Concrete barrel

[Everhard]

Hi all, I'm making one of those concrete filled barrels as a counter weight for my tractor - an opinions on filling it with concrete - do it all in one go or do it in stages and let the concrete set up in each stage?

Thanks,

E.

 

[mrmikey]

One go, make your mess all at one time and you're done although it makes no matter for a counterweight. Structural you want to have it in one homogeneous mass with no areas of lamination....Mike

 

[deerseeker001]

I did mine all at once,turned out good.

 

[Pixguy]

Agreed, all at once. Be sure to add some PVC pipes for rakes and shovels. I even heated a 4" pipe and made it elongated so I can either put in my D-handle snow shovel or my chainsaw.

I also added a 2" receiver for any trailer I wanted to pull around.

 

[k0ua]

Agreed, all at once. Be sure to add some PVC pipes for rakes and shovels. I even heated a 4" schedule 40 pipe and made it elongated so I can either put in my D-handle snow shovel or my chainsaw.

I also added a 2" receiver for and trailer I wanted to pull around.

^ this, as above. I put in 3 two inch PVC pipes, I wish I had put in 4. The two inch receiver hitch welded in is good too. I wish I had throwed in the mix a couple hundred pounds of old steel nuts and bolts or some such for the bottom to make it heavier while being able to leave some space at the top for carrying things. (chains etc.). Of course it depends on how heavy you want it to be. I made if for my previous tractor, and it was about perfectly weighted, but my current tractor could use a bit more weight.

 

[tcartwri]

it's just ballast, it's not a bridge.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

All at once will be easier. I mixed my counterweight's concrete with pieces of scrap steel to add more weight for the volume...at the very bottom of the drum, there's a 24"x4" flywheel from a sand screen plant. I got 1550 lbs from 2/3 of an oil drum...not too shabby

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

 

[SPYDERLK]

All at once will be easier. I mixed my counterweight's concrete with pieces of scrap steel to add more weight for the volume...at the very bottom of the drum, there's a 24"x4" flywheel from a sand screen plant. I got 1550 lbs from 2/3 of an oil drum...not too shabby

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

Thats what Im going to do. Hoping to get near 2000# in a 55gal. Oriented laying down so it can spin if it touches down.
larry

 

[Everhard]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I've got a ck20s so it doesn't have to be that heavy. It will have a hitch receiver, I finished that up yesterday, I've been debating the idea of putting tubes in - I imagine you guys must put drain holes in the bottom of those then? I'm also going to set mine up so that I can put the winch off my jeep onto it. (It's hydraulic, going to set it up to be portable so I can use it on both tractor or jeep.)

E.

 

[Pixguy]

No drain holes in my pipes. I garage my scut and I have caps on them if there's no tools in it.

 

[k0ua]

No drain holes in my pipes. I garage my scut and I have caps on them if there's no tools in it.

Same here, If I have to leave it out, I just slip on the caps.

 

[Buggs67]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I've got a ck20s so it doesn't have to be that heavy. It will have a hitch receiver, I finished that up yesterday, I've been debating the idea of putting tubes in - I imagine you guys must put drain holes in the bottom of those then? I'm also going to set mine up so that I can put the winch off my jeep onto it. (It's hydraulic, going to set it up to be portable so I can use it on both tractor or jeep.)

E.

I plan on doing the same for my CK2510. But I'll do drain holes since it'll live outside. I'm shooting for about 600 lbs and I'm going to add lots of rocks to cut down on how much concrete I have to buy/mix. The receiver is a good idea. I think I already have one. The pins are the only thing I guess I'll have to buy.

 

[bigtiller]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I've got a ck20s so it doesn't have to be that heavy. It will have a hitch receiver, I finished that up yesterday, I've been debating the idea of putting tubes in - I imagine you guys must put drain holes in the bottom of those then? I'm also going to set mine up so that I can put the winch off my jeep onto it. (It's hydraulic, going to set it up to be portable so I can use it on both tractor or jeep.)

E.

I don't see any advantage in filling a ballast box with plastic tubes of air. Weld some pipe on the outside for your shovel and rake to set in, then fill the box with Portland cement rather than concrete. And forget adding rocks, add something heavy like steel.

 

[Djames55]

I just use 800 lbs of lead... Got it free back in my round track racing days... I've got 400 more pounds if I need it...

 

[Everhard]

Lol nice! A chunk of lead would do it for sure, but I've filled the barrel already, thanks anyway maybe some one else could use it.

E.

 

[k0ua]

I just use 800 lbs of lead... Got it free back in my round track racing days... I've got 400 more pounds if I need it...

You do know that the last primary lead smelter in the USA was closed by EPA regs last December 2013?. I would be saving that lead to make bullets with.

 

[AaronS]

I did like most above and added pvc. Even though I keep it parked under a roof, I did drill drain holes in the bottom of each for "just in case". Rather than a barrel, I was very lucky to find an actual ballast box for next to nothing. With the steel inside the concrete, mine weighs around 1500 pounds.

 

[Buggs67]

I just use 800 lbs of lead... Got it free back in my round track racing days... I've got 400 more pounds if I need it...

At $.55 for lead recycling your counter weight cost you $440. Steel is also recyclable. My rocks are free and plentiful.

 

[kubotakid USA]

I did like most above and added pvc. Even though I keep it parked under a roof, I did drill drain holes in the bottom of each for "just in case". Rather than a barrel, I was very lucky to find an actual ballast box for next to nothing. With the steel inside the concrete, mine weighs around 1500 pounds.

I love your post,.And back ground. Thanks for posting,..Eric

 

[crazyal]

At $.55 for lead recycling your counter weight cost you $440. Steel is also recyclable. My rocks are free and plentiful.

I used rocks as well, I like free. My 55 gallon drum weighs slightly over 1100 lbs and probably cost me 4 bags of Quickrete and a bunch of free chunks of granite laying around my property. Between the filled tires and the ballast barrel it's more than enough for my tractor. If I was going to use something that had value, like scrap steel I would just go to a tire shop and buy old wheel weights and mix them into the cement. I put a rack on the outside of the barrel to hold things like a chainsaw, chains, shovel, etc. It gives me more flexibility.