DIY rake for picking berries

Fans of picking healthy wild berries are constantly looking for convenient devices that will reduce the picking time and make it as comfortable as possible. There is a special tool that resembles rake, for lingonberries, blueberries, cranberries and other berries. Making it yourself from available items is not difficult.

How to make a rake for picking berries?

There are three types of harvesters that are used to collect blueberries and other goodies from the forest. Mechanical and vacuum are manufactured exclusively on an industrial scale. Their design is too complex to be assembled from unnecessary items.

Manual harvesters are more affordable and are often made by hand.

How the tool works

The design of the device may differ, but the mechanism is always similar. This is due to the presence of certain elements:

• Comb. It can be metal, wood or plastic. Its peculiarity is its raised teeth.
• Body. It is made of plastic, metal or in the form of a dense fabric bag. The berries roll into it after being detached from the bush.
• Pen. Designed for human convenience. With one hand you can firmly grasp the tool, and with the other you can direct the branches with fruits towards the comb.

Some models are equipped with a damper.This optional part, but providing additional convenience, is located in the middle of the body. Raising it, we pour the berries into the collection, and lowering it, we are not afraid that the harvest will fall out.

Necessary materials and tools for manufacturing

Hand harvesters can be made from a plastic canister, metal or plywood. The set of tools directly depends on the base material. So, to work with metal elements you will need:

• hammer;
• metal scissors;
• welding and soldering iron, as well as tin and flux;
• sandpaper;
• pliers;
• chisel;
• drill.

When working with wood, you will need a jigsaw, glue, and self-tapping screws, and for plastic - only scissors and a knife.

Drawings and planning

A hand tool involves several parts that will later be connected to each other. The body parts are drawn on a sheet of Whatman paper or other paper in full size.

There should be a base, two sides, a comb with teeth, a handle and a flap.

Next, we transfer the drawings to the material and make blanks. The lower part is a comb on one side with sharp teeth located at a distance of 5 mm from each other. They are longer than the main body by about a couple of centimeters.

Making a hand harvester

Then all the parts are fastened together. This is done with self-tapping screws, glue or a soldering iron, depending on the main material of manufacture. A canvas bag is secured to the base with thick wire. It will collect berries that got inside the device.

If the product is made of metal, it is better to wrap the handle with several layers of fabric or electrical tape. This way a person will not rub calluses during collection. Plastic models do not require drawings; they are made according to the original dimensions.