Raking up is hard to do...

Tom Dunlap

Tom Dunlap

Here from the beginning
Administrator
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Retired in Minneapolis
When I ran my company I used plastic rakes from Home Depot. they cost around $7 and lasted a good long time. Did a great job too. When the tines got worn down they were left on the chipper as street rakes. With the short tines they worked as good as a broom. When the tines were completely gone, the rake went through the chipper :)

I quit using metal rakes over 20 years ago. I always felt that they were like the hair brushes that I used on my pets. Kind of gave the yard a massage more than did much work.

I realize that with care the metal rakes will outlast a plastic. But I found that plastic rakes are close to 40% faster. One of the guys at work did a timed study for me comparing sqaure footage time with either rake. I made sure that he didn't show any favoritism. Besides, that's a big difference. If you wanted to question the amount you could half the difference and still be 20% ahead. That adds up to some serious coin at the end of the week when there are many crews in the field.

Can I get an idea of how many of you branch managers are metal or plastic?

Can you get the crews to give the plastic rakes a little more care so that they don't get broken? I could make mine last a long time. But when I'd hire someone I had to go through the raking lecture so that they understood that it was important to dance with the rake not beat it around.

If anyone is interested in the stats from the raking test I can post them. Let me know, the numbers on the computer at work.
 
I hate the plastic rakes, they're only good for dry leaves in short grass. The metal ones move the rakings with much more authority, IMO. Funny thing is if you buy a plastic rake at Sears, it has a lifetime guarantee - no sheet. When the plastic tines wear down, just take it back and get a new one.
 
ive never had a problem getting everything up easily with plastic rakes, i woulsnt use anything else.
im not sure if its more cost effective to supply your staff with cheap ones or get decent ones. that depends on the staff. I treat my rake as i would my chainsaw, no throwing it in the back of the truck, it gets placed in like everything else. If your staff are treating your stuff well then the pricey ones are way better
 
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Can you get the crews to give the plastic rakes a little more care so that they don't get broken?

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course you could always give them the crappest rake you can find and make them work with it for a few weeks, then give them a taster of a nice rake for a few days, then chuck em on the crap one again, if they've got any idea about making life easier for themselves they oughta start looking after it.

you could always try banning the use of blowers too for a couple of weeks if you really want to get the message across /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
It always seemd to me plastic is great for leaves but I use metal because I usually want to rake up twigs and leave the leaves behind. If you try this with plastic, you tend to get both leaves and sticks or neither. I also like to be able to rake the street and driveways, and I don't want to be switching back and forth all the time--that always seems to result in using the plastic on on the street because it's what I have handy.

The sears return policy is tempting, but if you let them know you're using the rake professionally, you won't get teh free exchange (I don't think so, anyway). Ace hardware sells good steel-tined rakes for $15 or less, and they last a good while if you are careful (sometimes I have to replace a handle).

Just my $.02

k
 
we have a garden center chain here, "Guaranteed to perform" or something like that. apparently pros take full advantage of the return policy. a receipt and a portion of the expired tool or plant and you get a new one, period.

www.gardenworks.ca
 
I like the 'flickability' of the metal rakes. We aren't there to dethatch, so the stiffer metal rakes allow me to flick debris a good 20'. Prevents getting a build up as quick. And theres less grass type debris. It also doesn't bother me if I don't get all of the small debris. If it is a healthy lawn, the fine material will 'disappear' only matters that the lawn looks better than when you got there.
 
I work as a groundsman right now and I must say that I feel the metal rakes do a better job. They work well on lifting the grass back up after plywood and a truck has been parked on it for several hours.

I know the post was started with rake sin mind, but what about shovel? Metal or Plastic? We use heavy duty plastic ones that cost about 80-90 dollars. The reason for this is that when using shovels to clean up debris, it is often used to push the small twigs and stuff into the feeder wheel in the chipper (provided there are no more branches to use). If the shovel gets pushed too far, into the chipper it goes. If its metal it ruins the cutters. If its plastic, you're out the 80 bucks. What do you guys use/think?
 
Rakes plastic much better than metal.

As for pushing into the chipper we use the bottom of the trash can to get the worst of it, before shutting down the chipper we use the plastic rake to get the corners before storing the trash cans and cones in the chipper. Still haven't got around to installing a cone holder on the truck. Its snowing here maybe I will head down the shop and do that, no on second thought I will just sit here have a beer and take out the belt a notch, theres always tomorrow.
/forum/images/graemlins/hoos.gif
 
I don't worry about an aluminum scoop shovel ruining the chipper knives. After all, compare aluminum to dead red oak. I would be concerned about the shrapnel if a shovel went through the chipper, metal or plastic.

when I worked in Minnesota we would retire the plastic rakes when the tines got worn down. They became winter rakes. But, I made brand new rakes survive the winter by being a bit more gentle on them. Standing them in the sun during the day helps too.
 
Metal all the way....7 bucks a pop up and if you have access to a welder, run a beed along the tines at the piece of metal that separates them. You would be surprised at the longevity of the rake after that....well worth the 7 bucks
 
I've never found a rake I'm really happy with. The plastic rakes break so easily. Still looking.
 
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