Members home made attachments / improvements

[Marks481]

Barry. Did you think their prices were reasonable. After looking at Speedy Metal site, I got a rude shock as far as the prices, and that did not include shipping.

The only place that I have found close to where I live is Metal Supermarket, and their prices are not much better then SPeedy Metals (albeit without the shipping).

ANybody know of a decent place to buy metal in MA/RI/CT? How about near DC (eg 50-75 mile range)?

 

[Rivco]

ANybody know of a decent place to buy metal in MA/RI/CT? How about near DC (eg 50-75 mile range)?

Tim,
Check your local yellow pages for steel suppliers. As an example I got a price of $ 150.00 + tax. ( u - pickup ) from a supplier in New Bedford, MA for a full length of
3" x 3" x 3/16" wall sq. tube ( 24' from this supplier.. other dealers might have 20' lengths) cut into 6- 4' lengths +/-.
Its always cheaper if you buy full length stock and full sheets of steel plate and have it cut into manageable sizes for transporting instead of buying small quantities on line at inflated prices plus the cost of shipping.

 

[Marks481]

That seems a pretty good price (almost hald of the metal supermarket). What was the name of the company? New Bedford is only an hour from my house, closer then the Metal Supermarket in Waterbury, CT.

 

[Rivco]

That seems a pretty good price (almost hald of the metal supermarket). What was the name of the company? New Bedford is only an hour from my house, closer then the Metal Supermarket in Waterbury, CT.

Tim,
I have purchased steel from these steel distributors:

Mid City Steel
Westport, MA.
800-334-4789 ( I have purchased here )

Turner Steel
West Bridgewater, MA.
800-521-8881 ( I have purchased here )

General Supply And Metals Inc.
New Bedford, MA.
508-999-6257 ( I have purchased here )

Cody & Tobin Inc.
New Bedford, MA.
508-999-6711

Dean Steel
Warwick, RI.
800-556-7644 ( closer to you )

I hope this info helps.

Richard

 

[TRUKFXR]

ON THE MINI-HOE IS THE BOOM TUBE 4'' X 4'' SQUARE ? IS IT MOUNTED AT A 90 DEG ANGLE TO THE MOUNTING PLATE?

 

[KentT]

ON THE MINI-HOE IS THE BOOM TUBE 4'' X 4'' SQUARE ? IS IT MOUNTED AT A 90 DEG ANGLE TO THE MOUNTING PLATE?

YES and YES

 

[TRUKFXR]

Thanks Kent, I have seen others that mount them on a slight angle (about
15 degrees) downward, and trying to decide which would be best.

 

[Rivco]

Thanks Kent, I have seen others that mount them on a slight angle (about
15 degrees) downward, and trying to decide which would be best.

Here are two pictures to compare. Kents OEM power trac minihoe and my custom built minihoe for my 180. The angled dipper arm allowed me to dig deeper and closer to my PT. I could flat bottom a trench at
48". My minihoe had a 3" x 3" X 3/16" wall boom/dipper arm with a
10" & 16" bucket. I don't remember if the PT 4" x4" boom/dipper arm is 1/4" wall.

 

[Sedgewood]

I don't remember if the PT 4" x4" boom/dipper arm is 1/4" wall.

I remember. The one I broke was 1/8 inch :-(

Sedgewood

 

[Rivco]

I remember. The one I broke was 1/8 inch :-(

Sedgewood

WOW !!- That amazes me that Power-Trac would build their minihoes with
1/8" thick wall stock especially on a 3" x 3" ( went back and read your post on the damage ) boom / dipper arm being used on the larger power tracs I remember your past posts regarding the bent boom. What did you rebuild it with- 1/4" ?


I down sized the stock compared to the PT minihoe ( or so I thought ) when I built mine because the 180 is a much smaller capacity machine, but I still went with 3/16" wall stock.