No need to apologize, I thought it was wooden until I went to Lowe's and picked one up. I honestly didn't think it would last this long either. But I have put it through the ringer and it's still showing no major signs of wear.
I made this rake about a month ago from a garden rake. Used a shepherd's pole for the rod and the extra spring from my nc30 for the handle. Works very well and I probably use it more than any other tool.
made this a few years ago, 2 x 2 x 1/8th L angle with teeth cut in with a plasma cutter welded onto 1/2" round stock with a washer welded to top of handle. Its a little long, shoulda made it half that length, excuse the dirty hearth
I was using a bent shovel before I had the rake. It was hot on the hands, even with gloves on. The weight of the rake makes a big difference, it really digs into the coals. The flat side of it comes in handy too. I must admit though, I didn't come up with the idea to make it. Someone posted a pic of one they made over at that other place and I copied it.
Yeah I use the flip side too when I want to push all the ashes back. The sleeve on my handle was my idea but the kids rake idea was copied from someone else. The yellow paint is all gone now
I'm using the coal rake that came with my fireplace set that I bought. Looks like this, but with a different handle:
Well, let's see......the Channel Locks are for pulling the ash plug, the spatula is to clean around the ash plug hole before replacing the plug, the small black rod thingy next to the spatula is the "ash rake" I bought for $13 bucks online, the shiny brass handled thing is a poker, and of course....you know what the thing leaning on the ash lip is.
As a joke I was going to post a picture of a burnt hand but after googling burnt hand pictures I thought it was in bad taste, some of those pictures are nasty=not funny.
yes indeed. Pay no attention to the gorilla snot weld I was working on something else and did not run in to turn the welder down. My son broke the wooden handle in the summer so its just sticking in the end. I might actually take it out to shorten it up some.