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07/30/08, 08:17 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: northern PA
Posts: 121
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pitchfork reccommendations
A couple of years ago I purchased a fork for $35 or $45, I can't remember how much. It has a 4 or 5 inch tang from the tines jammed into the handle. It has become loose and occassionally falls off. I find this really annoying.
We use it to feed hay and to clean out the barn. I like the long handle on it instead of the short handled manure forks I have seen.
Can anyone reccommend a quality fork? I dont mind spending for a tool that will last and not fall apart.
TIA
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07/30/08, 08:24 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,764
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Sorry I can't help, but there are surely some good ones still made by someone. I have seen the ones like you have at yard sales with a hole drilled through the handle just above the fork and baling wired ran from the hole down and around the fork to keep it from falling off. These look old and well used, so I guess it has been a problem for quite a while. 
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07/30/08, 09:24 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Eastern North Carolina
Posts: 34,198
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J B Weld!
Epoxy is your friend
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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07/30/08, 09:39 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,341
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Estate sales are also your friend.
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07/30/08, 10:35 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: South of DFW,TX zone 8a
Posts: 3,554
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soak it in a bucket of water overnight
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"Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness."
Thomas Jefferson to George Washington 1787
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07/30/08, 11:23 PM
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Thats MR. Redneck to you
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 804
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All I asked for for Fathers day a few years ago was a pitch fork, I got it! I was so happy!
After years of use it started to fall apart the same way! I took some nylon string and gorilla glue and made a 'cast' like for a broke arm. I wraped the tines and layed the G glue to it! That has been good for 2 years now but I noticed it is getting a little loose again.
Soaking it in a bucket will help some but I tried that (before) and it was not the answer I needed.
I am going put in a screw and re-nylon string + glue it, I hope for 10 more years!
Mine is an AMES from Wal-mart,, about $20.00
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Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15.
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Ronald Reagan
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08/04/08, 06:34 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Central WI
Posts: 5,399
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Get a new handle. Fairly cheap and if the tang is loose it shouldn't be too hard to switch it out.
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Deja Moo; The feeling I've heard this bull before.
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08/04/08, 06:54 PM
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In Remembrance
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: South Central Kansas
Posts: 11,076
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I find that True Temper tools to be of quality unless that has changed in recent years.
I also agree that Ames should be a good one.
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08/04/08, 07:31 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,764
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I bought an off brand shovel at Big Lots that looked pretty good and was cheap. Thought it would be a good extra one to keep around the place. The first time I tried to shove it in the ground, the blade bent in half.
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08/04/08, 08:26 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: southern CA
Posts: 1,174
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My favorite pitchfork is an antique I picked up at a garage sale. It has 3 tines and is the easiest I've found to work with for moving well-used straw. My other forks with more tines just can't seem to slide into the straw as well.
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08/04/08, 08:35 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ozark foothills, Mo
Posts: 1,051
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the old folks
Called the 4n5 tined forks manure forks the 3 tined ones pitchforks or occasionally a hayfork..:-)
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08/06/08, 10:14 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 31
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Also try the local dump. I found a beautiful old pitchfork there for free.
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08/06/08, 11:10 AM
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Green Woman
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Indiana - North Central
Posts: 1,955
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I fixed my 3 tiner (I LOVE 3 tiners) by drilling a hole in the wood handle, weaving a piece of electric fence wire around the tines and through the hole and then twisting it tight. Still a bit loose, but it's held like that for over 5 years.
Most pitchforks are just jammed into the handle... Really hard to keep them in there...
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08/06/08, 12:09 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: PA
Posts: 5,780
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I've turned my hand tools like that upside down and poured oil into the hole and allow it to soak into the wood.. This re-swells the wood fibers and grips the metal tang tightly. In cases where the wood was so worn I've drilled a hole like the post above..
PS: I don't use a lot of oil just enough till it swells up...
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08/06/08, 01:16 PM
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Keeping the Dream Alive
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hunter Valley NSW AUSTRALIA
Posts: 1,270
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Down here the pitchforks dont have a tang: The tines are welded to the base of a 'U' shaped piece of steel, about 15" long, that the handle fits into, somewhat like a good spade.
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BIDADISNDAT: Aiming to Live a Good Life of Near Self Sufficiency on a Permaculture Based Organic Home Farm
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08/06/08, 02:29 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Utah
Posts: 945
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Preventative maintenance
Go get a new handle. It will never stay tight now.
To prevent the new handle from loosening, drill a 3/8" hole, 1 1/2" deep, in the butt end of the handle. Fill it about 3/4 full of raw linseed oil. Pound a cork, flush, into the hole to seal it. Then Stand it in the sun for a few days. The oil will start to wick its way down the handle. Your handle will be slightly oily for the next few weeks. Thats why I use raw linseed oil instead of petroleum base oils.
Drill the cork out every couple years and refill the hole. Then replace the cork.
The oil also keeps the wood grain from lifting, which would promote blisters.
I am using a pitchfork that is outside, and has been outside for more than 25 years. Same handle. Haven't had to reset the handle yet.
Now watch. I've said how long its been working. It'll start loosening tomorrow.
This works well for hammer handles also.
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That which is tolerated by the first generation is magnified in the next.
CIW
Last edited by CIW; 08/06/08 at 02:32 PM.
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08/07/08, 02:28 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,510
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I'll also go along with those that say estate sales. I have a very nice old manure forl with 5 or 6 tines. It's ancient and works great. Very strong even though the handle needs some sanding and the wood needs to be treated again since it got left out over the winter by some careless person who shall not be mentioned.
I bought a new one (since my old one had gone missing) at I believe Lowes or Menards. it was the best they had in the store. Got it home and I promptly broke a tine off and a week or so later the fork broke right at the handle. Absolute junk. Same thing with the "union" brand shovel i bought the same day. It's about as useful as a teaspoon for digging and I've just relegated the thing to burn barrel stirring. I leave the wretched thing laying out by the burn barrel half hoping it'll catch fire some day.
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Respect The Cactus!
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08/07/08, 07:49 AM
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Green Woman
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Indiana - North Central
Posts: 1,955
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*sigh* Australia...
someday....
sounds like they are smarter than us besides! WHO invented a pitchfork with a dumb square tang anyway?
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