Coring areator spoons?

[Srubrn]

Did anyone ever figure out to make the spoons as they are called?

[andybaran]

Todd,
Have you tried cutting round tube at a sharp angle for the cutting end and then fishmouthing the other end to mount on the axle? Something along the lines of .083" or .120" might be stout enough to handle hard soil. Methinks when you mount the spoons place them so the long end of the spoon contacts the ground first and then as the axle rotates the plug is deposited out the short end.

Hope this sparks some ideas..

Andy

If I get some time I'll try and make one up tommorow and post a pic.

[deere_x475guy]

I started the thread and have put it on the back burner to build a scoop bucket for my JD X475. The spoons were a sticky point for me so if you get something figured out that will stand up I would be very interested in seeing your solution. I have the rotors all designed with the side plates. Just need to figure out what those darn spoons are going to be made out of.

Good luck
Bob

[Bobby]

I too was considering building an aerator for my newly seeded lawn (late last year) couldn't decide if I wanted to go to the trouble of building a plug type or just spikes.

I think the tubing idea is a good one, if you ground off the end and/or sharpened them they ought to go in quite well. not sure if the dirt would push out the other end properly. You might have to slice them along their length and spread the upper end some to reduce the friction. (smaller at the ground wider/larger closer to the 'hub' the plug should slide out the top.

[andybaran]

Bob,
As promised, here are the pix of what I'm thinking might work. I used 7/8" 4130 DOM tubing. The business end is cut at 45 degrees and the fishmouthed end was cut using a 1 1/4" hole saw. As you look at the first picture the rotation would be counter-clockwise with the long side of the cut hitting the ground first.

[andybaran]

Here's a closeup of the fishmouthed end. Slightly off center but you get the idea.

[andybaran]

And here is a closeup of the business end.

Depending oh how large a diameter axle your going to use, I might suggest constructing it in segments with each segment being added to the next for the entire width of the aretor. This way you'll have full access to weld the spoons to the axle. Otherwise you have to stick your nozzle down through the spoons to weld them on.

Best of luck.

[deere_x475guy]

core aerator spoon prototype

HAHA...what a coincidence. I came home from work this eve and played a little with a spoon design. Here are the pics. Thanks Andy yours is real simular to what I had also. I used 1 inch angle and some 1/2" black pipe. The slice I made with the band saw is not straight. I guess it will be necessary to get a new sharp one before I make anymore. I took this out to my yard and punched about 30 holes with it all the way down to where the angle is welded to the pipe. It should be right about 4" deep. It just pushed out the plugs as more were gathered. The slice my not be necessary but it sure makes it easier to clean out for storage and unjaming rocks that may work their way in.

Well...here are the pics gang.

first one

[deere_x475guy]

next shot

[jniolon]

dum ole john asking dum ole questions

maybe I missed the first thread... but what is going to punch the plug out of the tube... seems to me that with nothing to remove the plugs that you're just gonna pack it full then you have the spike aireator...

I've rented plug core units and they have a rod that removes the plug as the drum turns...

any ideas or am I just that far behind on the discussion

john

[deere_x475guy]

Here is an end shot

[deere_x475guy]

another shot

[deere_x475guy]

and another one

[deere_x475guy]

This is a modification I am considering....the core will just come out of the pipe sooner this way. Not sure if its needed or not.

[deere_x475guy]

Re: dum ole john asking dum ole questions

Originally posted by jniolon
maybe I missed the first thread... but what is going to punch the plug out of the tube... seems to me that with nothing to remove the plugs that you're just gonna pack it full then you have the spike aireator...

I've rented plug core units and they have a rod that removes the plug as the drum turns...

any ideas or am I just that far behind on the discussion

john

Not sure what kind you have used....the ones I have owned the next core of dirt just pushed the old on farther towards the top and expelled it out. This one works good...I tried it out by hand this eve.

Bob