Metal Thickness?

4570Man · Dec 13, 2022

jamesgpeck said:
An alternative to rental is buying one used, using it, and then reselling it. What if you spent every waking hour for a couple of years on your project plus a bundle on materials, and did not end up with a useable machine?

I bought a used Kubota KX-040 about 2 years ago and I’ve put about 250 hours on it since then. I could still sell same price I paid 2 years ago. I probably technically still lost money to inflation but I’d say that’s a good trade off for the work it’s done. A homemade excavator won’t retain any value at all. You’re probably going to get hosed on just the material and definitely won’t recover anything for your time building it. If tinkering is your hobby that’s one thing but trying to build a machine under the impression of saving money is foolish. Put in some overtime at your job and you’d be way ahead.

Kasamoto · Dec 13, 2022

BxB301 said:
I was thinking about using the same material on the whole thing (or, "body)
I have about 2 sqft of 5/8th plate, anything else I would need to buy.
Local metal shop doesn't have scrap, and only sell 4x8 sheets. One sheet should do it, and given the cost, I only want to buy one.
It looks like they did the same thing here, as the boom and base are all the same thickness.

Ill be using it in the Arizona sand to dig trenches for sprinkler pipe, and a future block wall footing. Past that, just random digging projects.
I have a ditch witch now, but its absolutely miserable in the sand. Its like Atreyu trying to pull the horse out of the mud in The Neverending Story.
I've thought about mounting a winch to it, so it can pull itself along. If I can successfully build this, selling that clunker should mostly pay for it.

A mini excavator would 100% serve me better, but they are $20,000 on the cheap side; but most listing I see are $28k+
Even used Bobcates are over $30k locally.
Give the cost, storage, upkeep, this tiny machine would serve me better.
(also, this new is about $14,000 + shipping and import)

Pic here, looks a bit thicker than 1/4"
I like that the hydraulic tank is the seat, but I don't see a filter....

View attachment 773396

I use a chisel plow with a simple adapter and a cable pulling grip to pull pex through the pasture to water my cows here in Tennessee. Goes 6-8" deep and has never frozen.

sallyb · Dec 13, 2022

BxB301 said:
Im going to try and build myself a mini digger, similar to the one pictured.
Its a small machine with just under a 2x4 base, powered by a Honda GX160.
Without the tracks - given the cost of the tracks, motors, roller wheels, sprockets, rotary union, and a turret bearing large enough for the union, it'll have 2 roller wheels and 2 legs.
Anywho, I was going to use 1/4" steel plate, but the pictures look like it might be a 5/16 or 3/8 (or, given the country of origin, 8 or 10mm)

Think 1/4" would work?
I have a Weld-Pack 180, which technically can weld up to 1/2", however as I'm not a pro-welder, I'm more comfortable with 1/4"; but I don't know if it'll be strong enough.
Also, cylinder bore size, should I do 2", or smaller?

View attachment 773372

Wow what fun! I would love to have your skills. I have for about 5 years now trying to come up with a way to put my Davis 100a trencher on a trailer , it is too heavy for my 2919i Branson . It has hydraulic pump that runs off tractor pto. I will go today and try to take some pictures so you can see and maybe you or someone can give me some options on how to make it usable. Thank you.

cpainter · Dec 13, 2022

dfkrug said:
I posted this thread about 9y ago. Still works well, but need to upgrade to electric fuel pump. Kinda like to replace it with a 4x4 Workman or ProGator.....

a homemade utility vehicle with hydraulic dump

Well, not completely homemade; I started with a Suzuki Samurai. Moving dirt around with your tractor, one loader bite at a time can be pretty inefficient and frustrating, esp when you need to move the dirt more than 100 feet or so. 500 feet, and you REALLY want a dumptruck. So.....I have...

www.tractorbynet.com

To reuse "junk", I made the deck of the box from a Ford Ranger box, the hyd cyl was the first dump cyl on my concrete mixer, the PS pump stolen off an Infiniti Q45. The Weber carb I had to buy (used for $100). I used a new Grammer tractor suspension seat.

I just read thru that old post on your Frankenzuk and giggled the whole time. I love seeing statics and dynamics discussed on tractor forums...by us dumb, redneck, farming and ranching country hicks.

dfkrug · Dec 13, 2022

cpainter said:
I love seeing statics and dynamics discussed on tractor forums...by us dumb, redneck, farming and ranching country hicks.

Math works in the sticks, too!

I have moved many tons of dirt with that machine. Mud, however, was an adventure.

Always thinking of ways to DIY it differently. (Scrap the OEM engine and replace with Goldwing engine, then put seat over engine?)

cpainter · Dec 13, 2022

dfkrug said:
Math works in the sticks, too!

I have moved many tons of dirt with that machine. Mud, however, was an adventure.

Always thinking of ways to DIY it differently. (Scrap the OEM engine and replace with Goldwing engine, then put seat over engine?)

I love finding ways to make scraps useful again too. I've found that dumb country folk are some of the smartest and most ingenious problem solvers around. How often do you see free body diagrams and trig in fashion and entertainment forums???

panamaguy · Dec 13, 2022

BxB301 said:
Im going to try and build myself a mini digger, similar to the one pictured.
Its a small machine with just under a 2x4 base, powered by a Honda GX160.
Without the tracks - given the cost of the tracks, motors, roller wheels, sprockets, rotary union, and a turret bearing large enough for the union, it'll have 2 roller wheels and 2 legs.
Anywho, I was going to use 1/4" steel plate, but the pictures look like it might be a 5/16 or 3/8 (or, given the country of origin, 8 or 10mm)

Think 1/4" would work?
I have a Weld-Pack 180, which technically can weld up to 1/2", however as I'm not a pro-welder, I'm more comfortable with 1/4"; but I don't know if it'll be strong enough.
Also, cylinder bore size, should I do 2", or smaller?

View attachment 773372

You will be sadly disappointed. If the ground is hard you will plant the bucket and just lift the machine. I have a IHI 15 NX that weighs 4000 lbs and would not get anything lighter. A friend has a micro CAT hoe and tommow I use my machine to dig him a swimming pool. Micros are really small and really cute but worthless. The way the economy is headed just wait a few months and then go shopping with cash. Read banks are buying there own car lots because they are getting so many back. Cash will be king in 6 months

Graemet · Dec 13, 2022

BxB301 said:
Im going to try and build myself a mini digger, similar to the one pictured.
Its a small machine with just under a 2x4 base, powered by a Honda GX160.
Without the tracks - given the cost of the tracks, motors, roller wheels, sprockets, rotary union, and a turret bearing large enough for the union, it'll have 2 roller wheels and 2 legs.
Anywho, I was going to use 1/4" steel plate, but the pictures look like it might be a 5/16 or 3/8 (or, given the country of origin, 8 or 10mm)

Think 1/4" would work?
I have a Weld-Pack 180, which technically can weld up to 1/2", however as I'm not a pro-welder, I'm more comfortable with 1/4"; but I don't know if it'll be strong enough.
Also, cylinder bore size, should I do 2", or smaller?

View attachment 773372