OX Tools Pro Rakes
OX Pro flooring rake tools help you spread screed and self levelling compound properly, so you are not fighting high spots, hollows, and wasted material.
If you're pouring compound across a big floor, this is one of those bits of kit that saves time straight away. An ox pro flooring rake is made for pulling out self levelling and screed to a consistent depth before it starts going off, which matters on refurbs, shopfits, and larger domestic pours. Pair it with OX Pro flooring tools and buy the width that matches the room size and how quickly your mix is moving.
What Are OX Pro Flooring Rakes Used For?
- Spreading self levelling compound across prepared concrete and timber subfloors lets you pull material out fast before it starts tightening up around doorways and edges.
- Setting screed depth on larger rooms helps keep the floor more even, so you are not chasing ridges and low patches when the pour has already started to cure.
- Working refurbishment jobs with awkward corners and service runs is easier with an ox pro floor rake because you can guide wet material around obstacles without trampling through it.
- Levelling compound before final finishing cuts down the amount of trowel correction needed afterwards, which saves time on shopfits, kitchen refits, and fast turnaround commercial work.
Choosing the Right OX Pro Flooring Rake
Sorting the right one is simple: match the rake to the material, the pour size, and how tight the working area is.
1. Self Levelling Compound or Screed
If you are mainly pulling self levelling compound, an ox pro self leveling rake gives you controlled spread without dragging too much material. If you are working heavier screed, go for a setup that can cope with thicker material and rougher handling.
2. Rake Width
If you are in small rooms, toilets, or tight refurbs, do not go too wide or you will just fight the walls and waste time. For open floor areas, a wider ox pro floor rake covers more ground and helps you stay ahead of the set.
3. Adjustable Depth
If the job needs a consistent build across the whole floor, pick a rake with proper depth control. That matters most on levelling pours where one heavy pass can leave you with extra sanding, extra topping up, or a floor finish that shows every dip.
4. Handle and Site Abuse
If it is only for the odd small domestic patch, most decent rakes will do. If it is in and out of the van every week on commercial prep jobs, buy the one with a solid handle and head that will not loosen off after a few pours.
Who Uses These on Site?
- Floor layers use an ox pro flooring rake to pull self levelling compound to a set depth before smoothing, especially on prep work ahead of vinyl, laminate, and LVT.
- Screeders reach for an ox pro screed rake on wider pours where keeping the bed even early on saves a lot of grief later with straightedges and finishing tools.
- General builders and refurb teams keep one handy for kitchen rip-outs, extensions, and room knock-throughs where subfloors need sorting properly before the final floor goes down.
- Tilers use them when flattening uneven substrates because getting the compound spread right first time means less correction before adhesive and tile setting starts.
The Basics: Understanding Flooring Rakes
A flooring rake is there to move wet material quickly and set an even depth before you finish it. The key is not fancy technique. It is controlling the spread while the mix is still workable.
1. Spreading Before It Starts to Go Off
Once self levelling compound or screed is down, the rake helps you pull it across the floor fast so you are not left with heaps in one spot and bare patches in another. That keeps the pour manageable and cuts down panic on bigger areas.
2. Pin or Depth Settings Matter
On self levelling jobs, the point of a pin rake is to control depth as you spread. That gives you a more even bed and stops you dumping too much material where you do not need it.
3. It Is Not the Final Finish
The rake gets the material where it needs to be. Final smoothing and checking still matter, especially around thresholds, corners, and changes in level where poor prep shows up once the floor finish goes down.
Accessories to Keep Flooring Jobs Moving
A rake does the spreading, but these are the bits that stop the whole pour turning into a rushed, messy job.
1. OX Pro mixing paddles
Get the mix right before it hits the floor. A proper paddle helps avoid lumps, dry pockets, and compound that goes off unevenly, which is the sort of mistake you only make once on a big pour.
2. OX Pro trowels
You will want a trowel for edges, touch-ins, and awkward spots the rake cannot finish cleanly. It saves you trying to force a wide head into corners and making more mess than progress.
3. OX Pro spirit levels
Checking the floor as you go stops you finding out too late that one side has dropped or a threshold is sitting proud. A level is a simple fix for a problem that gets expensive once cured.
4. OX Pro tape measures
Measure the area properly and check build depths before you pour. That helps with material take-off, set-out, and stopping you from mixing too little or far too much for the room.
Choose the Right OX Pro Flooring Rake for the Job
Pick the rake by room size, material type, and how accurate the depth needs to be.
| Your Job | Rake or Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Small domestic patching and room prep | Narrow ox pro floor rake | Easier control in tight spaces, better around doorways, less drag near walls. |
| Large self levelling pours | Ox pro self leveling rake | Fast coverage, controlled spread, depth guidance to keep the bed more consistent. |
| Heavier screed work | Ox pro screed rake | Handles thicker material better and stands up to rougher use on bigger floor areas. |
| Commercial refurbs with open floor space | Wider ox pro flooring rake | Covers more ground quickly and helps you stay ahead of the curing time. |
Common Buying and Usage Mistakes
- Buying a rake that is too wide for the rooms you actually work in just slows you down around walls, pipework, and thresholds. Match the head width to the floor area, not the biggest room you might do once.
- Using a flooring rake as the whole finishing process leaves ridges and uneven edges. Use it to spread and control depth, then finish properly where the floor needs tidying and checking.
- Starting the pour without sorting your mix and tools first wastes the short working time of self levelling compound. Get your buckets, paddle, rake, and finishing tools ready before the first mix goes down.
- Ignoring depth control leads to high spots, low spots, and extra compound use. Set the rake to the job and keep checking the floor rather than guessing by eye.
Flooring Rakes vs Trowels vs Straightedges
Flooring Rakes
Best for moving wet screed or self levelling compound quickly across the floor and getting depth under control early. If you are covering area fast, this is the tool you start with.
Trowels
Better for edges, touch-ins, and local finishing where a rake is too broad. They are slower over large areas but far more useful around corners, thresholds, and detail work.
Straightedges
Used for checking and ruling off levels rather than dragging out loads of wet material. Good for accuracy, but they do not replace a proper ox pro flooring rake on active pours.
Maintenance and Care
Clean It Straight After the Pour
Do not leave compound or screed drying on the head. Once it sets, you will spend longer chipping it off than cleaning it properly in the first place.
Check Pins and Depth Settings
If the rake uses pins or adjustable settings, make sure nothing is bent, clogged, or loose before the next job. Small errors here show up across the whole floor.
Store It Dry
Chuck it back in the van wet and you will end up with corrosion, seized fixings, and a head covered in old residue. Let it dry and keep it where it will not get bent under other kit.
Replace When the Head Stops Running True
If the head is bent or the adjustment no longer holds properly, stop fighting it. A damaged rake will keep leaving uneven spreads, and that costs more than replacing the tool.
Why Shop for OX Pro Flooring Rakes at ITS?
Whether you need a single ox pro flooring rake for levelling compound work or want to build out your full floor prep kit, we stock the proper range in one place. That includes the wider OX Pro mixing paddles and finishing kit trades actually use, all held in our own warehouse and ready for next day delivery.
OX Pro Flooring Rake FAQs
What is a flooring rake used for?
A flooring rake is used to spread self levelling compound or screed across a floor at a more even depth before finishing. On site, it is the bit that helps you move material quickly without leaving thick heaps in one area and thin patches in another.
What is a pin rake for self levelling compound?
A pin rake for self levelling compound uses adjustable pins or guides to control how much material you are leaving behind as you pull it through. That matters when you need a consistent build, especially on bigger pours where guessing by eye usually ends badly.
Are OX Pro flooring tools any good?
Yes, OX Pro flooring tools are well regarded because they are built for trade use rather than one-off DIY jobs. They are the sort of tools that stand up to van life, repeated pours, and rough handling, provided you clean them properly after use.
How do you use a screed rake?
You use a screed rake by setting the depth you want, pouring the material, then pulling it steadily across the floor to spread it out evenly. The trick is to work methodically and stay ahead of the curing time, not keep going back over areas once the material starts to tighten.
What tools do you need for floor screeding?
For floor screeding, you would normally want a rake for spreading, a straightedge for ruling off, a trowel for finishing details, and a level for checking the surface. If you are mixing on site, a proper paddle matters as well, and you can round out the kit with OX Pro spirit levels and OX Pro trowels.
Will an ox pro floor rake cope with bigger commercial pours?
Yes, if you choose the right width and keep the pour organised. For larger open areas, a wider rake helps you cover ground quickly, but you still need enough labour and mixed material ready so the floor does not start going off before you finish spreading.
Do I need a separate rake for screed and self levelling compound?
Not always, but it depends on the material and the finish you need. Self levelling jobs benefit from more controlled depth adjustment, while heavier screed can be harder on the tool, so if you do both regularly it is worth choosing each one for the proper job.
