Sawmill and Timber

Everything else! => Off the Topic! => Topic started by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on April 28, 2018, 04:35:49 PM

alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description alt image description
Title: Spring Time and "Other" Tasks turn into repair
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on April 28, 2018, 04:35:49 PM
Since we are a diverse group of individuals...

Spring this year has been quite busy.  The rain hasn't helped make getting outside chores done.  Just about the time the ground dries enough for doing farm work, it rains again.

Fortunately, the past few days have allowed me to do some soil management for our hay fields... Sub-Soiling.  These were reclaimed when we purchased our property from the brush/briers that had taken root.  Many days to get them to the point of being clean enough for hay equipment.  Over the years, the production of said fields has been dropping. 

No, we have not limed/fertilized, ever.  Doubtful they have had anything in recent history (30 yrs+).

I figured no point in even thinking about investing in lime/fertilzer until the water could get into this hard packed clay.  So, being the frugal individual I am I've been using the rippers on my box blade to accomplish this task.  Yes, I know... not exactly the right tool for the job, BUT, it will accomplish breaking the soil to a certain extent.

Years ago, "King Kutter" brand implements had a decent reputation.  For the average person, build quality was very acceptable and durable.  Blades, Brush Hogs, etc. all held up to normal use/abuse.  Decent materials and welds were sound.

BUYER BEWARE:  King Kutter IS NOT what it used to be.  Recent purchase of a newer box blade for the task of sod bustin' revealed broken COLD WELDS.  So cold that the grinder marks for prepping prior to welding were still present.  In appearence, it looked to be just as good as my old and very worn one from probably 20+ years.

Of a total of 17" of weld on on side of the 3 pt pin mount, ONLY 4" of weld had actually penetrated.  The remaining weld only "stuck" to one peice.  This resulted in a HUGE breakage of the side with now extensive repairs needed.  The steel frame itself appears to be quite brittle much like Canadian Steel vs. good ole' USA mild steel.

FIL's 5ft King Kutter Brush Hog of only one year of use has shown similiar quality problems.  Materials are MUCH thinner and again, cheap Canadian "like" steel.  Doesn't bend, it cracks/breaks.  Not abused, just used to mow pastures.

Just putting it out there on this product and probably many others.  A friendly FYI so to say.

This is part of getting farm work done... things break.  But I hate it when breakage is due to poor workmanship and materials.  I "use" my equipment and implements, but never try to tear stuff up.  To expensive to repair, whether with parts and/or time.

Anyhow, hope others are able to glean something useful from my misfortune.   ;)

 

Title: Re: Spring Time and "Other" Tasks turn into repair
Post by: joasis on April 29, 2018, 07:50:15 AM
I just bought a brush "shredder", an oversized, heavy, hydraulic motor unit that attaches to my T200 Bobcat. The use will be for clearing away the undergrowth in our woods and grind the debris, as opposed to cutting and piling up for burning. Lots of price differences in the machines, and I went with one that is a few thousand less then the closest competitor, but took the time to ask guys that had bought one what they thought.

We will see...cheap vs. high dollar.
Title: Re: Spring Time and "Other" Tasks turn into repair
Post by: Ox on April 29, 2018, 09:37:39 AM
I've heard about the cheapening down of implements, but this is too much. 

Are you going to fix or return? 

I've always been of the mindset that if you can find them, the older stuff is better.  There's brush hogs out there that are sound but have swiss cheese for top plate.  A couple hours in the shop with some sheet steel and a welder and all is well again.  Much of the time these things are put away with chaff covering them and then just sit there and rot away over the years.  This is one reason we used to always paint our haywagons with old oil and make sure they're swept out before parking.

It's a shame you got such a bad deal.  Thanks for warning us.
Title: Re: Spring Time and "Other" Tasks turn into repair
Post by: Cutting Edge Saw Svc. on April 30, 2018, 03:39:19 AM
Ox,

No returning this one.  It was purchased "used", but other than a tiny bit of fading to the paint it was in "like new" condition.  Nothing in it's appearance or condition led me to believe that there were any problems.

The newer King Kutter Yellow paint scheme should've been a heads up... Lemon.   ???  The older (IMO Better) equipment had the blue paint scheme.

I will give credit where it is due... The scarifers/rippers in the newer one are MUCH better compared to my old blade.  Old ones were clearly made from CNC torch cut Mild Steel and have slowly bent backwards over the years.  The new ones must be made from a spring steel of some grade.   ::)

I'll be fixing it.  Just have to figure out when.  Looks like this week will be our first around here without rain/mud.  Shoot, had snow squalls 1-1/2-2 weeks ago.  Got sawing jobs that I'd dearly like to get done.

Title: Re: Spring Time and "Other" Tasks turn into repair
Post by: Ox on April 30, 2018, 09:46:51 AM
Snow?  This morning I'm looking out at 1 1/2" of new snow.  It's snowing lightly as we speak.  It won't stay around for long, but just the fact it's snowing the day before May has me puckered up.

It's good to know the rippers are better, but having to go around and re-weld the factory welds is just....disheartening.