Building a rock rake what should the spacing between tines

[Gofast]

I am going to build a 5' rock rake with one-inch tines. What should the distance be between the tines?
Looking at pictures of rock rakes it looks like maybe 1" it is hard to tell from a picture.

I found some post that suggested 1.25" spacing. That sounds good for the rocks I need to picked up.

 

[muddstopper]

Close spacing of the tines will result in the rake picking up everything and filling with dirt making it act more like a scrape than a rake. My suggestion would be make the rake with close spacing and then remove every other tine. This way you can cleanup all the sticks and brush and then install the remaining tines for final raking of the small stuff.

 

[Gofast]

The area I have to use it for right now has no sticks at all. I brought in 30-ton top soil but it had lots of rocks. There is more pasture that that looks the same as this.



I was going to just make on the frame of my scrape blade but I think I will just start from starch. I just went and picked up some steel for the frame.

 

[Gofast]

Does anyone know how long this steel bar is normally on a rock rake?

 

[LD48750]

View attachment 601603

Does anyone know how long this steel bar is normally on a rock rake?

It "should" be long enough for the rake to turn 360 deg. while hooked up.

I had one that wasn't & it was a pain.....

 

[Gofast]

Thanks, that explains why some are longer than others.

I like this design for the angle iron. I ordered the two hole tines.

 

[Gofast]

I went to the scrap yard today and bought some 2" x 2" 1/4" thick square tubing. This should be great for my front frame for the rock rake.

 

[Gofast]

The 2" x 2" 1/4 will work great for the front part of the rake. Do you think 2" x 2" 1/4" is strong enough for the main shaft the holds the rake?
Should I double it up for the main shaft?


I will make it similar to this one but add side braces on the left and right.

 

[strum456]

As in the pictures, most rakes I've seen use a long piece of angle to hold the tines. I have also seen quite a few of these bend. If I was building one, I would explore other options. Maybe square tube with a flange welded on its entire length for the teeth to bolt on - or at least C channel.

2x2 sounds small for the main center piece that holds the rake. My concern would be torsion. Larger tube would be exponentially stronger.

 

[ddbackhoe]

Thanks, that explains why some are longer than others.

I like this design for the angle iron. I ordered the two hole tines.

IMO, The failure point is at the weld on this type. If you look at the York modern, the design is a little better. Everything attachments looks more robust than either of those.

 

[Gofast]

I just looked at EA thanks.

I have angle iron for the tines I really like this design for connecting to the angle iron.
I could add one more support in the middle.
This design is great if I ever decided to add wheels later down the road.

 

[Gofast]

The tines imported from Italy have arrived. All 62 pounds of them.
I just ordered to the 56 (100) bolts to put this together.
I hope to get to work on this built over the weekend.

 

[Gofast]

I made some progress. The front of it is done. It is mostly 2" x 2" 1/4" square tubing.
The main boom is 3" x 3" and I have all 56 3/8" holes drilled.
My bolts come in tomorrow and two hole saws coming in on Tuesday.
I bought Nylock bolts so they don't come loose on their own.



I have work for this rake to do and I would like to get it finished. No one local had the hole saw size I needed so it will take a little longer to finish it.

To help place the tines I use a baluster spacing application
Baluster Spacing Calculator - Centers, Spacing & Quantity - Running Measurements and Diagrams (US Imperial)

 

[DerekF]

I made some progress. The front of it is done. It is mostly 2" x 2" 1/4" square tubing.
The main boom is 3" x 3" and I have all 56 3/8" holes drilled.
My bolts come in tomorrow and two hole saws coming in on Tuesday.
I bought Nylock bolts so they don't come loose on their own.

View attachment 602480

I have work for this rake to do and I would like to get it finished. No one local had the hole saw size I needed so it will take a little longer to finish it.

To help place the tines I use a baluster spacing application
Baluster Spacing Calculator - Centers, Spacing & Quantity - Running Measurements and Diagrams (US Imperial)

Looks pretty good. Interested to hear how it works after you get finished and use it.

 

[polemidis]

The tines imported from Italy have arrived. All 62 pounds of them.
I just ordered to the 56 (100) bolts to put this together.
I hope to get to work on this built over the weekend.
View attachment 601940

Can you give us the link of where did you ordered the tines please?

 

[Gofast]

I bought them from AgriStore because they have free shipping. My tines were $140 shipped.
Two Hole Landscape Rake Tine | AGRISTORE USA

I made some progress last night. I mounted the pipe that holds it. I drilled it for the position pin.
I welded some 2" x 2" 1/4" square tubing on to my angle iron. That should keep it from bending.

 

[polemidis]

Looks good. Any progress? I am thinking to start building it too. But most likely I will use C-Channel. Its easier to set it up to the CNC Plasma to make the holes, instead of drilling all these by hand!

 

[Gofast]

I used a drill press but it still was not fun drilling all those holes.

The rock rake is very close to being done. I am going to add kick stand and I need to paint it other than that it is done.
It was raining today so I could not test it out.

The angle can be adjusted five positions forward and three positions backwards.



Once I get it outside, I will get more pictures.

 

[polemidis]

It looks good man! Great job!

 

[Gofast]

Thanks. I used scrap yard steel. The project cost $200 to built. Most of the cost is the tines and the bolts.
It is pretty heavy duty there is 1/2 plate under where it the pipe holds it together.

I put some paint on it.