How to Build a Hay Rake

Hay rakes are used on farms for raking straw and hay. Hay rakes are made out of either metal or wood. Both materials have the same function and in most cases, the same durability, when used to make rakes. An aluminum rake will be lighter than a wood rake, but the cost of materials for a wood hay rake will be less than the material cost for an aluminum rake. Building your own hay rake isn't a complicated task. It can be done within a few hours spent at a workbench.

Tape measure
Oak board, 2-by-2-by-32 inches
Oak dowel, 1-by-60 inches
31 oak dowels, 3/16-by-4 inches
Drill
Drill bit, 1-inch
Drill bit, 3/16-inch
Wood glue

Instructions

- 1
  Drill a 1 1/2-inch deep, 1-inch-diameter hole in the center of the 32-inch board. The center of the hole is 16 inches away from each end of the board and 1 inch away from each edge.
- 2
  Glue the 60-inch dowel into the hole and let it dry according to the instructions on the bottle.
- 3
  Drill 31, 3/16-inch holes that are 1 inch deep into the board. These holes are perpendicular to the 1-inch hole and their centers are spaced 1-inch apart. The centers are also 1 inch away from the 32-inch edges of the board.
- 4
  Glue a 3/16-inch dowel into each of the holes and let the glue dry. The middle dowel will be glued into the 1-inch dowel. This will help prevent the 1-inch dowel from moving, even if the glue doesn't hold.

How to Build a Wooden Cubby Unit

How to Make Wooden Rakes

Building Designs