Electric garden rake

[HeyWayne]

On Saturday I decided that the lawn was looking a bit patchy and in need of some attention, so decided to give it a rake over and get rid of some of the dead grass. 2 hours later I regretted my decision but still had a sizeable pile of dead grass for my compost heap.

However, given that a) it still needs a bit of raking and b) I should really be more careful of my back (the middle of my back is all knotted up as a result of the raking action), I thought about purchasing one of those electric garden rakes, a bit like this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GARDEN-GEAR-RA...QQcmdZViewItem.

Does anyone own one, or has anyone had any experience of one? Any recommendations would be gratefully received.

[Two_Sheds]

Whatever next?

Heywayne, just do a little at a time to save your back. Don't waste money on electricity and gadgets - manual work is GOOD for you, just take it a bit easier

[HeyWayne]

Whatever next?

Heywayne, just do a little at a time to save your back. Don't waste money on electricity and gadgets - manual work is GOOD for you, just take it a bit easier

Oh don't get me wrong, I understand that manual work is good for you - that's why I've an allotment after all. However what is not good for me is stooping over for any length of time with a lawn rake because they don't make them long enough!

The work I do on the allotment is not very back-intensive because I have either bought tools that make bending unenecessary, or I can do the job without bending too much anyway. Lawn raking can only be done one way as far as I can see...

Not only that, but the less time I take on the lawn, the more time I have on the allotment - which is precious little anyway.

So you're not called Two_Sheds because of your abundance of tools?

[Rowan]

I just want to know where I can get an electric lawn....

[HeyWayne]

I just want to know where I can get an electric lawn....

Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Avenue

[Two_Sheds]

So you're not called Two_Sheds because of your abundance of tools?

Ha ha, no! I had 2 sheds at one point cos one was falling down, irreparable, then I got a better one. Unbelievably, someone took the rotten one away and paid me £20 for the privilege!

No offence about your electric tools, but I get very frustrated with people who buy each and every useless gadget going. I just got bought a £90 leccy coffee maker that uses nasty plastic pods of powdered gunk, when all I wanted was a £3 cafetiere and real coffee!

[HeyWayne]

Ha ha, no! I had 2 sheds at one point cos one was falling down, irreparable, then I got a better one. Unbelievably, someone took the rotten one away and paid me £20 for the privilege!

No offence about your electric tools, but I get very frustrated with people who buy each and every useless gadget going. I just got bought a £90 leccy coffee maker that uses nasty plastic pods of powdered gunk, when all I wanted was a £3 cafetiere and real coffee!

No offence taken - I'm all for exercise in the form of manual work, but I'm not keen on injury. I've been there before and it very frustrating as well as very painful. If the world was more my size I'd be happy raking away till the cows came home but they just don't make things Wayne-sized!

I might start up a campaign...

[Seahorse]

The ebay one doesn't seem a bad price if it saves you having to lay on the sofa for a week!

I'm probably being totally patronising because you've likely though of it anyway but when my back is playing up, I rake 'the other way round' - i.e. walk upright and pull it behind me. It's not quite as efficient but it's certainly a lot easier to do.

Or (I'm presuming you're very tall?) could you get an extra long handle?

Claire

[HeyWayne]

The ebay one doesn't seem a bad price if it saves you having to lay on the sofa for a week!

I'm probably being totally patronising because you've likely though of it anyway but when my back is playing up, I rake 'the other way round' - i.e. walk upright and pull it behind me. It's not quite as efficient but it's certainly a lot easier to do.

Or (I'm presuming you're very tall?) could you get an extra long handle?

Claire

An extra long handle would be ideal, but the problem is that it would bend (the one I have is already starting to bend) without extra strengthening. I'm not "very" tall - just quite (6ft 7). Thanks for the thought though.

[Rowan]

Ooh, thanks, HeyWayne. I'll take a trip and see if they sell electric lawn seed. Turf's probably too pricey.

[HeyWayne]

Ooh, thanks, HeyWayne. I'll take a trip and see if they sell electric lawn seed. Turf's probably too pricey.

You could always opt for a petrol lawn....

[Rowan]

Very polluting!
We're on a coal seam here, so I could have a steam lawn, I suppose.

[valmarg]

Electric garden rake

Does anyone own one, or has anyone had any experience of one? Any recommendations would be gratefully received.

Yes had one for years, and wouldn't use any other method for scarifying the lawn. No more blisters, or aching back. The only problem is that it is so much more efficient than the hand operated rake, that you have to empty the collecting box regularly.

valmarg

[HeyWayne]

Yes had one for years, and wouldn't use any other method for scarifying the lawn. No more blisters, or aching back. The only problem is that it is so much more efficient than the hand operated rake, that you have to empty the collecting box regularly.

valmarg

Thanks Val.

I mowed the lawn last night and gave it another rake and still loads keeps coming up. Even if you run the rake over the same patch again and again it never gets that much up. When I close the rake up so that the tines (?) are closer it still doesn't seem to work all that well...

I agree with two_sheds in that I disagree with buying tools and gadgets for the sake of them, but if they genuinely save you time and possible injury, then I'm all for them!