Latest Bale Spear

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Fabricated to fit category 1 3 point hitch.2x4x.25 rectangular tube. 1045 spears. Hot rolled plates. Al Attached ImagesA man is judged by what's between his legs...always ride a good horseMiller DialArc HFLincoln Classic 300DThermal Arc 181iPowermax 45Scotchman Ironworker(2) BridgeportsOkomota Surface GrinderAutoCAD 2010
Reply:ok, so, why split the bottom? now you're trusting two welds as opposed to 1? Could fish plate it to make sure. probably not neccesary as those spikes don't hold the weight, just keep it still.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Can't slip much past you fellas can I?I'd like to have a highly technical explanation for the split bottom. But it was a matter of stock on hand. All the joints are 6010 root and 7018 cover, welded all around. And the shorter spears are just stabilizer spears to keep bales from turning.If you ever see one at the farm store look at how theirs are fabbed. The stabilizers are just laid on and welded, usually looks like by a 12 year old with a mig gun. Most of the frame isn't much better than sheet metal. But they don't have a problem tagging a hefty price tag on them. When I build these I turn the spear ends down for a shoulder and set them in holes in the frame. The main spear goes through both walls and gets welded front and back. Probably overkill but these are spare time jobs and still make a good rate when they sell. And it is a reputation thing since they sell local most times. AlA man is judged by what's between his legs...always ride a good horseMiller DialArc HFLincoln Classic 300DThermal Arc 181iPowermax 45Scotchman Ironworker(2) BridgeportsOkomota Surface GrinderAutoCAD 2010
Reply:yeah, I understand they are just for stability. The only reason I ask is It would make for less work to do the bottom as a single piece and the top as the weld on. less cutting, easier fit up, less welding all equates to less time put into it and thus more profit.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Yes would have been quicker to make one piece bottom. But the materials I had on hand were drops that didn't work out. Sometimes I just have to design around materials available rather than other constraints. These bale spears make good use of left over materials.Of course when someone comes to buy it I'll explain to them how the torsional stresses are better distributed over the surface areas of the welds allowing for the steel to relieve stress due to better alignment of the neutrons and reduce horsepower requirements in lifting the bales. Just hope they don't know the next fella that buys the one I make with a one piece bottom. AlA man is judged by what's between his legs...always ride a good horseMiller DialArc HFLincoln Classic 300DThermal Arc 181iPowermax 45Scotchman Ironworker(2) BridgeportsOkomota Surface GrinderAutoCAD 2010
Reply:Those spikes look deadly!
Reply:Looks good. Scrap often dictates design, good use of materials. What color are you going to paint it?How are you turning your tapers? Do you have a taper attachment? I don't see a center drill that would suggest you offset the tail stock.
Reply:Thanks. Have access to a lathe with a large enough spindle bore to chuck the bar stock short. Then I rough it down by a cad drawing and finish with compound slide.  I do the roughing in the center then finish with hang out. Long way going about it but it's a spare time job.AlA man is judged by what's between his legs...always ride a good horseMiller DialArc HFLincoln Classic 300DThermal Arc 181iPowermax 45Scotchman Ironworker(2) BridgeportsOkomota Surface GrinderAutoCAD 2010