic. This is a knock off of an old fashioned tool, which is available in steel. I returned it (in all three pieces) and am looking for the steel version (looking locally – want to hold it in my hands before buying)
Rating: 2 / 5

By: walksndark

walksndark — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:58:07 +0000

This thing worked great, for about 5 days. I used it every day for a week, pulling maybe 20 Dandelions each day; then on the 5th day, the metal jaw stopped engaging. 100 uses and then failure is not very robust, for a product from such a respected company. The design is good, but the materials are pathetically cheap.
Rating: 2 / 5

By: Sun Dog

Sun Dog — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:00:20 +0000

Worked well for less than two hours in soft soil under easy conditions, then the foot bar snapped off.

I’ve since found a similar one in a store made by a different company using a forged steel mechanism – for $10 less. It looks like it might have been the original design that Fiskars “improved” with plastic components. I’m going to give that one a try because the thing is a back saver. It may be this one: OSWEGO ENTERPRISES ACEDC-12 WEED PULLER. Amazon offers a couple of other designs as well – search using “weeder”.

I’ve had other problems with Fiskars tools – good ideas, poorly made. I’m done with them now.
Rating: 1 / 5

By: B. D. Griffith

B. D. Griffith — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:44:47 +0000

I've owned this item for about 3 days. It worked fairly well at first. Its main downfall is that the stainless steel "hook" part is fairly narrow. You have to have perfect aim if you want to get the roots up. If you're just a little off side to side it just pulls the top of the plant off. It's not always easy to judge within 1/4" where the root will be.

After about 3 days of use, the stainless steel "hook" quit engaging, just as another reviewer said. I found the cause to be the fact that it is apparently harder than the metal used for the main shaft. It had actually dug a groove into the shaft. Every time the tool is inserted into the ground it wedges the hook into the shaft, jamming the tool.

Upon further review, it appears the plastic foot pedal had also partially cracked and deformed around the bolt holding it to the handle. Rating: 2 / 5