Coal Rake

[ajreid]

Today's project was a coal rake. Scrap piece of 1/2'' conduit and welding rods. Shoved the rods in the end and hit the conduit with a hammer works pretty well.

(broken image removed)

 

[Lumber-Jack]

That's excellent, I have a homemade rake I made out of a ash shovel, but I like yours better, I may copy that design. ;-)

 

[baspinall]

Not sure but I think that conduit heated up can give off a poison gas. Like welding galvanized metal does. It contains zinc.

 

[LLigetfa]

I went with a combination ash hoe and coal rake. It originally had more teeth but it tended not to separate the coals from the ash so I did some dentistry.

 

[steeltowninwv]

u guys need to let me be your tester...send em my way...i need a coal rake bad...i want something longer than the store bought ones...

 

[OhioBurner©]

This is great, I never quite knew what you all were reffering to when speaking of an ash rake, I mean I never saw one for sale before. keep the DIY pics a comming.

Not sure but I think that conduit heated up can give off a poison gas. Like welding galvanized metal does. It contains zinc.

I think conduit is galvanized. However I think you'd be ok so long as you dont plan on storing your ash rake inside your stove... I dont think 20 seconds of raking is going to heat the handle hot enough to release the poisonous gas..

 

[ajreid]

Not sure but I think that conduit heated up can give off a poison gas. Like welding galvanized metal does. It contains zinc.

Your right it does, but it has to get pretty darn hot to do that. Using it for a coal rake it will never get that hot. Ive had to weld some galvanized electrical boxes before and you can see the white smoke and spider web looking stuff. If you see white smoke or white powdery looking stuff get it out of the fire. Ive been told drink milk if you feel sick while welding it.
It takes a lot of heat for this to happen though, nothing a rake will ever see.
I would have used aluminum conduit if I had any left.

 

[Stump_Branch]

I like the rake, Seems as if you wouldnt be pulling as much ash to the air intake and with a hoe. I abso-positivly love the hoe however. my go to Fireplace tool. Some one ought to start a thread on that, your favorite stove tools.

 

[ajreid]

I went with a combination ash hoe and coal rake. It originally had more teeth but it tended not to separate the coals from the ash so I did some dentistry.

Good looking rake I bet coals don't stick between the teeth on yours. Every now and then i have to give mine a tap to release a stuck coal.

 

[vixster]

LLigetfa, I LOVE IT! it looks perfect.

 

[golfandwoodnut]

Here is my rake I made from a spadula used on the grill. Complete with golf grip. I cut end off and bent it 90 degrees. Keeps with my golf theme and I can work on my game (or atleast raking the bunkers).

 

[ecocavalier02]

i need to make one of these at my shop i got a cheapo from the store and need something better.

 

[tpikaart]

Here's mine. Made it from a hunk of bed frame, and an old fireplace tool of some sort.

 

[LLigetfa]

Here's mine. Made it from a hunk of bed frame, and an old fireplace tool of some sort.

That looks like it would work well with the tooth spacing. If I owned a welder and didn't have to go bug my neighbor to weld stuff up for me, I would build something like that. You do want to have a long handle unless you wear gauntlet style gloves to shield your knuckes and wrist. Mine is 27 inches long overall.

You also need a way to store it securely when not in use as the ashes tend to cling to it. What I did was to steal the long rod from my tool holder to use as the handle and relaced it with a longer one. The ash rake now sits on the base of the tool holder and the handle tucks in between the slots that hang the other tools. That way it cannot fall out and needs to be lifted out.

 

[ajreid]

Any new designs for this year? My rake still holding up good after a years use.

 

[LLigetfa]

Still using mine and it still puts a smile on my face.