Simple Solutions For On-Farm Problems

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #6, Page #36

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Dan Erdman pulls fence posts fast and easy, dropping them in line, and he doesn’t leave the tractor seat. It’s just one of several simple solutions to problems around the farm and garden that he shared recently with FARM SHOW.
Post Lifter
    “I hang a steel plate with a hole in it on my loader,” says Erdman. “When I drive forward, I aim the hole at the top of the post and drop the loader, so the plate settles over the post. When I lift the loader, the plate grabs the post and pops it out of the ground. When I lower the loader and drive ahead, the post slides out of the hole.”
    Erdman cut a 9-in. dia. hole out of a 14 by 18-in., 3/4-in. steel plate. The hole is offset to the top half of the plate. He welded end links from two chains to the top of the plate. Grab hooks at the other end of the chains attach quickly to the loader. He recommends using at least Grade 70 steel chain.
    “I tried 5/8-in. steel plate, but it bent under the load,” says Erdman. “It’s fast. A neighbor borrowed mine and pulled a mile of posts in about 2 hrs.”
Hand Weeder
    Dash, who is from Swift Current, Sask., shared another handy, homemade weeder. Dash takes a strip of 1 1/4-in. steel band and bends it in two, slipping the ends into a slotted end of a short length of wood.
    “He fastens the handle to the steel band with a couple of screws, and it stays solid,” says Erdmann. “Larry cut aggressive teeth on one side of the weeder and wrapped the handle with red and yellow tape. The tape makes it easy to find the weeder in heavy grass or weeds.”
Hay Fork Weeder
    Erdman’s friend, Larry Dash, has made weeders from 3-tine hay forks. He cuts the center tine out and cuts the other two tines to a working angle. He then brazes a piece of flat iron with a sharpened edge to the two tines.
    “This long-handled tool is great for cutting weeds off at ground level or beneath it,” says Erdman.
    “I’ve made a number of short and long-handled weeders and given them away as presents,” says Erdman. “They make great gifts.”
Pipe Post Braces
    When Erdman is fencing, he carries 2-in. steel pipe braces for corner posts and gate posts. The braces have saddles at either end, made from short lengths of 3 1/2-in. steel pipe. The saddles have been cut in half lengthwise and tack welded to the brace pipe with the curved ends pointed away from the pipe.
    “Before leaving the shop, I drill pilot holes in each saddle,” says Erdman. “After setting the corner or end post, I lay the pipe brace on the ground with one end against the corner post and drive the brace post in the ground at the other end.”
    After tacking the pipe brace in place on the two posts, he installs and tightens the brace wire between the two posts.
    “Lots of different style braces work, but the pipe brace is fast and easy to install,” he says.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dan Erdman, Box 1620, Claresholm, Alta., Canada T0L 0T0 (ph 403-382-1020; derdman2@telusplanet.net).

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Simple Solutions For On-Farm Problems FENCING Miscellaneous Dan Erdman pulls fence posts fast and easy dropping them in line and he doesn’t leave the tractor seat It’s just one of several simple solutions to problems around the farm and garden that he shared recently with FARM SHOW Post Lifter “I hang a steel plate with a hole in it on my loader ” says Erdman “When I drive forward I aim the hole at the top of the post and drop the loader so the plate settles over the post When I lift the loader the plate grabs the post and pops it out of the ground When I lower the loader and drive ahead the post slides out of the hole ” Erdman cut a 9-in dia hole out of a 14 by 18-in 3/4-in steel plate The hole is offset to the top half of the plate He welded end links from two chains to the top of the plate Grab hooks at the other end of the chains attach quickly to the loader He recommends using at least Grade 70 steel chain “I tried 5/8-in steel plate but it bent under the load ” says Erdman “It’s fast A neighbor borrowed mine and pulled a mile of posts in about 2 hrs ” Hand Weeder Dash who is from Swift Current Sask shared another handy homemade weeder Dash takes a strip of 1 1/4-in steel band and bends it in two slipping the ends into a slotted end of a short length of wood “He fastens the handle to the steel band with a couple of screws and it stays solid ” says Erdmann “Larry cut aggressive teeth on one side of the weeder and wrapped the handle with red and yellow tape The tape makes it easy to find the weeder in heavy grass or weeds ” Hay Fork Weeder Erdman’s friend Larry Dash has made weeders from 3-tine hay forks He cuts the center tine out and cuts the other two tines to a working angle He then brazes a piece of flat iron with a sharpened edge to the two tines “This long-handled tool is great for cutting weeds off at ground level or beneath it ” says Erdman “I’ve made a number of short and long-handled weeders and given them away as presents ” says Erdman “They make great gifts ” Pipe Post Braces When Erdman is fencing he carries 2-in steel pipe braces for corner posts and gate posts The braces have saddles at either end made from short lengths of 3 1/2-in steel pipe The saddles have been cut in half lengthwise and tack welded to the brace pipe with the curved ends pointed away from the pipe “Before leaving the shop I drill pilot holes in each saddle ” says Erdman “After setting the corner or end post I lay the pipe brace on the ground with one end against the corner post and drive the brace post in the ground at the other end ” After tacking the pipe brace in place on the two posts he installs and tightens the brace wire between the two posts “Lots of different style braces work but the pipe brace is fast and easy to install ” he says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dan Erdman Box 1620 Claresholm Alta Canada T0L 0T0 ph 403-382-1020; derdman2@telusplanet net

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