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A wooden rake helps you to free your green carpet from leaves and other plant and garden waste. In our guide you will find out what you should pay attention to when buying the traditional garden helper. We also present three high-quality wooden rakes that are particularly popular with Amazon reviewers.
A wooden rake is not only useful for hay
Our recommendations
our recommendation
4betterdays.com live NATURALLY! Hay rake/wooden rake made of high-quality lime wood - 73 cm wide rake head - 20 tines made of ash wood - handcrafted in Austria
EUR 49.90 To the product| wood type | Linden, beech, ash |
|---|---|
| handle incl. | Yes |
| stem length | about 180 cm |
| working width | 73 cm |
| number of tines | 20 |
The wooden rake from 4betterdays LIVE NATURALLY! is the result of genuine craftsmanship from Austria. As comfortable as the basic properties of the rake seem, the reviews on Amazon are just as convincing. Almost all customers are absolutely delighted and describe the rake as "very well made and great to use". The option of replacing broken tines individually is also praised.
our recommendation
CircumPro hay rake with handle
52.01 EUR To the product| wood type | beech |
|---|---|
| handle incl. | Yes |
| stem length | about 160 cm |
| working width | 55 cm |
| number of tines | 15 |
This wooden rake might be a bit too short for tall people over 1.80 meters, but overall it seems to be doing a good job and being solidly made. Most Amazon reviewers have given the rake five stars and positive words. It should serve its purpose perfectly.
our recommendation
KADAX rake, hay rake with long wooden handle, wide rake for garden, bed, lawn, comfortable garden rake, lawn rake, leaf rake, garden tool, garden tool (wood)
19.99 EUR To the product| wood type | not clear |
|---|---|
| handle incl. | Yes |
| stem length | about 160 cm |
| working width | 64 cm |
| number of tines | 14 |
The wooden rake from KADAX impresses with its good price-performance ratio. While it's not clear exactly what wood it's made of, reviewers say the "quality and price match." Anyone who does not have too high demands on their wooden rake is well advised with this inexpensive model.
Purchase Criteria
wood type
Most wooden rakes on the market are made of beech wood, a popular hardwood that is characterized by its dense surface and the associated high strength.
Some versions are made of ash wood, which is also a hardwood. In terms of quality, it is in no way inferior to beech - on the contrary. It also impresses with its elasticity and decorative look.
Particularly fine wooden rakes are made from lime wood, among other things. It is a light hardwood that impresses above all with its lightness and stability at the same time.
As long as the wooden rake is basically of high quality, it doesn't matter which wood you choose in terms of quality. Your taste may decide here.
tips
Many a well-known manufacturer, for example 4betterdays NATURlich leben!, sometimes uses all the types of wood mentioned for one and the same rake. In the Austrian handcrafted versions of the brand, the handle is made of lime wood, the rake head is made of beech wood and the tines are made of ash wood.
build quality
One of the most important features, if not THE most important, is the build quality. In order to make them as high as possible, the manufacturers have to use metal, steel or nylon for certain details - more precisely for the connection of the handle to the head. So don't be surprised if you find details on almost every wooden rake that are not made of wood.
stalk
The handle is not always included in the scope of delivery. Some manufacturers also offer this and the rake head with the tines separately. When in doubt, we advise you to buy a complete product where the handle and the rake head are firmly connected. In our experience, this usually goes hand in hand with greater stability and a lower risk of breakage.
stem length
You should also take a look at the length of the stem and make sure that it fits your height. In addition to reasons of comfort, this is primarily due to health reasons. Because if you use a wooden rake that is too short for a long time, your back will sooner or later take offense.
tips
Many wooden rakes are 150 to 165 centimeters long. This is generally fine for people up to about 180 centimeters tall. Larger people, on the other hand, should choose a longer model. Fortunately, wooden rakes with a length of between 170 and 185 centimeters are also available.
working width
As a rule, the width of the rake head is 40 to a maximum of 100 centimeters. Mostly it is between 50 and 70 centimeters. Wider doesn't necessarily mean better. It depends on the shape of your garden or lawn:
- Do you have a relatively large and straight shaped garden/lawn without too many obstacles in the path to be raked? Then a wooden rake that is as wide as possible is preferable, as it shortens the working time.
- Do you have a garden/lawn that tends to be small or one with winding, narrow spaces? Then you are definitely making the smarter choice with a narrower wooden rake.
In general, you should take into account that a smaller, narrower rake is easier to handle. A larger, wider and therefore generally noticeably heavier wooden rake requires more effort from you.
tines
With regard to the tines, the number, the distance between them and the respective length are of interest.
Number: In contrast to metal and steel rakes, wooden rakes in most cases have no more than about 25 tines. Some models even have “only” ten to 15 pieces. Basically, wooden rakes are intended to remove coarse plant and garden waste. It is therefore not a problem that comparatively few tines are used.
Distance: Due to the small number, the tines are usually quite far apart. This in turn confirms that wooden rakes are not really suitable for removing finer garden waste from the lawn. On the other hand, it shows its strengths all the more impressively when it comes to raking a dense, overgrown lawn.
Length: The length of the tines is usually around ten centimeters - and that seems to be a good guideline. For optimal control of the implement, the tines should never be too short.
tips
On some wooden rakes, the tines are attached on two sides, so you can use the tool from one side and the other. This may also prevent rapid wear.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What is a wooden rake?
The wood rake is a garden tool that you can use to sweep up leaves and other coarse plant and garden debris. It is also sometimes used for haymaking and for loosening and leveling the soil in beds. A wooden rake consists of three parts:
- the stalk
- the rake head (also known as the yoke) and
- the tines.
Which brands offer good wooden rakes?
The best-known manufacturers of wooden rakes include Xaver Gruber, BayWa, Dadant and 4betterdays NATURlich leben!.
Where should I buy a wooden rake?
Wooden rakes are a bit of an endangered species these days, so finding a good model isn't that easy anymore. A solid wooden rake may be available in well-stocked hardware stores such as OBI, Bauhaus, toom, Raiffeisen, Hornbach, Globus or hagebaumarkt. However, you have the best chance at Amazon.
Where can I find replacement tines for my wooden rake?
Unlike most alternative rakes, the tines on wooden rakes can sometimes be replaced as soon as signs of wear become apparent that have a negative impact on functionality. If possible, you should obtain replacement tines from the manufacturer of your rake. You may even find these on Amazon. There are also DIY instructions online that show you how to make tines yourself.
tips
With manual skills, the right materials and good instructions from the Internet, you can also build a complete wooden rake yourself. However, keep in mind that this will take a lot of time and money, especially if you still have to fetch most of the utensils. You make it a lot easier if you buy a high-quality wooden rake.
Are there wooden rakes for children?
Yes, the trade also has wooden rakes for children. The specimens for the gardeners of the future are tailored to the little ones in terms of size and weight. As for the quality, you need to be just as attentive as when buying a wooden rake for an adult. The differences are big. In any case, there are high-quality children's wooden rakes that your offspring can use to help you with gardening.