Antique hay rake

[Pumpkin Steve]

Cleaning up my windbreak etc and have tons of little sticks and branches to pick up. Would one of these old hay rakes work to gather them in a pile?

 

[Pete-IN]

I would just try it and see what happens. Worst case is you just wasted your time.

 

[J.Wondergem]

Branches it will, but short sticks will find there way through. Try it and let us know. I tried a side rake on leaves one fall and it get three quarters of them in a row.

 

[Pumpkin Steve]

I would just try it and see what happens. Worst case is you just wasted your time.

I might, except I don't have one. Neighbor is selling one for $225 and not sure I want to experiment with that much money. Although I could use it as yard decoration. Ironically, I spent the 70's cutting up all of Grandpa's junk machinery, now people want that stuff to display. He had one of these rakes too.
Maybe a landscape rake from the farm store would work. I just know my back can't bend over enough times to pick that stuff up.

 

[Janicholson]

Cleaning up my windbreak etc and have tons of little sticks and branches to pick up. Would one of these old hay rakes work to gather them in a pile? View attachment 5975

Called a dump Rake in My reality. Originally horse drawn and useful for that kind of thing. smaller than twice tine spacing will fall through nut go for it. Jim

 

[Jim.ME]

I might, except I don't have one. Neighbor is selling one for $225 and not sure I want to experiment with that much money. Although I could use it as yard decoration. Ironically, I spent the 70's cutting up all of Grandpa's junk machinery, now people want that stuff to display. He had one of these rakes too.
Maybe a landscape rake from the farm store would work. I just know my back can't bend over enough times to pick that stuff up.

What do you consider little sticks and branches? I doubt you would be happy with what a dump rake would gather. Depending on size and stick orientation, even little sticks and branches can pass through or be skipped over by a landscape rake, especially if laying in grass.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

I think branches would get tangled up and never dump… or take so
Long to get out from under, it would just spread them out again.
You’ll have better luck with this, if you can find one.

 

[old-9]

I have a landscape rake and find it very handy for brush. I also have a loader tractor and use the rake like a broom to push the brush into the bucket. Lots of getting on and off tractors, but works great. joe

 

[Pumpkin Steve]

What do you consider little sticks and branches? I doubt you would be happy with what a dump rake would gather. Depending on size and stick orientation, even little sticks and branches can pass through or be skipped over by a landscape rake, especially if laying in grass.

Good question, I suppose if I had to put a number on it, I would say 1.5" diameter and anything from a foot long and up. I tried to get the dog to help, but all he will pick up is tennis balls.

 

[Pumpkin Steve]

What do you consider little sticks and branches? I doubt you would be happy with what a dump rake would gather. Depending on size and stick orientation, even little sticks and branches can pass through or be skipped over by a landscape rake, especially if laying in grass.

Good question, I suppose if I had to put a number on it, I would say 1.5" diameter and anything from a foot long and up. I tried to get the dog to help, but all he will pick up is tennis balls.

 

[Jim.ME]

Good question, I suppose if I had to put a number on it, I would say 1.5" diameter and anything from a foot long and up. I tried to get the dog to help, but all he will pick up is tennis balls.

It will gather some, but I think a lot will just pass through between the teeth as it moves along.

 

[Tramway Guy]

Rent or buy a York Rake, also known as a landscape rake.

 

[MJMJ]

Nope, don’t waste your money. A landscape rake will get a lot more.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Cleaning up my windbreak etc and have tons of little sticks and branches to pick up. Would one of these old hay rakes work to gather them in a pile? View attachment 5975

I agree with others. I have a landscape "York" type rake, and have used it successfully for what you're looking to do. Money towards one of them would be much better than spending on a clumsy, big old dump rake.

 

[RobCons]

My landscape rake does really good on sticks, leaves, and debris. But it is just like a hand held leaf, stuff gets stuck in it. Thats a good price on the dump rake. I paid $300 for mine to use as yard decoration.

 

[Brown David]

Another vote for the landscape rake.

 

[stoughtonfarmboy]

Good question, I suppose if I had to put a number on it, I would say 1.5" diameter and anything from a foot long and up. I tried to get the dog to help, but all he will pick up is tennis balls.

Our dog has a good supply of sticks she has gathered and brought near the porch. Here on Southern Wisconsin.

Ken

 

[KCTractors]

I might, except I don't have one. Neighbor is selling one for $225 and not sure I want to experiment with that much money. Although I could use it as yard decoration. Ironically, I spent the 70's cutting up all of Grandpa's junk machinery, now people want that stuff to display. He had one of these rakes too.
Maybe a landscape rake from the farm store would work. I just know my back can't bend over enough times to pick that stuff up.

Save your money, not worth the effort with the dump rake.

 

[T.R.K.]

Having never used a side-delivery rake, but having access to great grandfather's dump rake and occasionally using it, I think it will get about 75 percent of your sticks that are 2 ft. long or more. Short stuff will twist through. It will hop over large stuff, or you will find out which tines are compromised as they will break off. And you will probably have to get off the tractor and pluck the tines when you dump it as some sticks are sure to bind in the tines just enough not to fall out.

 

[bob p mn]

I used a landscape rake to clean up sticks left behind after loggers used a hayfield for their landings, it worked very well. I believe it will do a much better job than a dump rake.