Is angle iron like this with holes in it commercilly available?

[sixdogs]

What about using a Land Pride Spike Tooth Harrow? Spike Tooth Harrow will give you considerable 'reach' under trees.
LP STH15has one spike for every 1-3/4" of coverage. Note: 10 settings for tine angles.

STH15 Series Spike Tooth Harrows | Land Pride


Of a common Landscape Rake? Landscape Rake will have more ground contact, however you could remove every-other rake tooth.


Or consider a suspended Chain Harrow. The one I assembled has 1/2" chain. For commercial use I would use 3/8" or 1/2" chain. Suspended, you could scuff under trees.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...c-countyline-tarter-boom-pole.html?highlight=

I have tried multiple kinds of spike tooth harrows including one I built special for the purpose. None of them worked because they plugged with dead grass, ripped out too much existing grass and created divots. I had to stop frequently to unplug them. Plus, where there were chunks of sod from ground I had worked, they would drag those chunks of sod or even clumps of dead grass and screw up the beautiful work I had already done. They work great on dirt with no grass, however.

Landscape rakes are too smooth and ride across the surface. If you ever get into worked ground they will drag along clumps of everything and make a mess. I have enough work without adding to things.

No dice with chain harrows, including suspended ones. They plug in 5 minutes and took a half hour to unplug. Ugh.

Vibrating tines work because I have seen it. I don't wan to make federal case out of making one but if I can stumble aross some parts and the right tines, I'm going to make one. The storebought one I showed a photo of earlier is almost $5,000 and that is not cost effective for what I want to do with it.

 

[downsizingnow48]

The dethatcher/rake that I made is lighter and smaller than what sixdogs needs. It is designed for my fragile and somewhat clumpy and uneven grass. I needed an implement to rake and dethatch effectively, while not tearing up the grass. It uses hay teeth anchored by springs for a two stage action. It works fine for my purposes, although I also considered using the stronger, longer tines that big barn used. Commercially available rakes are too stiff.

 

[Big Barn]

The dethatcher/rake that I made is lighter and smaller than what sixdogs needs. It is designed for my fragile and somewhat clumpy and uneven grass. I needed an implement to rake and dethatch effectively, while not tearing up the grass. It uses hay teeth anchored by springs for a two stage action. It works fine for my purposes, although I also considered using the stronger, longer tines that big barn used. Commercially available rakes are too stiff.

Wow. Very nice job on the rake!!!

Terry

 

[sixdogs]

Wow. Very nice job on the rake!!!

Terry

That really is an impressive job.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Thanks guys. Having somewhat the same intent as sixdogs I am very interested in similar solutions.

 

[jeff9366]

CMP dethatcher is available for any who may want to buy small business/commercially made dethatcher:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...p-60-dethatcher-working-three.html?highlight=

 

[bindian]

6dogs,
How about buying lots of extra angle and take bids from machine shops to machine all the holes in all the stock? Sell the extra angle you don't use. Or even make extra copies of the equipment and sell the whole thing.
hugs, Brandi

 

[sixdogs]

6dogs,
How about buying lots of extra angle and take bids from machine shops to machine all the holes in all the stock? Sell the extra angle you don't use. Or even make extra copies of the equipment and sell the whole thing.
hugs, Brandi

Ahh, good thinking Brandi and that's what I have been up to. Very nice to hear from you again.

I found out it's shockingly cheap to get holes punched in angle iron by a local shop. I need around 90 holes in three pieces and he can stamp them out so fast I can wait while he does it. It's an Amish shop so prices are pretty good. I didn't ask the price since we have a good relationship, but it will be OK. Then, I'll assemble it and if I think I can sell at a profit, I'll make a few for resale. I have not seen one of what I want to make that is durable enough for commercial use.

I have made other items like this for sale and this is just a variation on a theme. I can have fun, make and weld stuff, use it and resell at a profit. Is this a great country or what?

 

[sixdogs]

Jeff9366. Good ideas and actually ones I have already planned to steal for other projects...:ashamed: It's neat with the use of square tubing and it solves the problem of drilling in round tubing. While that has hay tines, I need to use tedder tines that are 1/4" or 5/16" thick since I'll be using it very aggressively and it will get hung up on roots and wires and anything I run over. This will allow me to more aggressively rip the ground/thatch/etc in the fall so I can get grass started in places I cannot till or cultivate.

EDIT--Years back I did a thread with pics about using a chain harrow to dethatch a couple acres. I had two heaping pick up beds of grass when I was done and a towering inferno when I burned the pile. Dethatching really improves things.


Here is that thread with the pile of thatch.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/200167-de-thatched-my-lawn-good.html

 

[bindian]

Jeff9366. Good ideas and actually ones I have already planned to steal for other projects...:ashamed: It's neat with the use of square tubing and it solves the problem of drilling in round tubing. While that has hay tines, I need to use tedder tines that are 1/4" or 5/16" thick since I'll be using it very aggressively and it will get hung up on roots and wires and anything I run over. This will allow me to more aggressively rip the ground/thatch/etc in the fall so I can get grass started in places I cannot till or cultivate.

EDIT--Years back I did a thread with pics about using a chain harrow to dethatch a couple acres. I had two heaping pick up beds of grass when I was done and a towering inferno when I burned the pile. Dethatching really improves things.


Here is that thread with the pile of thatch.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/200167-de-thatched-my-lawn-good.html

Yep, those drag harrows are awesome. I just drug and planted rye grass seed on the dam and backside today.
hugs, Brandi