John Savage wrote:
=?iso-8859-1?b?SmXfdXM=?= writes:
Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without
spending hundreds (or more) on equipment.

Are you near a city? If so, try ringing those rental places where
you can hire DIY equipment, and see what they have. I think you
need a tennis court roller bristling with hollow spikes: each takes
up a small plug of soil as it passes. It might be a bit of a load to
tow around behind the ride on, though. Besides, it will work wonders
on those abs.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

Sounds similar to those units used on golf courses
Do you know a greenkeeper who could be tempted by 30 pieces of (scrub
that ;-P), substitute a block of 30 of the best?

Failing that, the 44 gallon (sorry, 200 litre) drum sounds reasonable.
That is, provided you cut a slice from a second drum which could be
re-joined to provide a lesser cyclinder - and then to be inserted inside
the first drum. Concrete could be poured between the two. This would
lessen your weight problem.

All the other provisos on axle manufacturer and attachment of spikes do,
of course, stand. Bit of tack welding would get you through ... though
solid welds would be preferred ;-)

Would take time, effort and money (the quantity of the latter depending
of coure depending on your Steptoe qualities and hussling teqniques ;-P
.... and of course availability of materials in your locality.)
avagoodone
And good luck
giovani

PS: the strength of the equipment and that of the spikes (needed) would
of course depend on the soil make-up of your 1.5 acres of lawn. If
soft-ish, you may get way with spikes of reinforcement rod, or better
still, 1/2 inch (oops, should that be 12mm?) pipe. With the hollow
cylinder described above, pipe could be made to allow plugs of soil to
pass through. (Trust that makes sense?)

If "solid clay,a rethink may be necessary; you may need a ripper (or
rippers)

A further consideration would of course be the ultimate proposed use of
the 1.5 acres. Will it be for production of grass for grazing animals,
just to look good .... or perhaps a nice ground for tennis ... or
perhaps even ... croquet?

PPS: plse stop picking on Cliff ;-) He's as straight as they come! :-P
(However cannot confirm his skills in relation to internet access or his
use there-of. Would suggest however, that he does not glitter)