Anyone build a disk, any ideas?

Mith · Jun 22, 2005

After the sucess for the plough on the Wheelhorse and having ploughed most of the garden it stuck me, what now?
Its my belief that after ploughing its common to disk right? So sounds like what I need me is a disk.
So an ideas how to make one, what are they like? Any magical formulas for how many per foot ya da ya? ( planning on 3-4 foot)
Thanks for any help

beenthere · Jun 22, 2005

Do you want to make it all from scratch?

Just blades on an axle, and away you go. The method for pulling the gang of blades is probably the most difficult.

blackd · Jun 22, 2005

Here in the East it is easier and cheaper to find an old disc & repair or modify if needed. New 3-4' discs are fairly inexpensive new. Used they run $50-$200. I am currently using an @ 6' unit made up of 4 individual sections of 6 or 8 discs per unit. I've forgotten which since I haven't seen it in @ month. Buddy paid $200 for it.

Mith · Jun 22, 2005

Beenthere, yes all from scratch.
Is it just circular baldes on an axle, or is ther more to it? Im not sure what you mean about pulling gangs /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif, im an idiot when it comes to this.
thanks

BlackD, guess I could buy one but I am cheap and I cant say I have seen one here. Not sure if I want to spend £50 on it. Dont think many people around here do ploughing/discing thing. Different from the US, smaller land areas. Large plots here are 2-3 acres or 12 acres depending on who you know.
I think they would be expensive, if I could find one atall. Not really a farming are round here.
Apart from all that, not nearly the sanse of achievemnt in buying.

So what about disc spacing, spaced by springs or solid bar, are they just sraight dics or do they have teeth, serrations?
thanks for any info

DMF · Jun 22, 2005

I'd like to build one as well. I have a couple I can use for parts but I'd like certain "features" for mine. I'd like a 7' to 8' wide disk; with a total of four sets of disks two in the front and two in the back. I want to be able to adjust the aggressiveness of the four sets. I'd like the front sets and back sets to be able to pivot independently of each other, but I'd want to lock them in place for transport. Speaking of transport I would like to drive a set of wheels up and down with a hydrualic cylinder. I also would like to build in some good weight holders.

That's about it! Now for any tips etc. I'm all ears. The only advice I've found was that diks should be weighted along the lines of five pounds per disk. On the crappy little disk I currently use I found that five pounds per disk didn't do anything; 10 per disk appears to work OK.

Bob_Skurka · Jun 22, 2005

The only advice I've found was that diks should be weighted along the lines of five pounds per disk. On the crappy little disk I currently use I found that five pounds per disk didn't do anything; 10 per disk appears to work OK. 

I had a small single disc set up years ago, ended up giving it away in a trade. On my hard packed clay soil it bounced over the surface. I had the lovely Mrs_Bob stand on it while I pulled it, didn't seem to help. Concrete blocks didn't help either. At the time I didn't have the HP to put a mother in law on it to try that, but I also didn't want to sink it to China so I traded it away for something I could use.

beenthere · Jun 22, 2005

To give you an idea what parts go into a disc. here is a site that may help you.
http://www.agri-supply.com/

A 'gang' is a set of disc blades on one axle. What I would call a single disc has two gang's, and a double has four.

Blades come in all shapes and sizes, with smooth edge, scalloped, serrated, etc. Most that I am familiar with are dished like a saucer. Not flat like a coulter that cuts ahead of a mouldboard plow share.

Egon · Jun 22, 2005

When talking of using disks successfully you need weight and horsepower.

From another thread:
( ) The biggest concern he had was not having enough headland to turn his tractor and disc around.

One can build their own but by the time all the required components are obtained the price of a purchased one may not be all that much more.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mith · Jun 22, 2005

Beenthere, thanks for the link, got the balde types sorted now, think I know what I need to do too
thanks

Egon, ( When talking of using disks successfully you need weight and horsepower )
I need alot of things I dont have, like a money tree, chocolate, a holiday, but hey /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Im still in the delusion that my 12HP tractor will do it. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

HomeBrew2 · Jun 22, 2005

You might check out discs made for ATV's/garden tractors on the web ... maybe easier to fab/copy than a big one ... disc blades, etc may be cheaper too. Just a thought

Egon · Jun 22, 2005

Mith:

web page

One site for the type of disk you may be looking for that will match 12 hP.

I had a similar one for a 16 HP crftsman tractor with two wheel drive. It was to be used in very sandy soil. Ended up sitting and not used.

Attached a picture of another style of disk.

Egon

( ) web page

twinstackram · Jun 23, 2005

I used to have a 4' brinly that I sold to my buddy,if I was going to build one I always thought it would be cool to have one that would fold up,not much just enough to make it look good,wouldn't that be an eye catcher little compact tractor with a fold up disk.

Mith · Jun 23, 2005

Egon, thanks for the web links, they werre of much help, see pic on my interpretaiton of what i would like to build.

Twinstack, creating something that stands out is what its all about, oh and the bit about practicatlity, whatever that is /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

also i think trailed will suit me best, 2 reasons, the lift on my tractor is a little sketechy and a little hard work (hand operated, the other is hopefully then i might be able to run the plough and tow the harrow behind that, if i made the centre gang in line and the same width as the furrow. Now where did all those spare horsepowers go? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Egon · Jun 23, 2005

For proper tilling the disks must be at an angle to move dirt. For harrowing the angle can be much less.

Any of the pictures shown would work as long as the disk angle can be changed.

Serrated edge disks work better on sod or hard soil.

The drawbar hitch tpe with wheels will be much easier to work with than the three point unless you have to back into tight spots.

If yo go with this project expand it a little so the frame and wheel set are a base unit to which the disks, cultivator shanks or even rake shanks could be attached. Could even set it up for a scrapper bucket and grader blade.

A main frame to which numerous different devices could be attached. Then it's time to go into manufacturing.

Don't worry about spare horses!

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

HomeBrew2 · Jun 23, 2005

An idea worth bootlegging /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Cheers!

Slamfire · Jun 24, 2005

Why do you need a disc. If you just want to harrow a newly plowed garden plot, just pick up an old section harrow. Either spring tooth or spikes will do the job just fine. They come in two sections, and you can rebuild one with the parts scavenged from the other. Just drag it behind with a chain attached to both sides. There will even be an adjustment for the amount of aggression you want. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mith · Jun 26, 2005

Egon - back to the drawing board i guess. Liking the idea about a base unit with attachments, could have a grader balde in between the wheels and hitch, maybe even a mower under there /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Bit more planning maybe.....

Homebrew, looks like a handy tool, 2 things though, as the weight is behind the towed wheels then wouldnt it serve to lift the rear tractor wheels off the ground? also think of the poor battery on this already overburdened tractor, what with the fan, headlights, electic clutches......... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Slamfire - Yep, just harrowing ploughed land. Cant really just pick up a section harrow, despite not having a clue what one is old equipment round here is about a common as rocking horse sh*&. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
You say drag so i got a vision of what one is going, getting the feeling it may not be aggressive enough, imagine im ploughing concrete kinda thing. (as a side note, the plough does a good job in concrete, forgot to lift it and drove out the shed /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif whoops! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

on the side, plow or plough /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Slamfire · Jun 26, 2005

Well here's an outfit in the UK and they have chain or link harrows, for sale. I'd check estate sales or farm equipment auctions or even antique sites/

harrows

have_blue · Jun 26, 2005

( ( To give you an idea what parts go into a disc. here is a site that may help you.) http://www.agri-supply.com/ )

Beenthere,

I was thinking about Agri Supply too, They have all the stuff, and pretty cheap too.

Hey Mith, Agri Supply has everything you need but the frame assembly, brackets, and the 1/2" x 6" carriage bolts. Have fun!

Egon · Jun 26, 2005

Plow --- plough Depends on which side of the pond. Which dictionary or what your mood is.

Sorta like Tyre ---- Tire

Course ther are items like Bonnets -- Hoods

With a wheeled attachement frame you can place an auxilary power unit for electrical or hydraulic on the basic frame. Good source of weight

For harrows you could buy some teeth and bolt them to an angle iron frame.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif