Wooden Hay Rake
£42.00
A light but strong wooden hay rake, from Rudd’s Rake Factory in Cumbria.
Collection Only
NOTE: due to increased carriage charges we are not currently shipping rakes via courier. If it is impossible for you to collect, please get in touch to discuss a bespoke delivery quote.
Description
Graeme Rudd’s great grandfather started Rudd’s Rake Factory in the 1890’s.
The business is in family hands to this day. The rakes are light, which is important if you will be using one for any length of time, and strong.
People buy them for many purposes, from raking gravel and gathering autumn leaves to leveling fresh concrete (!). We use them for their traditional purpose – hay making.
FAQs
To avoid teeth becoming loose, give your rake a coat of boiled linseed oil and avoid leaving it out in the hot, dry sun for prolonged periods.
Even so, you may occasionally lose a tooth from your rake. We’ve never broken a tooth in hours and hours of use, but it is theoretically possible.
The teeth are easy to replace – gently knock out the remains (if any) of the old tooth and knock in a new one.
You can whittle your own replacements or buy a set of spares.
The rake is 6″ long and the head is 2′ 6″ wide.
The shaft and head are made of ash, as is the steam bent bow that strengthens the head. The teeth are made from hard-wearing beech.
Here is a detailed interview with John and Graeme Rudd, with plenty of pictures of the rake making process, including the “Demon Dentist” used to fit the teeth.
Below is a video about the factory.