ratchet rake

[sdavies2000]

I'm looking to build myself a ratchet rake, was hoping someone with one could provide me with a few measurements. I've already made up a template but I'd like to know how close I am to the original.
I attached a crude picture depicting the measurements I'm seeking, for both the large and small teeth. Thanks!View attachment Image-012.bmp

 

[fried1765]

I'm looking to build myself a ratchet rake, was hoping someone with one could provide me with a few measurements. I've already made up a template but I'd like to know how close I am to the original.
I attached a crude picture depicting the measurements I'm seeking, for both the large and small teeth. Thanks!View attachment 501686

Don't know how deep in Ontario you might be, but if within a reasonable distance why not try to buy a Ratchet Rake over the border in the USA?
Any Tractor Supply store can order a Ratchet Rake for you.
I know the CAD is horrible for you right now, but buying a Ratchet Rake will probably not cost you much more than building one, and the factory one will be built out of hardened steel.
If you are near Buffalo, there is a TSC store in Hamburg,NY. Ph# 716-648-5140
There are 4 TSC stores in Northern Michigan, and even one in the Upper Peninsula.
If you are in Western Ontario, there is a TSC in Bemidji, Mn.

 

[sdavies2000]

I'm 4 hours from the nearest border and I enjoy little projects like this. I can get the steel for about $130 and it would cost me over $500 to buy the real deal. The ratchet rake website says they use A36 steel which I think is just your everyday basic steel. Someone please correct me if that's wrong as I don't know much about the different grades of steel, just going by what I read after a quick Google search!
I guess its certainly possibly that they are hardening the A36 themselves during manufacturing.

 

[moriboy]

I'm also on the fence with a ratchet rake. I really want one, but making one is pretty simple.

A36 steel is nothing special. Very common and easy to get ahold of.

If you make one, post up some pics.

 

[Catoosa]

I just ordered the 60" from the manufacture wasn't worth the time and trouble to try to build one but I'm in the states. While doing my research I did run across a thread on one of the forums (maybe this one) that detailed someone building one. He showed his progress and posted his upgrades as he discovered what not to do. Sorry didn't keep the link but Google should find it.

I do remember he didn't use heavy enough steel on his first version and it broke, he used a plasma cutter to make the teeth.

For those thinking about buying from the manufacture. They are an excellent outfit to deal with. If your bucket can handle it they will substitute chain binders for the straps at no charge. Read all the info in the links on the site to be sure your bucket can handle it and be ready to supply your own chain. My bucket is OK and the only negative I found on the net was related to the straps.

 

[Xfaxman]

I'm looking to build myself a ratchet rake, was hoping someone with one could provide me with a few measurements. I've already made up a template but I'd like to know how close I am to the original.
I attached a crude picture depicting the measurements I'm seeking, for both the large and small teeth. Thanks!
-------------

When I clicked your image link it downloaded, instead of opening, so here it is for all to see.

 

[4570Man]

I think they have blunt teeth instead of the fully sharpened ones like you have. Edit. The ratchet rake has triangle shaped teeth. It's the piranha bar that I was thinking of with trapezoid shaped teeth.

 

[bcp]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/235448-diy-ratchet-rake.html

Bruce

 

[txdon]

A few pics

 

[buckeyefarmer]

here's mine

 

[sdavies2000]

Xfaxman, thanks for uploading the picture, not sure why that didn't come up that way for me.

4570man, you're right, they have blunt teeth, I missed that in my haste to get a quick picture made up. My template does have the correct teeth.

Thanks for the pics Txdon, now you have me wondering what size angle they use. I thought it was 4x6 but that looks like it might be 5x7 or 4.5x6.5? Can you confirm that?

I will definitely post pictures once I get things underway.

 

[txdon]

The inside of the L is 4"X7"

 

[sdavies2000]

I think angle is measured by the outside dimensions which would mean they used 4.5x7.5 angle, taking into account the half inch thickness.

I'm almost certainly making this more complicated than it needs to be!

So the small teeth are 1.5" wide at the base and 2" long
Large teeth are 3.5" wide and 4" long by the looks of it...

 

[txdon]

It's not a 90˚ angle it is a 90˚ curve so an exact measurement is hard to get. 4.5x7.5 is very close.

 

[TheMadOne]

I think angle is measured by the outside dimensions which would mean they used 4.5x7.5 angle, taking into account the half inch thickness.

I'm almost certainly making this more complicated than it needs to be!

So the small teeth are 1.5" wide at the base and 2" long
Large teeth are 3.5" wide and 4" long by the looks of it...

They didn't use any "angle". They designed it, cut it out on a CNC table, and formed it. It is a stupidly simple design, but not really worth the time/material to make for people in the states. Excellent product, I have mine on much more than off. It makes quick work of most brush.

 

[sdavies2000]

They didn't use any "angle". They designed it, cut it out on a CNC table, and formed it. It is a stupidly simple design, but not really worth the time/material to make for people in the states. Excellent product, I have mine on much more than off. It makes quick work of most brush.

AHHH, that makes more sense. Would account for the funny size piece of angle!

I have about 6 acres of land that was worked up until ten years ago then left to grow wild so it's full of saplings and other junk. The ratchet rake looks like the perfect solution but being in Canada with the dollar the way it is, it will cost me a 5th to make it rather than buy it otherwise I'd say the **** with it and put in an order.

MadOne/TXDON---> can you confirm the small teeth being approx 1.5" wide at base and 2" long----large teeth 3 1/2" wide and 4" long? Both sets of teeth starting about 2.5" from the radius?

That's what I've made out from the pictures TXDON put up and I thank you kindly!

 

[txdon]

MadOne/TXDON---> can you confirm the small teeth being approx 1.5" wide at base and 2" long----large teeth 3 1/2" wide and 4" long? Both sets of teeth starting about 2.5" from the radius?

Small base is 1.5" Long 2"
Large base is 3.5" Long 5"
teeth start 2" from radius

 

[sdavies2000]

Well I got started on the layout today and picked up the steel.
Turns out there is a large price difference between 1/2" 4x6 and 1/2" 4x8 !
I had originally priced out 6.5" of 6x4 because that's what I thought they'd used. After corrections made my TXdon, I decided to go with 7x4 but the steel supplier only had 7x4 in 3/8". Well that won't do I say, what's the next closest you've got? 8x4 in 1/2".
Perfect I say, give me 6.5" feet of that! Well...I went to pick it up and nearly died when they gave me the invoice haha. 8x4 is $100 dollars more than 6x4! Not surprising I guess but I hadn't stopped to think about that when I made the jump up to 8x4.
Everything is ready for cutting tomorrow.
If someone could tell me how to post pictures from a phone onto the thread without it being a download, I could post pictures of the progress.

 

[txdon]

If someone could tell me how to post pictures from a phone onto the thread without it being a download, I could post pictures of the progress.

do you have the TBN app on your phone?

 

[sdavies2000]

I do now! That certainly makes things easier
Thank you
So after a lot of stenciling and cutting I've got things laid out and ready for cutting! I'm excited to see how things go. I know it's not anything elaborate like some of the truly amazing projects I've seen here but it's my first one since becoming a land/tractor owner.