Rinieri Finger Weeder: the high-speed tool for mechanical weed control
The Rinieri Finger Weeder, or Fingerhacke, is a revolutionary, high-speed, and low-maintenance tool for mechanical weed control, specifically designed for use in vineyards, orchards, and other row crops. This innovative implement, often mounted on our versatile TOOL HOLDER BIO-DYNAMIC or TOOL HOLDER TURBO EVO frames, provides a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to chemical herbicides, ensuring clean under-row management. Rinieri has been manufacturing Finger Weeder equipment since 2017.
Understanding the Finger Weeder Technology
A Finger Weeder is a specialized tool used for controlling weeds in orchards and vineyards. What sets it apart is its unique combination of components and its entirely mechanical operation. The machine is essentially a combination tool, featuring:
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Front Discs (Rollhacke): These toothed discs break up the soil immediately ahead of the star. They prepare the ground by moving the soil outwards, which is crucial in heavier or more compacted soil types.
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Rear Biostar (Finger Weeder Star, Fingerhacke): This is the core of the system—a large, rotating star with rubber fingers and steel teeth at the centre. The central steel teeth engage with the soil to drive the rotation, while the durable rubber fingers gently yet effectively work the soil to uproot and cover weeds right up to the base of the plant.
The machine operates purely mechanically, requiring no hydraulic motors or complicated feeler bars. Both the front discs and the rear star are activated by contact with the ground. This means the faster the tractor travels, the quicker these tools rotate. This mechanism is what allows the finger weeder to achieve very high operating speeds. The rear Biostar should pass very close to the plant trunk to ensure maximum effectiveness without damage.
Product Range: Choose Your Finger Weeder
We offer a vast range of configurations to adapt to every planting layout and soil type. Here are our flagship models:
Key Benefits and High-Speed Performance
What are the benefits of using a finger weeder? The main advantages of using the Rinieri Finger Weeder are the high working speed and the consequent low operational cost for maintaining controlled weed growth in vineyards and orchards. It is primarily a maintenance tool, excellent for keeping the under-row area clean with frequent, quick passes. It is highly recommended to use the finger weeder after an initial pass with a blade, rotary harrow, or disc harrow to break up the soil, especially in spring.
What is the optimal speed for using a finger weeder? The speed is one of the most significant features of this tool. Since it is not an inter-row weeder with a sensitive feeler bar, it allows for exceptionally fast operation, with working speeds of 10 to 15 km/h being easily achievable. This makes it an ideal choice for large-scale operations and contractors looking to save time and reduce labour costs, though it is suitable for all farm sizes.
What crops are finger weeders used for? The Finger Weeder is highly effective for weed control in:
- Vineyards
- Orchards
- Blueberry farms
- Intensive olive groves
- Hazelnut groves
Models, Soil Types, and Setup
The Rinieri system is highly customizable, we offer different types of finger weeder:
- Front Disc Configuration: Available with 2, 3, or up to 4 front discs.
- Star Diameter: We offer stars in diameters of 54 cm (21 in) , 70 cm (27 in), and 95 cm (37 in).
- Rubber Hardness: The stars come in three different rubber hardnesses, indicated by colour:
- Yellow (Soft): Recommended for sandy or very loose soils.
- Red (Hard): Recommended for heavy, clay, or red soils.
- Orange (Medium): The 95 cm (37 in) diameter star is available in this intermediate hardness, suitable for various soil conditions.
How do finger weeders perform in different soil types? The performance depends on the soil:
- Sandy/Loose Soil: The Finger Weeder can be used directly on the ground.
- Heavy/Clay/Red Soil: You must first use a different implement (like a blade or ripper) in the spring to break up the soil (disodare) before using the finger weeder for subsequent second or third passes.
Crucially, the effectiveness of the Finger Weeder is limited by weed height; it cannot be used if the weeds are taller than approximately 10 centimetres (6 in).
How do I set up a finger weeder? Setup involves adjusting the angle of the tools:
- The front disc is typically rotated 10–15 degrees relative to the direction of travel to ensure it helps to hill up the soil (rincalzi) around the plants.
- The rear Biostar is generally given a 10-degree inclination towards the plants.
The machine can be used in hilly terrain and is effective in fields with raised seedbeds due to the tilt adjustment available on the head.
Compatibility, Maintenance, and Tractor Requirements
For use a finger weeder your tractor requires minimal hydraulic connections, typically 1 or 2 quick couplings depending on whether you are using a single or double model. These connections are used to control the machine's side shift and the working tool's tilt and inclination adjustments.
The Rinieri Bio-dynamic tool holder frames are designed to be multi-functional. The same frame can be used to mount other inter-row tools, such as the swing arm mower for cutting the grass; the suckering unit heads in three different versions: a small one head with low profile for water systhem SRC - SUCKER REMOVERS ;a standard head (SRV - SUCKER REMOVERS), or a long-wire weeder (SRL - SUCKER REMOVER ) making the investment highly flexible. For these working heads we need different request of oil from tractor, from 30-35 to 45 depending if is single or double equipment.
How do I maintain a finger weeder? Maintenance is very limited.
- The front discs can be replaced once they wear down, which typically takes years of use.
- The rubber fingers on the star are replaceable in square sectors, should they hit rocks or be damaged by contact with plants/posts.
- The average lifespan of the star is long, as it rotates purely through ground contact rather than a powered motor, resulting in very low wear in optimal soil conditions without excessive stones.
Can finger weeders be used on young plants? No. It is crucial to wait 3-4 years after planting a vineyard before using this type of machine.
What is the optimal row spacing for finger weeder use? We offer various models that adapt to a wide range of row widths: from a minimum of 160 cm up to 450 cm (5.25 - 14.76 ft) for single-sided machines, and from a minimum of 140 cm up to 360cm (4.59 ft to 11.81 ft) for double-sided machines. Because the tool works by passing close to the plants without a complex feeler-bar system, the exact spacing is flexible within these ranges.
For the latest and best-in-class solutions, Rinieri has been importing and manufacturing this type of machinery since 2017, using Biostar technology originally developed by Kult, a pioneer in the field. Our wide range of suckering unit products, like the SRC - LOW PROFILE SUCKER REMOVER ON BIO-DYNAMIC FRAME and SRL - SUCKER REMOVER ON BIO-DYNAMIC, alongside the finger weeder, ensures you have the right tool for every aspect of under-row management.