Anyone built a raised bed shaper with a plastic mulch layer?

[Rio_Grande]

I was planning a floating one. Thanks.

 

[Rio_Grande]

Today while trouble shooting the build I realized I hadn't made plans for how to adjust the pan trailing edge. I came up with the idea of putting a cat 0 top link on each side attached to the cross bar and to the back of the pan. Then I saw the price of cat 0 top links. Think I will figure out some drilled holes in a piece of angle on each side.

 

[MuleMn]

Rather than using flat plate, I built mine from a piece of ten inch pipe, 4 feet long. I made a mark to start my cut, then on opposite end of, I marked four inches further around. I then cut a line from one mark to the other. I made another (one for each side). I the laid a flat plate across connecting the two sides, with the front of the plate raised to force the soil under it. The reason for spiral cutting pipe for the sides is make the soil roll to the center, and it is easier to tow. I posted some photos of it last year on another thread.

 

[dlrfarms]

I made my pan fixed ,welded up the blades and the pan altogether to give it strength.pretty rocky aroumd here and i figured that would be stronger.Also when youre building make a couple brackets to hang tractor weights on.Seems to take a lot of weight to keep mine following good

 

[Rio_Grande]

Looks good mule. I wish I would have built mine with more taper from the sides. I may add a plate inside it on each side on a taper to give it more squeeze.


Will do on the weights. I was thinking it would need more weight right over the shaper pan.

I really had to adjust the pan down. To get it to 5 inch tall beds. I was expecting less adjustment.

 

[Rio_Grande]

Slow going

 

[Reyer Farms]

Pics of my Buckeye.

 

[Reyer Farms]

Close up of drip and a Reddick.

 

[Reyer Farms]

For what help it may be?. I narrowed the front end of my pan to try and get nicer sides. I thought that the sides would smooth better. It helped with my soil- the wider mouth was forcing the soil in and it was firm inside the pan but sides would bulge out as the pan left. Now it slicks out nice. Working with your soil is the hardest part, keep up the good work!

 

[Rio_Grande]

Thanks, I have it done but it is too wet for me to try it so far. I am sure there are adjustments to make. Yours looks a lot nicer than mine. My drip tube is set up like the yellow one and I wish I had as much roll in my wings as the photo. I can always weld something on mine to roll the dirt. Looking forward to trying it out. Thanks for the pics.

 

[Rio_Grande]

Hope it works!few things I don't like and had to cut some corners trying to beat the rain, we will see.

 

[Rio_Grande]

Way wet today, but it did ok, disks kept getting bogged down with mud!

 

[Rio_Grande]

Having a touch of trouble getting it to stretch tight and cover on one side. Hoping dryer dirt makes it work better. It is getting the job done but I would like it to do so smoother.

 

[dlrfarms]

put more tension on your plastic so it pulls out harder, If your ground isnt perfectly flat you will have to adj covering disk different on the low side,on mine it takes more angle on the lower side but you gotta make sure you have enough weight to hold it down when you do that

 

[Rio_Grande]

Ok, I added a 100 lb weight to each disk because that is what I had. Took that to move the heavy wet ground. I ended up with more plastic on the sides than planned. Every now and then the extra width rolls out above the dirt coming off of the disk, have to shut down relict and reset. I will try more tension.

 

[Rio_Grande]

I need to come up with a way to tension the plastic, may move the centering stops tighter onto the cardboard center. I thought it might be too tight because when I start it really stretches. Then once rolling does fine.

 

[dlrfarms]

i run mine so tite you think its gonna tear starting out

 

[Rio_Grande]

I will try it!

 

[Theweber]

can you post more pics? thanks i like your setup.