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Potato fork

  • 12-03-2012 5:55pm
    #1
    Tremone
    Registered Users Posts: 45 ✭


    Hi, I'm looking for a potato fork, it has a bead at the end point of the fork. It's handy for gathering turf mole(if you know what that is). Our local hardware store has one for sale @ €66 which I think is expensive. Anyone know an online store where I could order one?


Comments

  • #2
    blue5000
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,615 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    OP my advice would be buy it local, haggle. Those yokes are as rare as hen's teeth. What county is the shop, it is probably old stock.

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



  • #3
    Bizzum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,034 ✭✭✭Bizzum


    blue5000 wrote: »
    OP my advice would be buy it local, haggle. Those yokes are as rare as hen's teeth. What county is the shop, it is probably old stock.

    Whether you're buying a potato fork or a bead fork for turf, make sure you lay hands on it yourself. Some are that heavy they would kill you to use them and others the lift is wrong (depends on your height etc).


  • #4
    Cardinal Richelieu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,407 ✭✭✭Cardinal Richelieu


    Anyone got a picture of a potato fork? I only used a digging fork or a pitch fork for raking the cut potato tops before digging.


  • #5
    Username John
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,237 ✭✭✭Username John


    We had one or two at home. They were always called a beet pike, not sure why (as beet is much larger and so wouldn't fall through the prongs, but I guess so you wouldn't stab the beet maybe...)

    Anyways - this is more expensive that your local co-op I think (Around 66 sterling) , so probably not much use ;)

    http://www.farmrite.co.uk/product/1310771/Wooden-Potato-Graip-with-32-in-Handle


  • #6
    Rovi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,570 ✭✭✭Rovi


    Beet fork:
    196623.jpg

    Potato fork:
    196622.jpg

    Potato forks have more (closely spaced) tines than beet forks, and are thus heavier.
    Use a beet fork if you can get away with it.

    Ideally, get someone else to use it! :D


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  • #7
    Cardinal Richelieu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,407 ✭✭✭Cardinal Richelieu


    Whats it for? Shoveling storage potatoes? It doesn't look practical for digging with and if you had your spacing right in between rows you shouldn't have too much of a problem with avoiding forking the tubers using an ordinary digging fork.


  • #8
    Rovi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,570 ✭✭✭Rovi


    Yep, these aren't digging forks; they're for shifting bulk in/out of storage, into trailers, etc.


  • #9
    MFdaveIreland
    Registered Users Posts: 588 ✭✭✭MFdaveIreland


    old thread, but has anyone tried to make one at all? im half toying with the idea, some are up on 70-80 euros


  • #10
    Nekarsulm
    Registered Users Posts: 11,191 ✭✭✭✭Nekarsulm


    That's gonna be seriously heavy, Dave. Would you try making the tines from something lighter?
    I'm thinking perhaps the tines from a PZ HayBob gate with a small ball bearing welded on each tip? Or From the tines belonging to an old Vicon Lely side rake, or similar?


  • #11
    MFdaveIreland
    Registered Users Posts: 588 ✭✭✭MFdaveIreland


    @Nekarsulm.

    The bars im using i think were old calf pen bars if im correct in saying.


    Il see what weight is it once the end is welded together and then see what its like on a shaft.
    i think il need to weld steel balls onto the end so not to damage the spuds.


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  • #12
    Kovu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,241 ✭✭✭✭Kovu


    Would a stable fork be a viable alternative? They look rather similar to me anyway!


  • #13
    MFdaveIreland
    Registered Users Posts: 588 ✭✭✭MFdaveIreland


    @Kovu, they sure do, the only thing is that i need the rounded bulbs at the end of the tines that stop you piercing the potatoes when digging.


  • #14
    yellow50HX
    Registered Users Posts: 1,828 ✭✭✭yellow50HX


    MFdaveIreland wrote: »
    @Kovu, they sure do, the only thing is that i need the rounded bulbs at the end of the tines that stop you piercing the potatoes when digging.

    Check on eBay/donedeal. Plenty of lads getting out of spuds. That said the spud fork is really for loading loose spuds into a hopper rather digging into the ground. Very hard to drive the bulged ends with your foot.

    Rather the welding one and then finding it's not right go and buy one instead.


  • #15
    MFdaveIreland
    Registered Users Posts: 588 ✭✭✭MFdaveIreland


    http://www.fanevalleystores.com/product/1310771/potato-graip-with-wooden-handle

    500-500---1310771.jpg

    "Traditional agricultural tool. The perfect tool for digging up your spuds without putting a fork through them. Used by Potato growers for moving and loading the Potato crop.

    Ten rounded prongs allows the crop to be moved undamaged. The useful strap allows substantial weight to be loaded without distorting the fork. 32" wooden handle"


  • #16
    MickeyShtyles
    Registered Users Posts: 1,371 ✭✭✭MickeyShtyles


    We've one in work that I use for leek leaves. If I'm in 2mora i'll getta pic. Tis light enough.


  • #17
    zetecescort
    Registered Users Posts: 5,021 ✭✭✭zetecescort


    you'd lose out on the width but could you try welding a couple of nuts to the ends of a normal fork and grind them round? just an idea, don't know if the weld would take to it.


  • #18
    MFdaveIreland
    Registered Users Posts: 588 ✭✭✭MFdaveIreland


    Hi mickey, just wondering if you got the pic at all? thanks


  • #19
    Qualitymark
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,824 ✭✭✭Qualitymark


    £77 on amazon.co.uk! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bulldog-Premier-Nine-Prong-Potato/dp/B004NT5FIQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1432964014&sr=8-2&keywords=potato+fork
    Fiskar's Classic Potato Fork doesn't even have a price! http://www.fiskars.eu/products/gardening/soil-care-tools/classic-potato-fork-1003693
    Bulldog strapped potato fork $185! http://www.claringtonforge.com/forks/nine-prong-potato-fork

    Sounds like that local shop is offering a good deal.


  • #20
    MickeyShtyles
    Registered Users Posts: 1,371 ✭✭✭MickeyShtyles


    That's the business end of it!


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