Great video. There are so many reasons why this is a good idea. those commercial handles have been turned on an industrial scale without any attention to grain direction, so the natural strength of the wood fibres has been compromised. 'Round-wood' like your new handle has all the natural strength of the fibres doing what they were intended to do, hasn't it? All that's needed is to find a local expert on the available abundant woods and their uses. Or if you are in The U S of A, watch this video, and the rest of Blair's content!
I replace the handle of my rake after it failed within a year. But I had an old hardwood handle laying around. I like this idea. No sanding or conditioning required.
Unfortunately, the original handles on many plastic rakes are “shrink molded” onto the handles, so it is almost impossible to easily get the head off of the old handle without destroying the head. But, I have made some “Frankenstein” rakes from various parts when they separate easily.
Start with a good rake head. Make a new handle that is stronger but flexes and your work will go faster and more efficient! www.buymeacoffee.com/blairglenn
I was just thinking of how to keep my rake handle from breaking. I'm wrapping it in duct tape before it breaks.😂 If I ever find a nice piece like you have I'll know what to do with it. Thank you for the tip!
Bull Dog rake from Steubenville, Ohio is a great rake designed to be pulled rather than a swatting motion. Very well built with a fiberglass handle. Very efficient and less tiring to use.
@@matthewtaylor2185 a “ginseng hoe”. Not sure what that is. I think a natural wood handle with a natural round form can be so much better than one with the grain disrupted.
@arboristBlairGlenn I don't know if ginseng hoe is the correct technical name, but it is like a little grubbing hoe with an axe like head on the back side for cutting roots. This is Eastern Kentucky, where people use them to dig yellow root/ginseng.
@arboristBlairGlenn I've never done it, but the people who do, like my friend, know all the tricks to finding it. Which side of the mountain it is most likely to be growing, what grows around it, etc. It's big in Kentucky. Listen to the Kentucky Headhunters song "Dry Land Fish" for a taste culture! Those guys are based in South Central part of the state. That song is over 20 years old, but it sounds like what all the hunter/ fisher types talked about when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s just South of Louisville.
Great video. There are so many reasons why this is a good idea. those commercial handles have been turned on an industrial scale without any attention to grain direction, so the natural strength of the wood fibres has been compromised. 'Round-wood' like your new handle has all the natural strength of the fibres doing what they were intended to do, hasn't it? All that's needed is to find a local expert on the available abundant woods and their uses. Or if you are in The U S of A, watch this video, and the rest of Blair's content!
Thanks man, I always appreciate your continued support.
I replace the handle of my rake after it failed within a year. But I had an old hardwood handle laying around. I like this idea. No sanding or conditioning required.
@@mercoid and good strong fibers
Unfortunately, the original handles on many plastic rakes are “shrink molded” onto the handles, so it is almost impossible to easily get the head off of the old handle without destroying the head. But, I have made some “Frankenstein” rakes from various parts when they separate easily.
Start with a good rake head. Make a new handle that is stronger but flexes and your work will go faster and more efficient!
www.buymeacoffee.com/blairglenn
Excellent
Who would have found any value in PRIVET?
I was just thinking of how to keep my rake handle from breaking.
I'm wrapping it in duct tape before it breaks.😂
If I ever find a nice piece like you have I'll know what to do with it.
Thank you for the tip!
@@ldqa2737 modern rakes are too cheaply made
@@arboristBlairGlenn totally agree!
Bull Dog rake from Steubenville, Ohio is a great rake designed to be pulled rather than a swatting motion. Very well built with a fiberglass handle. Very efficient and less tiring to use.
I don’t care for the feel of fiberglass. I’m a wood man all the way!
But I will check it out
@@arboristBlairGlenn if the FG craps out I’ll re-handle them with wood. 👌
What do you think about tree of heaven?
Not a strong wood, kind of pithy.
@@arboristBlairGlenn and SMELLY! Thank you, I won't go voluntarily harvest any
Good job blair. I don’t break much stuff but the crew? 🙄
Me? I’m a really strong raker. GET IT DONE! So I break those cheap handles. This one actually feels better and has good flex
A friend of mine swears by sourwood handles. He was fixing one on his ginseng hoe recently.
@@matthewtaylor2185 a “ginseng hoe”. Not sure what that is. I think a natural wood handle with a natural round form can be so much better than one with the grain disrupted.
@arboristBlairGlenn I don't know if ginseng hoe is the correct technical name, but it is like a little grubbing hoe with an axe like head on the back side for cutting roots. This is Eastern Kentucky, where people use them to dig yellow root/ginseng.
@@matthewtaylor2185 I would like to try to grow ginseng. I read that it grows best in a forest (like where I live?)
@arboristBlairGlenn I've never done it, but the people who do, like my friend, know all the tricks to finding it. Which side of the mountain it is most likely to be growing, what grows around it, etc. It's big in Kentucky. Listen to the Kentucky Headhunters song "Dry Land Fish" for a taste culture! Those guys are based in South Central part of the state. That song is over 20 years old, but it sounds like what all the hunter/ fisher types talked about when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s just South of Louisville.