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LawnTamer
02-04-2006, 04:09 PM
Hey I've been having some fun in the shop this winter and was thinking of how invaluable my little welder has been for my business, mostly because it keeps me from hanging around the house and bugging my wife all winter. I thought I'd post some pics of some of the more useful things I've built for the mowing rig.
All these are easy things, I don't have any fancy tools, just a grinder.

Here is a spring loaded trimmer rack Sorry the picture isn't very good
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL589/2451875/9178958/128087813.jpg

An easy gate assist, for about $20 at HD (my spring assisted 'gate weight' is about 10 lbs)
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL589/2451875/9178958/128157525.jpg

We always carry full bags through gates on the deck (who wants to carry a 60# bag to the truck?)but they would fall off or roll into the exhuast so I built these brackets. The exhaust bracket is attatched to the catcher plate so if we are not bagging it's not there.
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL589/2451875/9178958/128157519.jpg

The bottom bracket is hinged so it just flips up when changing blades or working on the deck.
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL589/2451875/9178958/128157526.jpg

Here's a real easy way to secure a ZTR or WB. The hinge just flips over the front caster, it's just a bent piece of 3/8 roll bent and welded to a hinge.
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL589/2451875/9178958/128157521.jpg

Line spool holder
http://.picturetrail.com/VOL589/2451875/9178958/128157525.jpg

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL589/2451875/9178958/128157528.jpg

I also build my own sulkies
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL589/2451875/9178958/128088175.jpg

6 gal electric sprayer w/20' hose
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL589/2451875/9178958/128088174.jpg
I'm sure there are people here who are better fabricators but I have found all these little things very helpful, Plus I have a nice side deal building custom benches in the winter & I build my own spray equipment.
J Hisch
02-04-2006, 04:20 PM
Great design on your lift gate. If I could make one suggestion put your spring inside some pipe to keep it protected and keep it from pinching anyone. Also if it snaps it wont fly and hit someone.
MJLsLawnCareNmoreLLC
02-04-2006, 04:21 PM
Nice little creations you got there. I too love creating my own little tools and such. I taught myself how to weld and have been welding all sorts of things together for the past few years. They are great for making repairs too. I even built a heavy duty landscape trailer with my dad. Diamond plate floor and everything.
G.M.Landscaping
02-04-2006, 04:24 PM
Got to love a welder.:blob4: Any pics of the bag on the deck? I'd like to see how it sits on the deck. Oh, and great job on everything.
lasher66
02-04-2006, 04:28 PM
What gauge did you use on the line holder? And also, did you just weld that right to the trailer at the base, or did you make some kind of reinforced base before you welded it to the trailer box? Great ideas.

Jason
Jpocket
02-04-2006, 04:44 PM
UM what kinda mower is that. I've never seen that name before
LawnTamer
02-04-2006, 05:37 PM
UM what kinda mower is that. I've never seen that name before
It's a Toro T-bar, a 2000 with well over 2,000hrs we started calling it the "old Man" so when the Proline sticker wore off I painted Gamli on which is Icelandic for old one, or old man. (I used to live in Iceland).
The line holder uses 1/2 cold roll.
And that's a great idea to put the springs in tubes.
LawnTamer
02-04-2006, 05:40 PM
Oh, I'll get pics of the mower with bag on the deck, My wife is at a gymnastics tournament w/ my daughter and has the digital. So it won't be today. Sorry
Flex-Deck
02-04-2006, 08:26 PM
Very nice job. And you are so right, a welder, and the ability to turky turd welds that hold (LOL) makes a difference - you may be a very good welder, I was just kidding on the turky deal.. Nice pics, and keep it going.
whoopassonthebluegrass
02-04-2006, 11:09 PM
This guy is a genius. I have had him do all of my work for me over the years, and his welding ideas and skills seem to be increasing exponentially!!

Maybe if we all had the kind of marriage that kept us in the garage all winter...haha.

(Actually, he's married to my sister...)
Wells
02-04-2006, 11:46 PM
This guy is a genius. I have had him do all of my work for me over the years, and his welding ideas and skills seem to be increasing exponentially!!

Maybe if we all had the kind of marriage that kept us in the garage all winter...haha.

(Actually, he's married to my sister...)
I was just thinking that this guy must be Joes bother in law and then I read the bottom line.
Nice to see both you guys on the board......Joe, very nice creations... I may need to hire you to build me some trimmer racks for my second trailer if your interested.
Likestomow
02-05-2006, 09:45 AM
Very nice job. And you are so right, a welder, and the ability to turky turd welds that hold (LOL) makes a difference - you may be a very good welder, I was just kidding on the turky deal.. Nice pics, and keep it going.

Man,that one really made me laugh! I have for sure made some of those beads in my lifetime, but with the wire-feed they seem to have gone away.
Dirt_Werx
02-06-2006, 05:23 PM
very nice work, but with mig welding its more of a convience in my mind and makes it look less like skill, once you can lay a stick bead that comes out looking as good as a mig, you know your doing something right becasuse not only will you have liad a good looking bead but it will be stronger, and that is when welding is considered an art. but you cant beat the ease and convience of a mig for all those little projects
LawnTamer
02-06-2006, 08:08 PM
I don't have or use a mig welder. But I would like to get one. A 135 either Lincoln or Miller.:blob1:
SouthernYankee
02-06-2006, 08:28 PM
How much did that cost you??
mcwlandscaping
02-06-2006, 10:49 PM
can you get more pics of the gate lift setup?
B&D Lawn Care
03-06-2006, 12:12 PM
What size spring did you use. I tried my luck this weekend but I think my spring is too tight. It's about 18" long but thick.
kirk brown
03-06-2006, 05:26 PM
[QUOTE=LawnTamer] (I used to live in Iceland).

yeah i guess there wasn`t a lot of lawn business there:laugh:
EXspyguy
03-06-2006, 05:56 PM
Very nice job. And you are so right, a welder, and the ability to turky turd welds that hold (LOL) makes a difference - you may be a very good welder, I was just kidding on the turky deal.. Nice pics, and keep it going.

LOL, I like that flex, we always called poor welds rat sh$t.

BTW, very good ideas