Making a two or three tine hay rake

[Darryl Ponder]

I need to make a couple of hay rakes, circa mid-1800's.

Anyone ever make one before that can share how they went about it?

My current plan is to look on line for old photos and copy the designs as best I can.

Darryl

[Jim Moenck]

Darryl, are you making the whole rake or just some spring tines for one? I assume this is an old dump rake you are working on.

[Darryl Ponder]

Jim,

I'm going to be making some hand held hay rakes (aka "pitchforks) for The Landing for their use during hay days.

After looking at photos of old implements, it looks like I can simply take some round stock, draw down and bend for two tines. I can weld a third center tine on as needed. The older the implement, the less pretty it is. If it got the job done, the smith called it good. Attaching to the wooden handle seems to have been by using a ferrule.

I would like to be as historically accurate as possible.

Darryl

[Martin Pansch]

Darryl,

Rich from the Landing said they found a historical example though the tines are worn down a bit. We might be able to get some clues from examining it this weekend.

Martin