light gravel/sand rake in work

[Knotbored]

I hope this is apropriate to post here-its not finished yet.

I had three channels with holes punched in them (called UNICHANNEL I think) and need a rake to clean out grass between ruts in my driveway and to clear paths thru the woods. A local dealer sells bolts and lag screws cheap by the pouund.
I bought a couple pounds of lag screws and some bolts to hold my idea together.
The lag screws just fit into two channels seperated about 1 1/2", the bolts have two nuts to keep that seperation, and a third nut to secure the third channel over the heads of the lag screws to prevent them from backing out.
The seperation of the two channels keeps the lag bolts upright.
The channels were free from the dump, the lag bolts and bolts were $1.90 a pound (less then three pounds)

The next step will be to weld a plate to the end of the two lower channels to prevent them from "apple-boxing" and to make an attachment to tie back to my tractor.
My intent is to make this rake kind of universal, so it can be towed, placed below my box scraper, attached to my front end loader to push or pull, and maybe hinged to be self-cleaning.

I am placing this thread to give anyone ingenious another idea for a light rake, and to seek any ideas for attaching it with some universal hitch.

 

[johnk]

Why did you use 2 or three channels and not just 1???I have a few of those channel posts laying around so I am waiting to see the finished product. Might just get me building one since I already have the materials but not the ideas.......

 

[Knotbored]

I tried using just one, but the lag bolts twisted backwards in the single hole. By pushing the lag bolts through two seperated by about an inch and a half they all stayed upright and alligned.
The third channel just traps the heads so they cannot back out of the hole. That third (top) channel is about two inches shorter, so I can unbolt it to replace any lag bolt that gets bent, even after I weld the other two to side plates. That channel coulld be something lighter, like a narrow flat bar, but I had the channel handy.

 

[johnk]

Now I think I know what you meant. How about grade 8's ground off to a slight point instaed of the lag bolts? I suspect you are using the lag bolts for the points of the rake?

 

[Knotbored]

Yes to both points
Stronger bolts would probably work even better (I am not sure what the price difference would be)
Yes I did choose the lag bolts for the sharp teeth- I am not sure whether the threads will be a help or hinderence when I am grooming thru grass. My initial dragging it around got clogged, but that might help-not sure yet.

I chose the lag bolts because of the inexpensive per/pound price. So far I have less then $4 invested. I will sample other scrapers and spacing if this concept works out.
This is just a part-time thing and I haven't been back to it for a couple weeks. I am hoping it gets others more ingenious then me to thinking.

 

[johnk]

An idle mind is a useless one. It's nice to have an idea and see it through. Sure there may be better rakes out there but when you get her finished you'll have great satisfaction in knowing you built it from your own idea and it works....Get some pics when its completed.....