Leaf Rakes and lawn tools.

[Kscardsfan]

Does anyone have any preferences on leaf rakes? I need to get a stack of them for work, but don't want to piss away money on cheap ones that will just self destruct with some use. I also need lopping shears but there are a fair amount of reviews online for them for some reason.

 

[Wolley]

I have a razorback one from homedepot which is good. Corona for loppers are nice for the price.

 

[rancherbill]

These are the fastest and easiest to use. Mine has lasted 5+ years and it was used when I got it.



I have one of these also. They have more uses and are particularly useful leaves that are embedded in long grass like the pic.


For your stated purpose of a bunch of people raking a lot of leaves I would get the first one, they are easier and quicker.

 

[RTM]

I have a roughly 24-in Craftsman plastic and an even wider maybe 36-in plastic but I'm not sure how long either of those is going to last in my intermittent use.

There's a brand of green colored leaf rake that is fantastic, was US made in the Los Angeles area. The family's sold out now. Think it's Flex Rake, but won't get be able to look for a week. Mine is seriously pushing over 30 years old

 

[M6erfan]

IME the problem with rakes are where the handle connects with the rake head. The interface wears out and it gets floppy loose and eventually breaks. If there's a screw to hold them together it usually rusts and seizes.

A one piece aluminum rake would be awesome, with a replaceable lower tine piece.

 

[four.cycle]

I buy the big plastic ones - usually at ACE Hardware. Used to go through at least two a season, but I'm only working in my own yard now - the last one has lasted a couple years.
I consider them a disposable - like drill bits.

My good loppers are one-piece forged steel. They will cut anything that I can fit into the jaws. Not sure where I found them. Had them about 40 years now. Most current-day production loppers aren't worth a damn, but they are lightweight!

 

[Renegade1LI]

I buy tuper, a commercial quality rake.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052X8HQ4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Johnny Generic]

Bamboo rakes only ones I use. I scarf them up at yard sales and auctions.

 

[kbeefy]

I got a nice Fiskas Aluminuim one. It is soo much less fatiguing to use, it weighs almost nothing.

 

[Squankum]

I buy tuper, a commercial quality rake.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052X8HQ4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Looks interesting, and made in Mexico. What's the advantage of fiberglass handles vs. wood?

 

[Squankum]

Bamboo rakes only ones I use. I scarf them up at yard sales and auctions.

I had gone retro, or so I thought, and moved from plastic rake to steel tined rake, and boy, I did not remember the bamboo rakes! And I spent my childhood raking oak leaves with one!

 

[Squankum]

Wandered into an Ace Hardware a few years ago and bought a plastic rake with two rows of tines, thinking that would be efficient, and it turned out in practice to be a big drag. Literally. I'm dealing with some long skinny leaves, which may be different, and I've decided I'd rather go nuts with a lot of strokes with steel tines and a smaller rake than that big thing.

True Temper 71 in. 39 Tine Poly Leaf Rake Steel Handle Mfr# 2704000 - Ace Hardware

This True Temper innovative leaf rake is ideal for people who want to rake faster! The dual tines allow for a clean sweep as they quickly rake through grass and leaves. The head size is designed for jobs big and small, while the handle features a comfort grip texture for better control.Find the...

www.acehardware.com

 

[Renegade1LI]

Looks interesting, and made in Mexico. What's the advantage of fiberglass handles vs. wood?

Not sure there is an advantage with fiberglass but the rake as a whole is very well made, I've been buying truper tools for a while & the hold up well. As a contractor we go through tools, the guys are tough on them & these hold up well.

 

[sparky 1971]

I had one of these, the best rake I ever used. That is, until it fell out of the back of the ATV and the wife ran over it.

https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/gardening/garden-landscaping-tools/rakes/emsco-group-32-poly-leaf-rake/90321/p-1444429970015-c-1541513694152.htm?tid=-4641350664631576272&ipos=1

 

[signcrafter]

Fisker's from menards and not sure where else if you dont have a menards. I bought one several years ago and it has held up. My mom stole it from me one time after she used it and said how nice it was to use. So I bought another one. My mom gave my original to my sister and then my mom bought two new. We are in the process of moving so have two houses to keep up right now so I bought another one for the new house. They are aluminum handle so really lightweight and just makes it comfortable to use. Also, Fisker's has a great lifetime warranty. If it breaks you snap a picture and email them and they send you a new one. Have used it once on a pruning shear that I probably was cutting too big of a branch.

 

[laser3kw]

I prefer metal tine rakes. I tried plastic and it worked good the first year. The next year, it went south and started breaking tines off. It was a Menard's buy and wasn't the cheapest rake, but not the most expensive either.
I also like stiff tines. If the are too flexible, they tend to give and ride up and over stuff.

 

[Terra Nova]

Have a couple Ames brand aluminum handle, plastic tine rakes from Home Deport. Made in the US and are holding up well.

If buying again I would go with these from Bully Tools. Have a number of their garden tools and they're great. 100% made in USA in Ohio.

Shop Grass, Leaf & Bow Rakes - Bully Tools, Inc.

We manufacture the best and most durable leaf & bow rakes, thatching rakes, stone rakes, and asphalt rakes, 100% Made In The USA steel by Bully Tools.

bullytools.com

 

[spike99250]

3/4" electrical conduit makes a great albeit heavy replacement handle for the fiberglass handles on most rakes.
I broke mine unloading(darn Ginkos) and used the conduit.
I only use it for unloading now.

 

[rlitman]

Fisker's from menards and not sure where else if you dont have a menards. I bought one several years ago and it has held up. My mom stole it from me one time after she used it and said how nice it was to use. So I bought another one. My mom gave my original to my sister and then my mom bought two new. We are in the process of moving so have two houses to keep up right now so I bought another one for the new house. They are aluminum handle so really lightweight and just makes it comfortable to use. Also, Fisker's has a great lifetime warranty. If it breaks you snap a picture and email them and they send you a new one. Have used it once on a pruning shear that I probably was cutting too big of a branch.

+1 for the Fiskars. They make two styles, a 28" wide leaf rage, and a narrow 8" shrub rake. I use and love both.

The aluminum handle and one-piece nylon head make for a combination that's lighter (less tiring) than anything else, and the teardrop shape to the handle is easy on the fingers. The parallel springy tines are great at both picking up leaves AND releasing them without clogging. Mine have lived outdoors in the weather since I bought my first pair at Costco in 2006 (IIRC it was $20-30) with no issues (wood handles would have rotted away in that time, and I've had fiberglass handles go brittle from that treatment, but these don't care). I've literally worn out the head on the shrub rake from using it on concrete so much (the tines are over an inch shorter), but I recently bought a replacement head for around $8.

Home Depot sells these online from time to time with free shipping.

Fiskars 8 in. Shrub Rake 96615935J - The Home Depot

The slim head of our Aluminum Shrub Rake makes it easy to clean between shrubs, fences, flowers and more. An impressively lightweight design makes every stroke effortless, while a durable resin head features

www.homedepot.com

 

[RStewart]

Bully for the win. Got one via someone here suggested a number of years ago. Should last me forever.