Building a LARGE lawn roller

[LD1]

I had a new member on here stumble onto one of my pics of the lawn roller we made in the "show off your mig projects thread" and he PM'd me wanting some more info. So instead of PMing or e-mailing him I tought I would share it with the rest of TBN. As with most of our projects we took step by step photos along the way.

Just some details, The roller is 38" in diameter and 48" wide. The reason for these dimensions are that is what a rolled sheet of 4' x 10' steel comes out to be. However, we had to have it sheered into 2-2ft by 10ft peices because the local sheetmetal shop could only roll upto 3'.

The body is 11ga, which is 1/8" steel. The end caps and the center peice is 1/4". Dry weight is about 600lbs and it can hold about 230 gal of water. Which is 1800lbs. Total weight can be up to 2400lbs.

 

[LD1]

More pics

 

[LD1]

Feel free to ask me any questions if you like.

The only thing we actually had to buy was one sheet of 1/4" for one of the 38" circles, the 1 1/8" round stock, and the 11ga sheet. The sheetmetal shop only charged us $30 to roll and tack.

All the other stuff is from the steel pile out back, including the bearings. Total cost was about $250-300.

 

[beenthere]

Any problems with it pushing downhill? Similar in design to mine (a smaller diameter roller filled with 'crete and a rack for adding more weigh on top).

Nice job welding yours up, and thanks for the pics.

 

[LD1]

No issues so far but it's not too hilly here. We only fill it about half full of water. which makes the total weight about 1500 lbs

 

[spo307]

nice fab job:thumbsup:

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Holy LARGE lawn roller!!!

That thing should smooth out the bedrock 6 feet down.

The workmanship looks very good. Great Job. Are you going to paint any of it?

 

[LD1]

Holy LARGE lawn roller!!!

That thing should smooth out the bedrock 6 feet down.

The workmanship looks very good. Great Job. Are you going to paint any of it?

Yep it's painted, I just dont have any pics

 

[jimgerken]

LD1: you should now add a plastic scraper on the backside of the roller. Anytime you roll over dirt with any moisture on/in it, you will pick up a bit of dirt on the roller and everytime it rotates it will add more dirt to that spot on the roller. After while, you will see the depression you are making every rotation. Been there, done that.
GREAT looking roller!

 

[Diamondpilot]

The first thing I built when I got my tractor was a large lawn roller. Its 76" wide and 24" in diameter. I used 7/8" wall PVC Sewer Pipe for the main body and filled it with something like 26 bags of sac-crete. It also weighs about 2,600# total.

I went with the 76" length so it would fit on my trailer which is 82" wide.

Chris

 

[kubotakid USA]

Great Job on the build,:thumbsup: Iam doing a new roller, Iam using old 500 gallon propane tank, scrap steel price, and twice as thick, The thicker the better, stones will dent (thin ones) very easy, Eric

 

[doverking]

Great Idea !How Did You Fill It With The Concrete?

 

[David Devuono]

Another one of my future projects. Only I need it to pack down the road after grading it. I would use a piece of conveyor belting for a mud scraper on the roller.

 

[Jeembawb]

How to fill em up with concrete?? this was how I did mine - couple of 6" square cutouts then I put in a 2" stainless shaft I had that was a boat propshaft (didn't even have to cut it) an fill em up with concrete with a small shovel. Only have this pic of it so far but the concrete has surely set by now - maybe I can get back to this project soon - I have all the bearings etc, I just need to decide on a drawbar plan - either an A-frame or a single drawbar going back to a hoop over top of roller. There is advantages in each so I guess it will come down to material on hand.

 

[Marveltone]

I'm thinking about building a roller, but for my hay field, not lawn, so it needs to be rather large. I can get 55 gal steel drums, so I'm thinking of going with anywhere from three to five drums so I can cover 8 acres in a decent amount of time. I like many of the ideas I've seen here so far. Keep the pictures coming, as it will help me design something that will work for me.

Joe

 

[jenkinsph]

Just got back from my steel supplier this evening and will start working on my new segmented roller. This will be about 6 1/2 feet wide and weigh in about 2300lbs. Will take pictures and post the build.

 

[doverking]

Just got back from my steel supplier this evening and will start working on my new segmented roller. This will be about 6 1/2 feet wide and weigh in about 2300lbs. Will take pictures and post the build.

Thanks for your great idea.Can't wait to see pics

 

[doverking]

I thought about using barrels but, for me ,as you said I'm doing a lawn. Good luck with your project send pictures. Mark

 

[Zebrafive]

There is a 36" diameter pipeline being installed thru my property. I had hoped they would leave some extra/scrap pipe. No luck with that. They did say anything under 5' could not be used (weld joints must be over 5' apart). But they will not leave any of the short length left over. It's at least 1/2 wall, I guessing 180 -190 lbs/ft.

 

[jenkinsph]

Zebrafive,
The 18" pipe with 1/2" wall I got is about 92lbs/ft IIRC, you are about right on your estimate. Filled with concrete I am estimating about 300 lbs/ft for my new roller. Don't expect the pipe to deflect any either.