Ballast Pix of concrete filled ballast box

[JB4310]

Didn't want to at first but needed more ballast for traction in snow and counter weight for heavy pallet fork work.
Six 80# bags of concrete plus metal box makes it about 500 pounds, not sure what it weighed before with 3/4" crushed stone.
Of course I got the idea for the pvc pipe on this site, 1-4", 1-3" and 4-1.5" pipes, while I was doing it I was thinking maybe steel pipe would be better cause if one snaps off your stuck now that it's in concrete, I doubt the 3 or 4" will break, the 4" pipe will hold 4 long handled tools by it self.

 

[Chris2520]

Jb4310 , that looks great...
I did the same thing , except i used cast iron pipes
to try to keep as much weight as i could. and i ended up
useing only 4 pipes. i thought that was enough for me.
I like the way you painted it. you did a great job.
here is a pic of mine. you can get some nice rubber matting
from Home depot. to give it a nice touch. i find the pipes work good
to hold my logging chains...

Chris...

 

[Killer_B]

Great idea! Now I know what to do with mine.

One question/thought: Do you guys keep these things outside? If so, would water pool up on top or down the pipes, eventually rusting it out? Would some type of weep holes be a good idea? Am I over thinking this?

Thanks for the helpful post and photos.

 

[JDFANATIC]

JB,

Nice job! You'll notice a lot more stability with the concrete-filled box. I just wish I had thought of putting in the pipes before I filled mine!

 

[Malvern]

Thats a great place to mount a tool box!

Malvern

 

[Chris2520]

Great idea! Now I know what to do with mine.

One question/thought: Do you guys keep these things outside? If so, would water pool up on top or down the pipes, eventually rusting it out? Would some type of weep holes be a good idea? Am I over thinking this?

Thanks for the helpful post and photos.

Killer_B , I dont know about everyone else. but none of my attachments
stays outside. there all in the garage... but my pipes are cast iron
and i welded them in. and there are 5/16 holes drilled in the buttom under the pipe. so water can drain out.

Chris....

 

[JB4310]

Chris, I like the steel pipe, looks like 2"? I use mine for the long handled tools like rakes, shovels and brooms etc. but if I catch a limb with a tool the plastic will break, I've got every kind of tool for coring and boring concrete, being a drainage/waterproofing contractor, but it would be a bear to replace one of the pipes now, especially since I used 5000 PSI concrete! I had plenty of steel pipe around oh well didn't have a problem for the last 2 years with the plastic pipes set in stone.

Killer_B, mine is drained also.

JDFANATIC, you could core drill it, a 2" bit is just right for 1.5" pipe, it would be a PITA, you'd have to lay it down so you could drill horizontally.

Malvern, I am thinking about a tool box on the side, want to leave the center open.

How about this, a chainsaw scabbard set in the concrete for the guys who do alot of saw work, I only do a little right now and my small saw will fit in the 3" pipe.

 

[ducati996]

JB,

Nice job! You'll notice a lot more stability with the concrete-filled box. I just wish I had thought of putting in the pipes before I filled mine!

I always thought of the FEL as the handy carry all

 

[tinman955]

Boxes look real nice, how much do they way just curious.

 

[VABlue]

Depends on what you fill them with. Some people have (7) 80# bags of portland cement. Mine only is only filled 2/3 with clay soil (hard enough now that it might as well be cement). I plan on redoing that when it's cooler outside. I'll probably fill it with crushed stone...