Best harrow rake? Does brand matter?

[wsmoak]

Looks like I will finally be getting the arena finished this year! We’re keeping it simple, just leveling the sandy clay that’s already here and adding some M10 [decomposed granite]. The installer agreed that a harrow rake would be the best thing to keep it smooth, used with the flat side down to avoid opening up the “base” such as it is, which would encourage grass to grow.

One of these: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641648_200641648

Will I regret buying a cheap one from Northern Tool / Tractor Supply or should I get a better quality one? If so, which one?

Thanks!
-Wendy

[goodhors]

Check the weight on each, go with the heavier one. You want bigger gauge steel in the links and teeth. Heavier steel wears better, keeps it’s shape better if you snag on things like a gate post, plus holds the chain of harrow down more for better smoothing, dirt distribution while dragging.

I had a light chain harrow, made me have to repeat dragging over the same places twice or more to smooth things well. I sold that one, kept the TSC chain harrow which does a better job in one pass. TSC has them on sale in today’s sale fler, sale starts on the 12th I think. Some percentage off, which saves youa few dollars. No shipping if there is a TSC near you to shop at.

I have used my chain harrow pretty hard over the years, still is in good shape because it is the heavy steel. I consider it an essential tool here, very versitile in its usefulness to me.

[seabreeze]

I just bought the one from TSC to tame some spots in the pasture where the horses have created divots by tearing around at warp speed during the wet winter. It didn’t work. Just isn’t heavy enough to dig deep enough to really make a difference.

However, it did help me fix a problem in the driveway. I have a long, gravel driveway. I was getting ready to have it “resurfaced” with crushed asphalt and had had it scraped to even out the base. The day after I had it scraped, before the asphalt came, of course, we had a monsoon (about 3-4" of rain from a heavy nor’easter). And I had to drive in and out a few times, so I dug nice tracks into my freshly scraped driveway. After one day, when it had dried up quite a bit, I used the drag harrow up and down the driveway several times to even out the ruts. I worked it on both sides–tines down and flat. Did a good job without digging in very deep.

[ASB_Stars]

I have that harrow, and I’ve used it for years. You will wear the teeth down, and need to replace it, at some point. I have mine weighted down with a heavy piece of lumber on it, and it does even better that way, but I am also aware that will wear it out sooner. In my case, I still wind up having to move some footing around every year, that the drag just can’t handle, but for day in and out, it is great.

[Jarpur]

We’ve got the flexible tine harrow from TSC, and it’s worked for our sand arena for a dozen years or so.

[goodhors]

As mentioned, you can add weight if the teeth or flat side just isn’t working for you. I use tires for weight, tie them onto the chain part to make teeth quite agressive for smoothing disced dirt with winter hoof marks in my fields. Does a good job so ground is not rough anymore, grass grows right back in for grazing. Tires also hold the smooth side of chain harrow down to smooth off the barnyard mud for faster drying and filling in hoof holes too.