Content
Every autumn we get a unique opportunity to admire the falling leaves and enjoy the rustle of dry leaves under our feet. Red, yellow and orange “flakes” decorate lawns and lawns, but with the arrival of rains the beauty disappears, and the bright carpet of lush leaves turns into a layer of rot. That is why the owners of suburban areas try to remove leaves in a timely manner, placing them on compost or burning them. The best assistant for collecting leaves has long been a rake. This “simple” garden tool is easy to use and very inexpensive. But today's garden tool market can surprise with the variety of different models. In order not to get confused and choose the most convenient rake for cleaning leaves you need to get acquainted with all the offers. We will try to provide a description of all known models and give them the most objective characteristics.
A simple instrument with a unique history
Every household plot has a rake, and their owners don’t even think about the fact that this agricultural tool has been indispensable for a long time and has a very interesting and long history.After all, once upon a time a rake was not called a T-shaped tool familiar to many, but all those objects that could pick up and move something. For example, a human hand, a kitchen spoon or any hook was called a rake in ancient times.
Such a simple but unique tool as a rake is distributed all over the world. In the Middle Ages, the Japanese adopted rakes into service. The battle rake was made entirely of metal and was called Kumade (bear paw). Their length was 2 m. On the fan-shaped crossbar there were 3-5 sharp teeth, 7 cm long. Agree, such a rake could really pose a real threat to the health of the enemy.
There are many sayings and sayings about rakes. They are mentioned in many literary works. Every time we pick up a cutting with a T-shaped crossbar in order to collect leaves, level the soil or “comb” the grass on the lawn. Of course, since its inception, rakes have undergone fundamental changes, but they still deserve attention, since their history is comparable to the history of man, and over the many years of automation of labor processes, no worthy replacement for this simple device has been found.
Variety of models and their functionality
The design of all rakes is approximately the same: the tool consists of a handle and a crossbar with teeth. The length of the handle, the width of the cross member and its shape, the material of manufacture, and the number of teeth in each specific model may vary. The ease of use of the agricultural device largely depends on these characteristics. All kinds of linings and clamps are also aimed at improving the tool.Various innovations and modifications affect not only the functionality, but also the cost of the rake. Therefore, when you decide to make a purchase for your garden, you need to try to find a model with the optimal set of qualities and an appropriate price.
Classification of rakes depending on the material of manufacture
One of the most important characteristics is the material from which the rake is made. The durability, weight, and, therefore, ease of use, and cost of the tool depend on it. On the market you can find rakes from:
- Painted iron. They have, perhaps, the only advantage - low price. Otherwise, their characteristics have only negative qualities. Such rakes are very heavy and inconvenient to work with. The teeth quickly turn out, and the garden tool becomes unusable.
- Become. This material is also quite heavy, but more durable and wear-resistant.
- Hardened aluminum. Such rakes have a lot of advantages. They are characterized by durability and low weight (700-800 g). They are convenient for working in the garden, but such a tool is not suitable for leveling the soil.
- Plastic. Such rakes are perfect for collecting leaves, debris, and thinning grass, but, unfortunately, they will not be able to work with soil. The plastic is quite fragile, so even the low price for such a tool cannot always be justified. It is very convenient to work with such a tool, since its weight is only 400-500 g.
For most gardeners, the issue of tool cost plays one of the most important roles. So, let’s compare the cost of a traditional T-shaped rake with 10 teeth.For example, such an agricultural tool made of coated iron will cost approximately 40 rubles. The plastic analogue will cost even less: about 25 rubles. The cost of steel rakes is several times more expensive and can range from 150 to 300 rubles. A rake made of hardened aluminum will cost about the same.
When buying a rake for your garden, you need to pay attention not only to the material of the crossbar, but also to the material of the handle. Some manufacturers equip their instruments with handles made of plastic, fiberglass (fiberglass) and some other new materials. This feature can make the tool convenient, but at the same time more expensive. Wooden cuttings, along with such equipment, are still more popular due to their high reliability, availability and low cost.
This is convenient if several people of different heights plan to use the tool at once. The cost of a metal telescopic handle is on average 300 rubles.
Variety of models
Most models differ precisely in the crossbar, the so-called nozzle, which is attached to the handle. We have already discussed the materials for its manufacture and the cost, now we will try to understand the classification and purpose of specific models.
Straight, traditional rake
Even schoolchildren are familiar with such rakes. This version of the garden tool is the most common. It is a crossbar, perpendicular to which the teeth are attached. They can be twisted (twisted) or slightly curved. The number of teeth on one cross member can vary from 5 to 20 pieces.The most common option is the 10 and 12 tooth model. Particular attention should be paid to the distance between the teeth: the smaller it is, the smaller fragments of grass and leaves can be collected.
A tool with a narrow crossbar (10-20 cm) is convenient to use for collecting leaves in hard-to-reach corners of the site, but collecting litter and leaves over a large area with such a tool is problematic. The most convenient and frequently used is a crossbar with a width of 30-50 cm. Rake with a wider grip is bulky and not always convenient to use.
Straight, traditional rakes are more often used for working with soil. These nozzles, made of metal, are convenient for breaking clods and leveling the soil. Plastic, straight nozzles are often used to collect leaves and grass.
Fan rake
A fan rake is the best option for cleaning your lawn. With their help, you can carefully and quickly rake away debris, grass, and fallen leaves. Thin and flexible teeth will not damage the plantings and will provide surface aeration of the soil.
Externally, such a tool resembles a fan or a flat whisk made of plastic or metal rods. As a rule, the nozzle in such a tool has a triangular shape, which allows you to conveniently collect litter from the walls of a building or fence.
Many models of fan rakes are equipped with a special attachment that allows you to adjust the working width. This is very convenient when working on the site, but when purchasing such a tool you need to pay attention to the quality and reliability of this device. More often it is made of plastic, which is not durable.
The working width in fan models is 40-60 cm.Thanks to a special overlay, this parameter can be reduced or increased, thereby changing the distance between the teeth. This is very convenient if you need to perform several types of work with different fractions of plant segments. The number of teeth on such a garden tool varies from 18 to 24 pieces.
Transformable rake
Such a tool can be called complex, since it implies the presence of a handle with a special mount on which you can install interchangeable attachments of different shapes and widths. The set of such garden tools may include a shovel attachment, a hoe, several types of rakes and a ripper. The material used to manufacture such a complex tool is often plastic. The cost of transforming rakes is quite high. Another disadvantage of the tool is that if the attachments are changed frequently, the handle can quickly fail.
Specialized
For thorough lawn care, there are highly specialized rake models that allow you to perform one or another task:
- Rake aerators have sharp sickle-shaped teeth, securely fastened to the crossbar. The tool allows you to remove moss and leaves from the lawn by slightly cutting the lawn to better supply the grass roots with oxygen. This tool is recommended for use in low-lying areas with high soil moisture levels.
- Milling rake are a modification of aerators. On one side, the same sickle-shaped sharp teeth are attached to the crossbar; on the other side, a row of tightly spaced teeth is placed on the crossbar for collecting small leaves, grass, and pebbles.
- A wide lawn rake with a limiter is a handle with a wide crossbar (more than 60 cm). Long teeth are tightly placed on the base, which allows you to quickly collect mown grass or leaves. Another feature of this tool is the presence of a limiter in the form of several metal rods placed perpendicular to the teeth on the side of the handle. They do not allow collected grass to fall onto the back side of the crossbar. This highly specialized tool allows you to quickly and efficiently collect grass from any lawn.
Thus, before making a purchase, it is worth considering what operations the purchased tool will perform. The most versatile in this case are straight rakes. They are suitable for working with lawn and soil. They are characterized by low cost and durability. It is convenient to clean the lawn with a fan rake, but to work with the soil you will still have to supplement your range of garden tools with ordinary straight rakes. If the lawn is the pride of the area, to take care of it, you can purchase highly specialized tools that will help you properly care for the plantings.
How to make a rake
The modern consumer prefers to buy ready-made goods, but there are also “Kulibins” who strive to make everything with their own hands. For example, making a traditional flat rake is quite simple. To do this you need:
- Select a flat piece of metal, about 50 cm long. This strip needs to be slightly bent in the horizontal plane. The resulting part will be the basis of the cross member.
- On the manufactured base, mark the places for attaching the teeth, which can be pieces of wire or nails sharpened on one side, 8-9 cm long.
- Drill small holes along the marks. Heat the base metal red hot and hammer the teeth into it. After the metal has cooled, it is recommended to additionally weld each tooth to the base.
- Make a mount from a piece of 35Ø pipe, 20 cm long. Divide 8 cm of this pipe into 2 equal parts, thereby obtaining a “whisker” for attaching the base to the handle. After heating the metal red hot, these “whiskers” need to be spread at an angle of 40-500 and flatten slightly.
- In the round part of the fastening, drill a hole for a fixing element that will connect the base and the handle.
- Weld the “whiskers” to the base with teeth.
- Insert the handle into the round hole of the rake and secure it with a nail.
Today, homemade rakes are more exotic than the norm, because the cost of a finished tool is quite affordable, and you can find a tool in the nearest store. But sometimes there are situations when there is a need or a simple desire to make a rake yourself. In this case, you can use our recommendations and the diagram located above in the article.
Instructions for making a fan rake with your own hands are clearly demonstrated in the video:
Thus, a simple rake, familiar to many, can be safely called a unique tool that has been used by people for a long time not only for cultivating the land, but also for self-defense for military purposes. Today, as before, for leveling the ground, removing leaves, mowed grass and weed a person uses a rake, the design of which has undergone some changes. They have become even more convenient and functional than before. At the same time, there has not been a fundamental replacement for this tool in the modern garden tool market.
