If you're talking about the tool:
* The "a" in "rake" is short: It sounds like the "a" in "cat" or "hat".
If you're talking about the verb "to rake":
* The "a" in "rake" can be either short or long, depending on the context.
For example:
* Short "a": "I rake the leaves every fall." (sounds like "rayk")
* Long "a": "He likes to rake the sand at the beach." (sounds like "ray-k")
So, in the context of the tool, the "a" in "rake" is short. In the context of the verb, it can be either short or long depending on how the word is used.