Aerators

[TresCrows]

I went to the Millcreek site just to confirm my memory. According to their site their units do have bearings and their 42 inch supposedly weighs about 300 lbs. Anyway, I like the First Choice better but the MillCreek did not seem so bad--what am I missing here. None of these things will give the immediate results of professional power coring equipment but over a period of time--little by little they will make a big difference.
The Agrifab is junk, I imagine I could be happy with a Millcreek. The Agrifabs were 168 dollars at Lowes so it might be better than nothing if your soil is fairly soft. It simply would not penetrate my soil and it stopped up too, something the First Choice does not do.
Every new tool/implement I buy I find there is a learning curve to it's operation--my surprise at only being able to go straight is part of that learning curve. The amount of force applied by attempting to turn the tractor would likely--in time--damage the aerator. Next time I am going to increase the weight, I do not think I am optimum yet what with 300 lbs aerator and 140 lbs of sand bags, I think another 100 or 200 lbs should do the trick. J

 

[Will]

Millcreek has two lines. The 300lb 42 inch model is part of their pro line, it retails for about $1000-$1100. The 140lb 54 inch model retails for about $640 and is in their economy line. When you go to the lighter model you give up a lot of weight, and you can only add about 120lbs of extra weight. This wasn't enough for my patch of Georgia clay.Though the Millcreek aerator didn't work for me, that company gave me the best service I've ever had on anything. An out of state rep drove to my house, picked up the unit, and they are giving me a full refund. And this happened on the day after I called them. Amazing. I'd love to do business with them again. It is kind of embarassing to be treated so well.

 

[Rockyroad]

That is a great looking aerator!

I don't have a plugger, but instead welded up my own out of a 4' long piece of 1/2 inch wall steel pipe I bought from a fabricator. Welded up a 3 pt. hitch, and tacked on dozens of 3" spikes made from drill rod.

I probably would have bought something like you have in the photo, however, if I could have found one 5 or 6 years ago that is the quality of that shown.

However, the point is that whether you plug or punch holes, the aerator will make an unbelievable difference in your lawn. Mine was dying from compactation, and aerating it first time and adding lawn food made an unbelieveable difference.
I aerate several times a season with my homemade rig, but as someone else pointed out, never in the real hot part of the summer.

Good luck with your new rig!

 

[Darren]

I was told by Milllcreek that I could add a bit more than 400 lbs. to the model I have. Because of the design, I can strap a 55 gal barrel to the top and simply add water for weight. Under the right conditions, the spoons should penetrate 4".

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Warning>>>>>>
Borrowed the neighbors aerator the other day, a Sears Craftsman special. Kids were watching TV, daughter comes out says cable just went out, anyone what to guess what happen??? Yep, got the cable TV line! Lucky the cable guy did not ask how it happen. So make sure your cable to the house is buried deeper then a ½ inch below the suffice when you aerate your lawn, or you may have trouble watching TV when you are done! BUT did enjoy the seat time on the BX2200, guess it was not so bad…lol

Be carefull...
Tom

 

[Will]

First Choice aerator

I just got my First Choice aerator (I went with the 60" model - it costs about $70 more than the 48" model), and I'm really impressed with it. As TresCrows said, it is heavy duty. The "sheet" metal that it is made of is 3/16 of an inch thick - that's 50% thicker than the metal in my FEL. The sheet metal is held together with 5/16 inch thick angle iron, and they use 3/8 inch angle iron for three point hitch pins. Part of the advantage of starting off heavy is that it is strong enough to add many hundreds of pounds of extra weight.I'm also really impressed with the company. I spoke to the owner, Peter Van Den Berg. He's been in the implement business for 30 years (I think he started with Befco and Land Pride) and he clearly knows what he's doing - it is a far better value than anything else I've seen.Another interesting fact is that you probably have a dealer very close to you, but there's a good chance your dealer doesn't know it. Apparently a lot of people buy his equipment but don't know he sells an aerator. When I called him, he gave me the names of a pile of dealers, but when I called the dealers they told me they only carried other brands. He gave the closest dealer a call, and 10 minutes later the local dealer had decided to order a few.As far as negative comments go, I don't have much. I had to grind off a bit of angle iron to attach the toplink portion of the unit. The paint job is far superior to the spray painted primer look of some inexpensive stuff, but it isn't as perfect as you'd find on a Kubota brand implement.

 

[TresCrows]

Re: First Choice aerator

Will, hi, I am excited you got your First Choice aerator. I used mine again today after mowing. It is still cool here and the grass is growing strong so I think I can still aerate maybe once more in a few weeks before the Summer heat hits. It sounds like you like yours as much as I like mine. Sometimes I think I should have gotten the 60 too but I really like my 48, I can scoot between stuff real nice with it. Either size they are real nice units. It is kinda funny how as I have added weight it begins to make the 2410 work, maybe just a little /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif , but not enough to make her break a sweat. Ground was soft today after recent rains so I was pulling some real decent plugs!
Yeah, I think Kubota uses a metal stabilizing wash primer or treatment and then a rust resistant white/gray primer and then their orange color coat. I can see the layers in the areas on my boxblade as they have worn away. Whatever process they use resists rust and wears pretty good. I think most of the implement folks just spray on a color and as such I think the finish is real decent on my aerator compared to my KK equipment but as you say not quite up to Kubota finish quality. I would rather have the money spent on the grease zerks and bearings that First Choice specified rather than an involved paint finish. Hey, get us some pics of that bad boy please. J

 

[TresCrows]

Re: First Choice aerator

The buisness end of the critter. J

 

[Will]

Re: First Choice aerator

<font color=blue>Hey, get us some pics of that bad boy please. </font color=blue>

Glad you asked! It hasn't rained in a few weeks, so I'll have to wait before I can do any effective aerating. I'm thinking of putting some plywood on top and then strapping on some sandbags, but I've got plenty of time to think about it.

 

[TresCrows]

Re: First Choice aerator

Will, that is one mean looking machine you have there /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif . Nice looking tractor too /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif . J