On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:59:27 +1100, terryc wrote:

On Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:38:37 +0000, Jeßus wrote:


Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this
without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment.

Any good ideas on building something to do the job perhaps? I have a
ride- on and ATV to tow any such gadget around if need be.

Buy or make something to tow behind your ride on tractor.

The latter is what I had in mind.

All the buying I have done this year has got to stop, need to DIY where
possible... it's been a very expensive year for me.

It really is a case of a drum filled with concrete with spikes, or a
length of pipe.

If you could lay your hands on some steel pipe, you could weld some
heavy nails to it.

Simplest axle is large pipe through middle of concrete with thinner pipe
inside and you weld the two arms ofthe tow hitch to the thinner pipe.

Alternatively, look for a old vehicle-towed trailer and scavenge the
axle and hubs from that, although about $AUS60 would buy you a pair of
replacement trailer hubs from the cheap auto places.

I would hesitate to suggest a 44gal drum as that is a lot of concrete.
might be better with something like a 20Litre or slightly bigger drum
and just tow it every time you mow.

Thanks Terry, there are some good ideas there.

I did think of something drum-like in shape with spikes, but as you
mentioned, a 44gal drum will end up weighing too much - unless I use
something lighter than concrete. But plenty food for thought there, for
sure. I'll keep an eye out for something like a 44gal drum, only smaller
diameter.

I hope you are not removing the cut grass, but leaving it as a mulch.

Oh yes indeed I am.

That said, I bought this property in July this year, I strongly suspect
the previous owners were removing the cuttings. Bugger-all organic matter
visible.

you could also add other material as mulch thinly spread. This is how I
recover bare patches under my trees and feed my lawn. I get large
trailer loads of show rabbit bedding delivered from a breeder, which I
thinly spread over the lawn each load, amongst other places.

I'd suggest bales of rice husks, but given the major slump in our rice
harvest, they are probably hard to find and rather expensive. (Nearly a
decade since SWMBO was raising cute bunnies).

I have a small spreader due to arrive any time now, the type that can be
towed behind a ride-on or ATV. With this I planned to sow the seed, some
fertiliser.

I also discovered a lifetime's supply of sawdust, from a sawmill that
shut down 40 years ago.

I've been grabbing truck loads of it for use as mulch primarily around
the fencline, where there are trees and shrubs. It is well and truly
broken down and not acidic. I was thinking of adding this to the spreader
every time I mow the grass, just to help build up some organic matter.

Aside from the 'lawn' areas, the soil here is very good indeed.

sigh, off to delivery four kittens to the pound, then buy lots of
chocolate for SWMBO to console her)

Oh bugger... good luck with that.

On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:39:13 +0000, Jeßus wrote:

Simplest axle is large pipe through middle of concrete with thinner pipe
inside and you weld the two arms ofthe tow hitch to the thinner pipe.

Another idea came to mind if you can weld; old bicycles; the bottom
bracket from cheap bicycles. Real cheap little kids bikes have a plastic
plug beaing, or the o peiece bmx axle can be adaped. Thinkng you might
score some during the summer clean out, especially when kids get upgraded
bicycles for christmas.


I would hesitate to suggest a 44gal drum as that is a lot of concrete.
might be better with something like a 20Litre or slightly bigger drum
and just tow it every time you mow.

Thanks Terry, there are some good ideas there.

I did think of something drum-like in shape with spikes, but as you
mentioned, a 44gal drum will end up weighing too much - unless I use
something lighter than concrete. But plenty food for thought there, for
sure. I'll keep an eye out for something like a 44gal drum, only smaller
diameter.

alternaively, if you bolt offcuts of poly around the axle or outside, you
can lesson the amount of concrete. At one stage I would have sugested
buying pipe/tube and cutting to length and filling the drum with that,
but since the price of steel has oh,gone up a magnitude, it is rather
expensive.

I wonder how a drum chocka with wood, or that saw dust(make sure it is
dry) would work.


sigh, off to delivery four kittens to the pound, then buy lots of
chocolate for SWMBO to console her)

Oh bugger... good luck with that.

Poor guy at the pound flinched when she wanted reassurance that they would
not be euthanised and coped a mouthful (stern taling to). Lol, but managed
to calm her down and explain that he couldn't guarantee it, but it was
best chance.*

Especially, when we went to vet later with olde cat and someone already
had a list of free kittens photos with cute descriptions and no one had
taken the phone number, which was what she was intending to do.

I've had more trouble with the two older cats, who spent more time hissing
at the kittens, but the old one bit me at the vet and the younger one has
been very aloof as it's playmates have disappeared. Even managed to get
caught in the cat trap,which it had totally ignored for weeks.

*I was folding up the carry cage at the pound after they had emptied it
and it didn't sit right, so open it out again and WHOOSH, there went a
ginger flash. "Oh, I thought there was only three" said the pound guy.
Chuckle, the mischevous ginger one had hidden under the old jumper in the
cage. If I hadn't decided to fold the cage down, he would have come
back home again.

On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:22:43 +1100, terryc wrote:

On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:39:13 +0000, Jeßus wrote:

Simplest axle is large pipe through middle of concrete with thinner
pipe inside and you weld the two arms ofthe tow hitch to the thinner
pipe.

Another idea came to mind if you can weld; old bicycles; the bottom
bracket from cheap bicycles. Real cheap little kids bikes have a plastic
plug beaing, or the o peiece bmx axle can be adaped. Thinkng you might
score some during the summer clean out, especially when kids get
upgraded bicycles for christmas.

It just so happens the previous owners left behind a bunch of BMX bikes,
so your idea is highly appropriate It's a good idea.

I would hesitate to suggest a 44gal drum as that is a lot of concrete.
might be better with something like a 20Litre or slightly bigger drum
and just tow it every time you mow.

Thanks Terry, there are some good ideas there.

I did think of something drum-like in shape with spikes, but as you
mentioned, a 44gal drum will end up weighing too much - unless I use
something lighter than concrete. But plenty food for thought there, for
sure. I'll keep an eye out for something like a 44gal drum, only
smaller diameter.

alternaively, if you bolt offcuts of poly around the axle or outside,
you can lesson the amount of concrete. At one stage I would have
sugested buying pipe/tube and cutting to length and filling the drum
with that, but since the price of steel has oh,gone up a magnitude, it
is rather expensive.

Yep, but due to the relatively short lengths required, I shouldnt have
*too* much trouble collecting enough old pipe to do that.

I wonder how a drum chocka with wood, or that saw dust(make sure it is
dry) would work.

Another good idea Terry

sigh, off to delivery four kittens to the pound, then buy lots of
chocolate for SWMBO to console her)

Oh bugger... good luck with that.

Poor guy at the pound flinched when she wanted reassurance that they
would not be euthanised and coped a mouthful (stern taling to). Lol, but
managed to calm her down and explain that he couldn't guarantee it, but
it was best chance.*

Especially, when we went to vet later with olde cat and someone already
had a list of free kittens photos with cute descriptions and no one had
taken the phone number, which was what she was intending to do.

The great irony when I was looking for a cat 5 years ago, it took me
about 6 weeks to find one. This was back when I lived on the mainland.
I did find one, eventually, at the RSPCA. But I was surprised how few
people advertised litters in the area - well, none actually, in a town of
13000.

I've had more trouble with the two older cats, who spent more time
hissing at the kittens, but the old one bit me at the vet and the
younger one has been very aloof as it's playmates have disappeared. Even
managed to get caught in the cat trap,which it had totally ignored for
weeks.

Ah yes, the dynamics of relationships also applies to animals
The younger one will get its nose back in joint soon enough...

*I was folding up the carry cage at the pound after they had emptied it
and it didn't sit right, so open it out again and WHOOSH, there went a
ginger flash. "Oh, I thought there was only three" said the pound guy.
Chuckle, the mischevous ginger one had hidden under the old jumper in
the cage. If I hadn't decided to fold the cage down, he would have come
back home again.

After which it'd probably be a permanent resident

On Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:31:09 +0000, Jeßus wrote:


After which it'd probably be a permanent resident

Yes
1) Fate
2) SWMBO really wanted to keep that one.

On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:58:58 +1100, terryc wrote:

On Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:31:09 +0000, Jeßus wrote:


After which it'd probably be a permanent resident

Yes
1) Fate
2) SWMBO really wanted to keep that one.

Heh