Christmas present advice please - my mom needs a new manure rake.

[tamlynn]

Doesn't everyone?

She was telling me her plastic one broke again and she would love to get a metal one, but can't seem to find one. Not a pitchfork -the tines are too far apart.

Anyone have one they love that is very sturdy? Online stores would be best.

 

[me&thegals]

Wish I could help you, but I can't. We doo D) the deep-bed method around here (read: lazy!) and just shovel it all out in spring. It composts with scraps and straw all winter.

But, you gotta love a woman who want a manure rake for Christmas!

 

[sufficientforme]

I use one of the plastic ones but I know Stateline tack carries a metal one.
http://www.statelinetack.com/item/metal-durafork-stallfork/SLT311819/
Not sure maybe a TSC would also carry?
Yep, went on their site to look for you
http://www.tractorsupply.com/horse-...ura-fork-for-horse-stall-52-in-handle-5015042

 

[patandchickens]

Has she ever actually owned/used a metal one? Just checking, b/c if not, she may not be aware that they are generally WORSE than the plastic ones -- the whole reason the plastic ones got so popular was because the tines more or less spring back into shape when deformed by being slid into a rock or doorjamb or frozen clump of manure or whatever, whereas every little thing that happens to the tines of a metal one tends to bend them permanently.

Personally, you couldn't make me go back to a metal one if you paid me.

But, anyhow, they ARE still out there; if you google "metal stall fork" you will find some suppliers (or there may be a better search term, that one also pulls up a bunch of non-relevant entries)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[tamlynn]

Hmmm, Pat, do you have a plastic one that won't break?

 

[big brown horse]

May I say that if you are going plastic, get the more expensive ones. I paid about $20 for the one I've had for the last 6-7 years. The cheaper ones always break.

I do have a metal one, tines are still fine, but I don't use it all the time, just when I have a helper, then I give the helper the plastic one and I use the heavy metal one. (The handle is metal too, it is a home made stall rake...good for your biceps.)

 

[miss_thenorth]

Hmmm, Pat, do you have a plastic one that won't break?

I have two plastic ones that we have been using for two years. Both are holding up very well. and i ditto what Pat said about the metal ones. It is now adecoration hanging up in the barn. I have ruber stall mats on top of uneven RR ties. I almost "pitched that fork!" the few times I used it.

 

[patandchickens]

Enh, ANYthing will break if you whale on it enough I should know! LOL

I buy a new plastic one every year and a half or so, as I have a tendency to bash it real hard against frozen-to-the-ground horse manure and permanently bend (occasionally break) the tines. If I did not do this -- if I was only using it in a stall, or was using it *intelligently* outdoors LOL -- it would last a lot longer. The broken ones get demoted to shed or chicken or manure-pile use, so they're not wasted. In boarding barns where i"ve worked, a plastic fork cared for properly and not abused will typically last 2-3 years, that's with doing a few dozen stalls per day.

I buy the full-price plastic ones (not sure of brand, maybe Future Fork? anyhow not the cheapie knockoffs). I HAVE used cheapie knockoff ones that were pieces of cr*p. Don't get those.

If yours are breaking at the socket where the handle attaches, the usual problem is that they're being allowed to get loose. Keep the screw tight always (a coating nailpolish over the tightened head helps for a while, but you still need to check regularly to fix it if it starts to loosen) and if the first hints of a crack should develop in the plastic, apply a hose-clamp and you will get a bunch more mileage out of the fork.

Personally I detest the metal-handled ones, btw, they are heavy and WAAAY to darn cold in the wintertime.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[enjoy the ride]

I agree about the metal ones too- once the tines are bent, you can never seem to get them back in line again.
You can buy just the plastic heads as replacements- saves some money,
I like the extra big basket ones with the ergonomic handles- so I bought extra baskets when I got one, thinking they would break but the darn thing has lasted so long that I have never used the replacement heads and the stupid handle is wearing out.

Anyway, check Jeffers for a good price on most stable supplies- I love them.

See, Pat, everything's a matter of personal choice- I love the metal handles because they are light and you can get an ergonomic shape to them. Although you can get a serious surprise if you are cleaning too close to the hot wire. Owwww..........
What I would really like is fiberglass handles but have never seen them.

 

[ducks4you]

I hardly use mine--it's metal. Often I use my foot to push manure on to it, trying to conserve bedding.
Usually, I use my heavy-duty rake to do any ice-pounding, and I lift up wintertime, stuck to the rubber mats with either my shovel, or this flat kind of shovel designed to break up ice.
I don't think that they were ever designed to hold a lot of weight.