Home Made Landscape Rake

[Makers_Mark]

I decided to make my own rake. Rakes are relatively inexpensive other than in NJ, but by the time I pay for shipping it becomes too expensive. I think the cheapest quote I got in my area was aprox. $600. So here it is. The steel came from local scrap yards - aprox $30. The tines were $2.99 each from Agri-Supply. I bought a total of 38 tines for a 75" length. Assorted lift pins and top link plus shipping came to a total of about $140.00. 1" grade 8 bolt, lock washers and nuts - about $20.00 from McMaster-Carr. The biggest pain was drilling holes. I don't have a press - YET, so for the larger holes I used a plama cutter and the tine holes I used a drill. Any suggestions on better ways to cut large holes (1") would be great.
The first image is computer model of the rake.

 

[Makers_Mark]

image 2

 

[Makers_Mark]

image 3

 

[Makers_Mark]

image 4

 

[Makers_Mark]

image 5

 

[Makers_Mark]

image 6

 

[Makers_Mark]

image 7

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Very nice work! I do not have your talent or tools, but I do have a welder & will steal - er - borrow your A frame pictures for a project of my own.

So my question is, how will you mount the lower 3-point pins into the holes? Did you leave a cutout on the bottom of the tube for a wrench?

--->Paul

 

[Tractors4u]

I would be willing to bet that on the back side of that plate he welded the nut for the lift pins.

 

[Makers_Mark]

<font color="blue"> I would be willing to bet that on the back side of that plate he welded the nut for the lift pins.
</font>
hmmm, good idea, but instead I cut out an access hole at the bottom. I will take more pictures as I progress.