Rake: what are they and how to choose the best model?

Gardening tools are indispensable helpers for every owner of a personal plot. This equipment greatly facilitates the hard work of agricultural workers and ordinary summer residents. For many decades, the rake has been the most demanded device. This device is a reliable assistant not only in the cultivation of the land, but also in the collection of hay and berries, in the care of the lawn and decorative flower beds. Before going to a specialized store, you need to know exactly what type of work the purchase is intended for. Modern manufacturers produce a huge range of products that will surprise even the most experienced homeowners. The purchased product must necessarily have all quality certificates and permits. Handicraft products are strictly prohibited to purchase and use.

The rake is a simple and versatile tool that makes it possible to perform a large amount of work. The design of the classic instrument is very simple and has remained unchanged for many years. The rake consists of two elements:

• stalk;
• toothed crossbar.

Various materials are used by manufacturers to produce the crossbar.

• Painted iron. The advantage is the low price. Disadvantages - rapid deformation, heavy weight.
• Hardened steel. Advantages - long period of operation. Disadvantages - large mass, high price range.
• Hardened aluminum. Advantages - light weight, ease of use.
• Durable plastic. Advantages - low price, lightness. Disadvantages - the inability to perform complex and difficult types of work.

For each type of work, experienced summer residents recommend using certain tools. The classic rake is used for cleaning garbage and fallen leaves, loosening and cultivating the soil, breaking up lumps of earth after digging, removing roots and weeds from the soil. Serrated tools are used for cleaning small debris, removing leaves near bushes and trees, treating and aerating the lawn before mowing, removing excess grass from the surface of the lawn.

On the shelves of modern specialty stores, you can see a large number of types of rakes, which differ in the type of construction:

• Erfurt - the shape of the handle at the point of attachment to the handle in the form of a fork;
• American - the presence of arcs in the place of fixing the handle;
• English - fixing the handle through the sleeve.

The classic suburban model, which consists of a crossbar, on which straight or curved bayonets are fixed perpendicularly. This tool can be made of metal and wood.A metal rake can have twisted teeth and be used to loosen the soil, and wooden tools are used only for work with dry grass and leaves. Straight rakes can be divided into three types depending on the width of the transverse plate:

• small - the width of the plate is not more than 25 cm;
• medium - the width of the metal sheet is 50 cm;
• large - the size of the plate is more than 60 cm.

A special sliding tool, the shape of which resembles a triangle, and the working part consists of a large number of wire teeth, which are rounded at the end. For the manufacture of teeth, a thick wire is used, the diameter of which is 0.3 cm. On sale you can see a plate rake made of metal and plastic. This model is suitable for cleaning light debris and leaves from uneven surfaces.

A non-standard model that has the shape of a classic rake. The main feature is the pointed sickle teeth. This device will help not only clean the surface of the lawn from debris, but also make a little aeration.

Double-sided rake that has a wide area of ​​use and an unusual design. On one side of the metal plate there are sharp sickle-shaped teeth, and on the other side there is a row of teeth that have a small distance between them.

Possesses high productive and ergonomic properties, it is used in a narrow area.

• For the lawn. The width of the working part is more than 50 cm, and the teeth are close to each other. On the working surface there are limiting rods that make it possible to rake a large amount of grass and move it to its destination.

• For hay - a lightweight tool designed for collecting and loosening hay. Manufacturing material - wood, plastic. Feature - rare teeth with blunt ends and a wide working surface.

• For berries - special forestry devices that are used to harvest small berries.

• For loosening - a heavy tool with twisted or straight teeth for excavation work.

A miniature tool that has a small number of teeth. Purpose - tillage in a flower bed, in flower pots and containers.

A universal tool that consists of an aluminum handle, a set of plastic attachments and a quick-release device. Advantages - convenience, versatility, portability, ease of use, long period of operation.

Particular attention should be paid to the walk-behind tractor rake, which significantly speeds up the process of making hay for animals (raking, turning and collecting). Advantages - minimal expenditure of physical effort, durability, reliability and high speed of work. These devices differ in the following parameters:

• method of manufacturing the working part;
• type of traction used;
• type of attachment.

Manufacturers note the following among the main technical advantages:

• large width of capture;
• roll formation;
• high level of productivity;
• low financial costs;
• set number of rake passes;
• high maneuverability;
• automatic control mode.

Manufacturers produce two types of devices for small tractors.

• Wheeled-mounted - the number of wheels installed obliquely ranges from 3 to 5. Advantages - low cost of spare parts and ease of installation, durability, powerful drawbar and frame, convenient wheel adjustment, simple control system.
• Rotary - consist of horizontal discs that drive the engine through the PTO.

A huge assortment of tools can complicate the acquisition of the necessary garden equipment for novice summer residents. To simplify this task, specialists created a rating of the most popular manufacturers of this group of goods, which have the maximum number of positive reviews:

• Palisad;
• Fiskars;
• Gardena;
• "Bison".

To work in the garden, you need to pay attention to the Palisad fan rake, which has a number of advantages:

• convenient form;
• the presence of the optimal number of flat teeth;
• the presence of a sector plate, which regulates the grip of the working surface and increases the reliability of the structure;
• galvanized coating;
• production material - spring steel.

Direct tools of the Fiskars brand, which are made in Finland, will help to carry out garden work.

Advantages:

• universal purpose;
• ergonomic handle;
• unique arrangement of teeth;
• long stalk;
• processing of a large working surface;
• material of manufacture - hardened steel with anti-corrosion coating;
• reliability;
• rigidity of the working part.

Direct rake "Zubr" - domestic tools with an affordable price range. Used for finishing the personal plot.

Advantages:

• wide working surface;
• simultaneous collection of leaves and aeration;
• long period of operation;
• production material - high quality hardened steel;
• comfortable handle, which is covered with special solutions.

Novice summer residents should definitely pay attention to the twisted tool of the Zubr brand.

Among the large number of advantages, the following should be highlighted:

• the presence of 14 or 18 twisted teeth;
• the correct ratio of the size of the working surface, the number of teeth and the distance between them;
• material of manufacture - high-carbon metal;
• light weight;
• high reliability;
• the presence of an aluminum holder;
• anti-slip plastic handle.

The Fiskars hand rake is often found among utility workers' tools. Among the main advantages of professional wipers are the following:

• the presence of optimal flexibility of the working teeth;
• manufacturing from high-strength materials;
• the presence of a convenient handle covered with a special varnish;
• optimal product width;
• improved work surface design;
• light weight;
• reliability and durability;
• environmental Safety.

Among the large number of garden tools among experienced summer residents, you can often find the Gardena fan tool, which has a universal design, springy rods, an aluminum handle, a convenient holder, and special fastening screws. The products of this manufacturer are made of durable and hardened steel, which significantly increases the period of operation and prevents the occurrence of various breakdowns.

Modern manufacturers produce rakes for various purposes: for harvesting leaves and asphalt, for lawn and for collecting hay, for working with the ground and for picking berries. Before going to the store, novice gardeners should definitely know the rules for choosing a tool. Experienced summer residents note several signs of a good tool.

• The length of the rake should reach the shoulder of the working person. Experts recommend paying attention to a tool with a retractable handle, the length of which can be changed depending on the situation. The number of knees in the handle depends on the model and purpose of the device.
• The width of a standard tool should not exceed 50 cm.To carry out excavation work, you should give preference to a tool whose width is no more than 20 cm.To harvest dry grass and light leaves, you can purchase a rake with a width of 75 cm.
• Thin metal on the cross section of the tool is a sign of low cost and fragility. Manufacturers recommend purchasing tools made of hardened and reinforced steel with an anti-corrosion coating.

• The most convenient are cuttings with rubber inserts that will prevent your hands from sliding over the surface.A prerequisite is the absence of cracks, defects, knots and backlash at the attachment point.
• A convenient part of the tool will be the English D-shaped handle, located at the end or in the center of the handle.
• Availability of quality certificates and permits is a guarantee of purchasing a safe and durable product.
• The working width depends on the area to be treated.

The main criterion influencing the acquisition of the desired type of rake is the purpose. To work with the ground, you need to choose a metal tool, for cleaning light and dry debris - a plastic rake, for picking berries, the tool must have a narrow grip and flat teeth, even lawn devices have a number of individual characteristics.

To reduce physical exertion in the process of collecting hay or dry foliage, you need to opt for a mechanical rake, which is in the form of ordinary ones, but moves with the help of wheels. The design of this device is very simple and consists of a rectangular nozzle, two wheels, a square tube, a stud and a nut. Collecting a mechanical rake requires a minimum number of tools and basic knowledge of mechanics.

For many hundreds of years, people have used garden tools to carry out agricultural work. Innovative technologies and modern equipment have enabled manufacturers not only to improve simple tools, but also to develop new designs and improve their functions. This trend has affected not only complex devices, but also such simple ones as a rake. On the shelves of specialized stores, you can see a huge amount of these goods, which differ not only in price, material of manufacture and manufacturer, but also in functional purpose. Before going to the store, novice gardeners should definitely study all the design features of each model, and experienced consultants will definitely help you make the right choice and purchase the right garden tool.

For information on how to choose a rake, see the next video.