The Vanheraker

The Vanheraker
A very efficient way to help eliminate hand raking of leaves and putting branches into piles, where the idea actually came from a dream, was envisioned and designed by Jim VanHerwynen, CGCS, at the South Hills Golf and Country Club in Fond du Lac, Wis. The seven Union Tools plastic rakes are two feet wide each with squared-off bottoms and they are attached to the plywood with 2-inch muffler clamps and one bolt with washer. The rakes intentionally overhang each end of the plywood so the rakes will not snag. The plywood is positioned at a 30-degree angle and it is lag bolted to a 4 x 4 that is lag bolted to a 2 x 8 plank. The 2 x 8 is then held together to the square metal plate with a “c” clamp to the framework that was already mounted on the Toro Sand Pro. Two large springs from an old mower deck were used to provide resistance when needed. The shovel handles, which raise and lower the rakes, were used ones that were shaved-down and bolted to the square steel tubing arms. The rake is held in the up-position for transporting by simply putting a bolt into the right side of the welded metal framework. One of VanHerwynen’s employees named the rake after his last name. Many of the parts/supplies were in inventory and the rake heads and muffler clamps cost about $80. It took about 4 hours to assemble.