Formerly made entirely of wood and indispensable on every farm, the pitchfork has now been pushed aside by mechanical harvesters. Nevertheless, the device is indispensable in agriculture - sometimes it just has to be the good old manual work. In this guide you will find out what you should look out for when buying a pitchfork - also known as a fork - and which models are recommended.

Pitchforks are not only used to turn hay

Our recommendations

our recommendation
Fiskars manure and pitch fork with 4 tines, length 137 cm, high-quality boron steel tines, grey/black, Ergonomic, 1001695
44.27 EUR To the product
material Boron steel tine head
tines 4 long, slightly curved tines
stalk ergonomically shaped plastic
Handle practical D-handle at the end of the handle
length 137 centimeters
Weight 1.85 kilograms

This hay or manure fork from the well-known manufacturer Fiskars can not only be used for distributing hay or manure, but is a real all-rounder in the stable and garden: The robust device is also suitable for forking in garden waste, for turning the compost or for loosening both soft and hard floors.

The four long, curved tines enable a perfect lifting angle, the supplied plastic handle has a practical D-handle for easy, ergonomic work with reduced effort. The numerous Amazon reviewers praise the Fiskars pitchfork as very robust and versatile - only the lack of length adjustability of the handle is criticized by some customers.

our recommendation
Spreading fork pitchfork 135 cm ash handle 3 tines
39.20 EUR To the product
material Steel tine head
tines 3 slightly curved tines
stalk ash wood
Handle unavailable
length 135 centimeters
Weight not specified

This classic, three-pronged hay and spreading fork is described by satisfied Amazon customers as handy and well balanced. The robust, lightweight device can be used for many purposes: With the long, narrow tines, different materials such as hay, straw, green fodder, etc. can not only be easily forked, but also distributed as desired. The sturdy handle made of hard ash wood is just the right length to enable back-friendly work. In addition, you can easily replace it yourself if necessary. This pitchfork is just the right tool for someone who prefers classic devices without too many frills.

our recommendation
Triuso pitchfork, 2 prongs, clamp, ash handle 135
24.71 EUR To the product
material Prong head and ferrule made of steel
tines 2 slightly curved tines
stalk made of hard ash wood
Handle unavailable
length 135 centimeters
Weight not specified

Pitchforks with only two prongs have the advantage over multi-pronged variants that they are easier to pierce dense material. This allows you to lift bales of straw and hay more precisely, just as compost can be lifted and turned better. The robust handle is made of hard ash wood and can easily be replaced if necessary. The Amazon customers are very satisfied in their reviews, especially since this pitchfork can be purchased at a comparatively low price.

Purchase Criteria

purpose of use

Pitchforks are commonly used for turning, picking up and distributing hay, straw and forage. However, depending on its nature, this device can be used in a variety of ways not only in the stable but also in the garden: for example for forking and turning compost or as a replacement for a digging fork. With a sturdily built pitchfork, you can even loosen soil or distribute green waste and other mulch material and compost in the beds.

number of tines

Depending on what you want to use the pitchfork for, you should choose the number of tines. Traditional pitchforks usually have two or three prongs, but there are also models with four prongs. Two-pronged forks are very suitable for loading and lifting densely packed material (e.g. bales of hay, straw and forage), but also for digging into dense material. Three-pronged versions, on the other hand, are mainly used for distributing, for example, fodder, green waste or compost. Four-pronged pitchforks, on the other hand, can be used in a variety of ways in the stable or in the garden bed, but they also require more effort.

material

Traditional pitchforks are made entirely of wood, with both the handle and tines made - often in one piece - of hard wood such as ash or beech. These models are sometimes still available today, but wear out quickly and break easily. Classic versions, on the other hand, are in two parts and consist of a steel tine head, a wooden handle and a connection - usually also made of steel. The steel tines are more pointed and sharper than wooden tines, but they are also lighter and therefore easier to handle. The steel tines can be drawn or forged, with the latter often being more robust and therefore more durable.

stem and stem length

In addition to wooden handles, there are also some made of plastic or stainless steel. Plastic handles are light and therefore easy to handle, while stainless steel versions are particularly durable. However, wooden handles can be replaced more easily if necessary, and they are also cheaper. The very long handle lengths, which are usually around 135 centimetres, are also typical of pitchforks. If such a handle is too long for you, you can also buy just the fork head and attach a shorter handle yourself - or buy a model with a telescopic handle.

Attachment to the wooden handle

Fork and handle are connected to each other either with a spring clamp or a forged socket. In contrast to the fixed grommet, the spring clamp is a separate component consisting of a casing and a cap. It completely encloses the wooden handle and is fastened with nails. The grommet, in turn, is forged onto the fork head and is attached to the handle with a screw or nail.

handles and other extras

Modern pitchforks, such as the Fiskars model presented, have extras that make work easier, such as a rubberized, non-slip handle. In addition, due to the use of plastic, they are often lighter than the classic variants made of steel and wood - but also more expensive.

frequently asked Questions

What is the difference between a manure fork and a pitchfork?

At Amazon, the corresponding devices are often offered under the name "hay and dung fork", whereby a dung fork is nothing more than the classic pitchfork. This suggests that it is one and the same tool. This is not the case, because there are significant differences between the two:

  • Pitchforks are used for fodder, manure forks for manure
  • Pitchforks have two, three or a maximum of four tines, pitchforks at least four
  • Pitchforks have curved tines and a slightly curved handle, pitchforks rarely or not at all
  • Pitchforks often have thicker and rather blunt tines

Can I also use the pitchfork to dig up the garden?

You can also use a four-pronged pitchfork to dig up beds and other gardening work, but a so-called digging or spade fork is more suitable. This is much more stable and therefore better suited - especially when it comes to hard and stony soil.

Who Makes Good Pitchforks?

You can get pitchforks of good, robust quality from classic tool manufacturers such as Fiskars, but also from agricultural brands such as Bellota, Red Rooster or Corona.

Where can I buy pitchforks?

You can get pitchforks of different types and qualities both on the internet and in brick-and-mortar stores. Here you should not only look at the large online department stores, but also in the construction or agricultural trade - the agricultural trade has a wide range of different models.

How much does a good pitchfork cost?

The price of the pitchfork depends on where you buy it - it's worth comparing prices - and on the model you choose. Classic models with steel tines and a wooden handle are quite cheap, depending on the manufacturer you should budget between 20 and 35 EUR. If you only buy the tine head, it will cost you between approx. 10 and 25 EUR - plus the costs for the handle that has to be procured separately. Modern models made of plastic and with various extras are significantly more expensive.

equipment

shovel

our recommendation
SHW-FIRE 59032 Holstein shovel steel size 2 with wooden handle 130 cm long (silver)
EUR 29.90 To the product

For daily work in the barn and garden you not only need a pitchfork, but also a good shovel - with this many materials such as fine-grained feed, but also manure, compost, earth, sand etc. can be easily picked up and shoveled away.

Manure or pear fork

our recommendation
UPP 3-in-1 Yard & Garden Shovel | 3 garden tools in one: rake, shovel, sieve | For maintaining the garden, pond and yard - ideal as a fork and pitchfork [smart, without handle]
12.99 EUR To the product

Where animals are fed, there is also a lot of manure. In particular, the legacies of horses can easily be picked up with a so-called Bollengabel. But such a pitchfork - also known as a pitchfork - can not only be used for mucking out, but also for many other purposes in the house and garden, for example for raking up and lifting autumn leaves.

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