Pitchforks

[Silvercreek Farmer]

So I bought a China made (yeah, I know) fiberglass handle pitch fork (5 tine)a few months ago. Worked great for moving mulch, but then I tried to use if on some heavily compacted manure and broke one of the tines off. I welded it back on, but spring steel does not weld well, so the next time I used it the steel just broke off a little further down. Is there a good American or European made pitch fork out there with a lifetime warranty that would hold up, or should I be using a spading fork instead (which I have)? I just like the fact that it doesn't take a lot of down pressure to get the narrower tines on the pitch fork into the compacted material compared to the spading fork.

[Old Vet]

Originally Posted by Matthew Lindsay

So I bought a China made (yeah, I know) fiberglass handle pitch fork (5 tine)a few months ago. Worked great for moving mulch, but then I tried to use if on some heavily compacted manure and broke one of the tines off. I welded it back on, but spring steel does not weld well, so the next time I used it the steel just broke off a little further down. Is there a good American or European made pitch fork out there with a lifetime warranty that would hold up, or should I be using a spading fork instead (which I have)? I just like the fact that it doesn't take a lot of down pressure to get the narrower tines on the pitch fork into the compacted material compared to the spading fork.

You can overload anything. I have broke times on an American made pitchfork before. When I was using it if it got too heavy to move easily I used a spading fork but now I have a spading fork with a broke tine.

[DamnearaFarm]

The absolute BEST pitchfork we have for shovelin'.... poop is an old coal pitchfork. I bought mine years ago, probably at a yard sale. You shoulda seen the look on the seller's face when they asked what I was gonna decorate with it- I told them I didn't buy tools to look at, I bought 'em to USE.

[Twp.Tom]

Sears hand tools (Craftsman Brand) ,are guaranteed for life.I have returned many over the years, broken handles etc., no problem.Even my garden hoses are Craftsman,returned them too when they leaked.

[rambler]

Old farm sales are a good source?

Keep pitch forks out of fires, as well. They are handy for raking stuff into a fire & so forth, but it will take the temper out of the tines. Dad had a fork with one tine broken, it was the dedicated 'fire fork' and we were lectured to not ever use any other fork around a fire...

--->Paul

[FarmboyBill]

I bought 2 hay 3 tine forks when I ws a kid. Broke the handles in both of them by the time I was 21. That was in makeing loose hay. Still have them with there 3ft or 4 handles.

[RonM]

I have probably worn out a couple or more over my lifetime.....dont overload them....

[am1too]

I broke the darn handle in my good fork cause it got stuck in a trailer floor. Where could I find a good handle for for it. I've looked everywhere, I think.

[ronbre]

i have always picked mine up at garage sales..for $1 or so

[MrsFarmerWilly]

I think the brand I'm using is Razorback. It's pretty tough. I also peel off old stuff in layers, easier on the fork and on me.

Farmer Willy--on the Mrs. Laptop and account

[HeelSpur]

Originally Posted by ronbre

i have always picked mine up at garage sales..for $1 or so

Same here, if they are a decent price I'll buy them whether I need them or not. In time I will use them.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Where to find a good spading fork?

I found this old thread on spading forks and think I am going to get a steel handled Lee Valley fork for for heavy stuff, weld my fork one more time and just keep it for lighter work.

[Karenrbw]

I second the info on farm sales. You can probably get a 45 year old pitchfork that will outlast everything at the local hardware store. My grandma is still using the same yard tools that my granddad made for her before he retired and he is almost 94.