Spin Spreader as a Topdresser?

[Yankee]

Looking over the specs for 3ph spin broadcast spreaders, most advertise that they can handle sand. How about other topdressing material, like compost or even manure? Or will these only handle flowing material, even with an agitator? I'd sure like to be able to do it myself instead of contracting it out, if possible. Anyone know? Alternatively, how do folks spread topdressing without something like a manure spreader?

Bill

 

[MadDog]

The manual for my 3ph broad spreader talks about fine, medium and coarse GRANULAR material but not about chunky and (in the case of my compost, at least) moist material.

I haven't tried to spread compost or manure with it but I doubt that it would do a satisfactory job of spreading either, even assuming that it didn't, as I think likely, just clog up the mechanism and possibly damage the machine. Either way, it would probably be more of a mess then a help.

I'd be glad to be proven wrong, though, since I use both homemade compost and rotted manure that I bring in from farms and I don't want to go to the expense of a manure spreader either.

 

[Yankee]

I just don't have the acreage to justify a spreader, unless I got one REAL cheap at auction. Somehow I just know that contracting out topdressing is going to be expensive, though.

Bill