Any good ideas on making a rake?

I watched the video lastnight that was posted on here. ( The one with John and Vanessa that has the corny script reading ). Great video. Very informative. I looked around town for a rake and couldnt find one. I use a shovel now but it doesnt cut it.They sell stove rakes online but after shipping its pretty expensive. I know I can make one that will suit the purpose. I'm not a welder, so thats out.. I thought about bying a shovel and bending it. Any brain storms out there??

I took a rectangular plate of steel and ground four teeth into one side of it. I left the other side solid to use as an ash hoe. I bolted the plate to what was the whisk before the wife melted the bristles. The handle of the whisk is a bit short so gloves are good idea if there are lots of hot coals.

Thats what I did. Had an old fireplace shovel with longer handle than my ash shovel. cut the sidewalls bent it over and raked away.It is by no means pretty but it does its job and does it fine.Was thinking of cutting some slots into it for tines so ash with flow through .

I had a 12" wide garden rake with a handle that broke off a few years ago. Have you ever tried to buy a replacement handle for a garden tool? It costs almost as much as the tool does. So I never replaced the handle and threw it in the back of my garage. Then, when I got a wood stove - instant coal rake. Works great.

A tribute to roospike
I still wonder where he went!
http://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/4439/
Simple and cheap

Thats a great idea. I'm looking more for a coal rake like a garden ho, which after reading your post, I think I just may have a broken one in my shed. That would be sweet.....Thanks

I like this idea too. A spatula. Whoda thunk? Thanks.

I wonderd were you went to,relaxing in N>C i see good for you.

Our bent poker works well enough as a rake for us sometimes...less is more.

An ash rake is a must. I made one from steel bar and plate,
and then found another at www.Northlineexpress.com.

Great useful tool for any serious wood burner!

Teeth are too close together so it won't sift through the ashes well. Wider spacing is needed to separate coals from the ashes.

They make ash sifters by cutting small holes into a shovel but those work by gravity and vigorous shaking. When dragging a rake horizontally, gravity is not on your side.

I'm looking for something to rake all the coals and ashes. The spatula thing would work fine. I found an old ho in my building that I think will work just fine. A little bigger than I really needed, but it'll do for now. Thanks for the responses.

I keep a supply of ready rod so I picked a 3' piece of 1/2". I drilled a 3" by 6" piece of steel and bolted the rod to the steel. Just cut whatever size teeth you want. I curled the other end to give me a good handle then rapped it in electrical tape to keep the threads from bothering my hands. It works great and is strong enough to push and shove large pieces while still working as a rake. If someone has a deep stove like the T6 a long rake is very convenient.

I bought mine at a garage sale for 50 cents and cut the handle short. Cheap solution. Or a garden flower rake, already has a short handle.

Here are a couple of pics of the one I made. It originally had more teeth but I had to do some dentistry because it work more like a hoe than a rake with that many teeth.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_nX0X4MOKcKI/Swhkn6GDADI/AAAAAAAAAig/T0citxSgCqo/s640/100_0413.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_nX0X4MOKcKI/SwhknrNNM9I/AAAAAAAAAic/BPjcRapf42Y/s640/100_0411.JPG

Look at a hardware store where they sell kids garden tools. The rake is the right size for the head. Just cut the long handle down to size.

If you are looking for a Ash Hoe here go here http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...r Tools & Supplies&sName=Hand Gardening Tools
Sears carries a small ash hoe.

Oops. I may have spelt that wrong...LOL

I like this idea....

I fab'd this up last year out of some 2" L-Angle and 1/2" round stock, a little over kill but it works

What a coincidence I just made this one. I haven't had a chance to get to a welder so I made this puppy up out of 3/8 threaded rod and a piece of galvanized slotted angle pounded flat with a hammer. Simple not too attractive but I think it will work. I like the spatula idea though.