SSam and I have used these rakes for about 10 years now and have found they significantly increase your berry picking ability. It will take a little practice to use them efficiently, but you won't be disappointed you got them by the time it saves hand picking. We estimate that it takes about 2-4 hours of use before you get the feel for how to use them. Generally speaking, the larger the rake, the more time it saves you. then using a slanted board to run the berries down to separate out twigs, steams, and other unwanted stuff. The sand cherries, however, are mostly there to stay. :)You will also collect a number of leaves, twigs, and perhaps sand cherries while using the rakes. We recommend winnowing to remove a large percentage of the leaves, then using a slanted board to run the berries down to separate out twigs, steams, and other unwanted stuff. The sand cherries, however, are mostly there to stay. :)