How to Choose the Right Rake Where would we be without the humble rake? Leaves and garden debris would go ungathered and soil would remain lumpy and difficult to sow in — all in all, garden chores would be a lot more difficult. Take a look at the rakes below and you’ll probably see some that look familiar and maybe some that don’t. It turns out, there are many types, and choosing the right rake for the task at hand will make things a lot easier on you. Let’s take a look at a few rakes you can use to make your lawn and borders look beautiful! What to look for in a shrub rake A plastic head and lightweight aluminum handle make a shrub rake like this lightweight and easy to haul around with your hand tools. Hand held shrub rake models can also be handy in the garden. How to use a shrub rake The 8-inch head on this rake is narrower than others so it gets in between plants without a problem. The long handle reaches into the backs of borders that are hard to reach otherwise. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the debris, use this handy rake to help spread mulch or compost on the beds and around your plants without tearing leaves or breaking stems. Thatch rake Thatch, the accumulated debris that builds up at the base of your turf grass, is a problem. It can harbor pests and disease, doesn’t have much nutrition and won’t hold water or protect roots from the cold in winter. So removing this accumulated debris is the job of the thatch rake. What to look for in a thatch rake Some thatch rakes are one-sided but this model has two — the sharp crescent-shaped blades remove debris, and the round side is for cultivating. Use it when you’re done to prep the area for seed. Adjustable lawn rakes let you choose the angle that works best for the amount of thatch you have. How to use a thatch rake Thatch ? inch deep or more needs raking. In large areas you may want to use a power dethatcher. But in small spaces put the tip of the razorlike tines just barely into the soil and pull toward you to remove the thatch and push it away to get the debris out of the teeth. Repeat across your lawn. Plastic leaf rake You can cover a lot of ground relatively quickly in the fall when you use a wide-headed plastic leaf rake—this one is 30 inches across! What to look for in a plastic leaf rake Because of the repetitive nature of leaf raking, comfort is key when you’re choosing one of these tools. There are actually lots of different features and widths available — try several out at the store before you buy. Check out those with curved handles and assess the weight and balance. The one in these photos has another interesting feature — the tines are joined together so the head won’t get clogged with leaves. How to use a plastic leaf rake With a sweeping motion gather any leaves or debris in your lawn. Be sure to take frequent breaks so you can avoid repetitive motion-related injury. Metal leaf rake Clean up the lawn or your border with leaf rakes. What to look for in a metal leaf rake These rakes come in a variety of widths and some are even adjustable. Look for one that has an enamel-coated head to avoid rust. And a stress distribution bar helps keep tines from twisting. How to use a metal leaf rake This is a good multipurpose rake. Its springy nature is perfect for working debris out of evergreen and deciduous shrubs, carefully fluffing up a ground cover in spring or working the thatch out of the lawn if you don’t own a thatch rake. It’s also good for raking leaves from the lawn but the narrow tines can sometimes get clogged with skewered leaves or snag on a vine or ground cover. Additional Features Rakes have various extra features that influence convenience and usability. If you plan on using the tool frequently, one or more of these features may be worth considering. A telescoping handle allows users to adjust the handle length to suit their preference or to accommodate multiple users with varying heights. Adjustable rakes heads allow users to adjust the spread of the tines for different tasks. A grabber tool built into the head eliminates the need for bending down to retrieve swept leaves. A padded grip, usually made of rubber or foam, provides additional comfort and reduces hand fatigue. A collapsible handle saves space and makes it easier to store the rake in a garage or shed. What Customers Are Saying This bow rake has close to 400 customer reviews on Amazon. Ninety-three percent of those reviews are 4- or 5-star reviews and only 5% are 1- or 2-star reviews, giving the products an average score of 4.7 stars out of 5. While customers said the product was heavy, they liked that most of the weight was in the head. They said that this allowed the head to break through compact soil without requiring too much force. However, some customers expressed a desire for the handle to be longer. Our Experience This rake came fully assembled, allowing our team to quickly unwrap it and start using it. Since bow rakes are designed for raking and leveling fine materials like dirt and sand, we tested this product with dirt. We were able to rake dirt into a pile and level it with the back of the head without any dirt collection on the tines. The rake was also easy to use. We liked that the rubber gripping went several inches down the handle because that allowed it to accommodate larger hands. However, our arms felt slightly tired after using the rake because of its heavy metal head. 5 Different Types of Chain Saws A chain saw is a portable, mechanical tool that has the ability to cut through tree trunks, branches, and other woods with its rotating sharp-edged metal teeth. It is typically used for limbing, pruning, cutting firebreaks in wildland fire suppression, harvesting firewood, bucking, and felling. This powerful tool consists of two main parts. One of the parts is the saw blade that is built in the chain and has a long metal guide bar wrapped around it. The other part is the small cylinder for gasoline or petroleum, but sometimes it has a battery pack or cord, depending on what kind of chain saw it is. The difference between a chain saw and a hand saw is that a hand saw functions when it is being pulled back and forth manually to cut the wood, whereas a chain saw is powered by a metal chain that keeps rotating to cut through the wood. A chainsaw is portable and –most of the times- it can be used anywhere. Although the first chain saw was created during the 1920s, a lot has changed since there. Purchasing the right kind of chain saw can be a difficult task for individuals, especially those who lack the experience. This is why it is important to be aware of the different types of chain saws before spending on one. Types of Chain Saws Even though they all have the same purpose, a lot of thinking goes into making the decision of choosing the right chain saw. Questions like “how often will I use it?” “What is my budget?” “Do I want one where I have to refill the tank or one where I can just plug it into the wall?” begin to linger in mind. To take away these queries, below are the different types of chain saws mentioned that can aid you in getting your hands on the right one. Gas-powered chain saws are the most popular option amongst occasional and professional users. As the name suggests, a gas powered chain saw is powered by gas. This type of chain saw has a 2 cycles or a two-stroke engine that mixes oil and gas together so it can be used. The oil is used as lubrication for the internal part of the engine while preventing wear and damage, and the gas is used for combustion. These chain saws require regular maintenance so they can work properly. Power: The engine provides the chain saw with a higher power-to-weight ratio, making gas-powered chain saws effective and powerful. This chain saw cuts wood faster than any other chain saw. In addition, gas-powered chain saws are considered to be a heavy duty which causes them to produce vibration and make noise. They also need regular servicing and fueling as compared to the other models. Cost: These chain saws are expensive and they can cost up to twice as much as other chain saw options. Corded electric chain saws run on electricity and have a plug-in power cord. Since they are not running on fuel, they do not have engines. Corded electric chain saws are considered to be immobile because they need to be plugged in when they are being used. Luckily, with the help of a portable generator, you can make the most of this chain saw. With a long extension cord, you can plug the chain saw in and use it. Keep in mind, though, a corded electric chainsaw cannot be used for certain tasks including felling in tree woods. Power: Corded electric chain saws have less power and can be limited tasks (the ones that do not require much more) as compared to gas-powered chain saws. But, compared to battery-powered chain saws, these ones are more powerful and they can do tasks like cutting and sawing small trees, limbs, and thick branches. Corded electric chain saws do not produce fumes or noise compared to gas-powered chain saws. Additionally, since they are lightweight, they can be used by new, inexperienced users as they are great to perform basic tasks around the house. What you do need to keep in mind is that they require special extension cords so they can perform to their fullest potential.