"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...

"SteveB" toquerville@zionvistas wrote in message
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I was out scrounging today at a location where they abandoned a dirt
operation. I was looking for plate and screen. I found a lot of both,
particularly industrial screen that I now can make a hefty sifter to
separate fine soil from the local rocks.

What I did find were a dozen 40" diameter collars. They are galvanized
steel, and use two allthread devices to suck them up. They were intended
to join two large sections of galvanized pipe together. They are 16"
wide, so they are perfect for tree rings. Having the split in them, just
pull them apart, go around they tree, and bolt them together.

Two of them stacked would make one perfect raised bed.

Scrounging can be a good thing.


Shonuff

Around here split tractor tyres are used in a similar way. You cut
through the side wall on both sides and take out the middle, which is
easier than it sounds.

David

Holy crap, does that bring back memories. As a commercial diver, we would
sometimes have to get tires out of boat propellers. And I'm talking about
semi truck tires and propellers that were many feet in diameter. AND
working in water where you could not see your hand in front of your face.
Sometimes, we were able to get them out with come alongs, or hooking another
boat to it, and pulling in the right spot. But it was hazardous, as one
could pull out the entire shaft. About 80% went to the drydock, or partial
where they would sling the rear of the boat and lift it enough to cut the
tire, which took hours. THE absolute worst thing to get caught in a prop.

Steve