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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Pipe for building yard roller

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Steve Finley

01-30-2005 08:51:37




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I am in need of a four to five foot piece of gas pipe to build a yard roller. The diameter could vary anywhere from 24" to 36". 30" would actually be ideal. Does anyone know of a source for this type of thing. I haven't been able to come up with anything locally. Thanks.




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JT

02-02-2005 10:52:45




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
I have a 24X48 Roller made by Agri-Fab out of sullivan.IL. I paid $175.00?? for it, 6 years ago. It weights 900# when full. Already has a decent hitch on it. They sell for $250.00 now, you should be able to get at any lawn mower shop. I probably would not want anything any heavier than than, you will make your yard into a parking lot, then your grass cannot grow because of compaction. Then you get to aerate, more expense. A new Brinly hardy poly roller sells for $189.95 for a 24X36, weights 625# when full.

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Bud in NC

02-02-2005 04:30:43




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
Do you have any contacts at a local power plant? Every fossil and nuclear plant I've worked in had a scrap pile. I've bought scrap metal from a half dozen of them. I made a yard roller out of a 6 ft long piece of 12" pipe - weighs plenty to drive the spikes in the red clay here in NC, but I can fill it with water if I want to.



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dr.sportster

01-31-2005 08:30:14




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
Steve I am a metal scrounging dumpster diver.So I must say that its rare to find a pipe that big because Ive been looking for the same reason as you.Some type of tank or large vessel perhaps.[these are dangerous to cut open with torch]Good luck,be safe.



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T_Bone

01-30-2005 18:45:15




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
Hi Steve,

A concrete pipe might be easier to find then add end caps and fill with water.

T_Bone



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SHeiserman

01-30-2005 18:08:56




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
Try a mechanical contractor in your nearest city that does commercial piping. Pipe comes in 21' lengths, so they may have a short piece left over in a rack that will work for you. They may be able to refer you to a wholesale house that can help too. A piece of 36" weighs about 140 lbs/ft, so hopefully you've got moving it around covered too.



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Mike M

01-30-2005 17:53:18




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
My dad has one that is made like that. My buddy made it from oil field pipe. I don't know what it weighs ? There are some problems that come with a big roller also. If you have any hills you are going to need a 4x4 tractor.Next problem is that when it is wet enough to roll it out good a tractor big enough to handle it safely ruts the yard with tire tracks that the roller really doesn't get them back out. Ours is 5 feet wide and almost seems that it is spreading the weight out over to wide an area,it may of worked better narrower.

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greenbeanman in KS

01-30-2005 17:17:44




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
Slightly different, but what about using old crankcase oil in a roller instead of water?

I worked for a construction company that did some highway work, and all of our rollers were filled with used motor oil. By the way, (BTW) I know why they use those LARGE tractors on them--they pull very hard, especially when the roller is of the tined or sheep's foot design.



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Engineer20

01-30-2005 14:54:51




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
Could you make something out of a 55 gallon drum? They should be easy enough to come by.



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MAC,IL

01-30-2005 10:37:26




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
Check around at a salvage yard, an old upright air tank might work. If you want a solid one, check with the municipalites. Maybe you could get a meter tile for 25 bucks or so, fill the tile with concrete and peel the thing off when it hardens. Lumber yard may have these cardboard cylinders they use to pour pilings. That would work maybe if you want to make a solid one.



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jeffcat

01-30-2005 10:11:18




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
Another question.....can"t you use a lawn drag? I made one out of a 6X8" chunk of chain link and two scrap yard 2X2X6" angle bars. The tow bar is a four foot piece of 3/4 pipe that hooks to the lawn tractor. Total cost was around $45.00 It makes the loose dirt look like a pool table! Just spread a thin layer of dirt on your yard and drag it. If you roll it you will end up with a compacted parking lot. Just asking. Jeffcat.

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dr.sportster

02-02-2005 07:20:28




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to jeffcat, 01-30-2005 10:11:18  
Steve,Jeffcats rig sounds pretty good and the materials easier to find for free.



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Butcher

01-30-2005 09:59:16




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 08:51:37  
Not trying to be smart here but it sounds pricey what with the cost of steel these days. Could'nt you use an old hot water heater tank? The dia. would'nt be as big but the length would be about right. Just wondering.



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HarryG

01-30-2005 11:17:24




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Butcher, 01-30-2005 09:59:16  
I made one out of a water pressure bladder tank. I drove by a plumbing place and they had a bunch of old replaced ones all outside. I asked what they did with them and they said we throw them out as most are old and leak. I got one free. Drilled a hole welded a nipple in and fill with water. Of course had to fab a axle but had that around. Works great. Then I found one on sale at Tractor Supply for 100 bucks. I guess I'm about even considering labor.

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Steve Finley

01-30-2005 12:59:03




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to HarryG, 01-30-2005 11:17:24  
Thanks to all for the suggestions. I am thinking a lot more heavy duty than what you guys are talking. The concrete idea may be a possiblitly however. A neighbor has one somewhat like the one I am thinking of building. I think it is four feet wide and about 30" in diameter. We weighed it once and it weighs around 1800 lbs full when full of water. Most of the el cheapo rollers that you find at farm supply stores wouldn't weigh half of that. I know what you are saying about the compaction issue. I've never been a big believer in rolling yards, but my yard is so rough that I have to do something. These heavy rollers work great on a freshly graveled driveway also. If you pack it with a roller it will stay smooth and level for a long time.

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Pitch

01-30-2005 13:09:06




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Steve Finley, 01-30-2005 12:59:03  
Fall of 2003 TSC had a sale and I got one of their big rollers 36" dia x 48" lgth. I'm not gonna do the math for ya but when full it is a hefty thing. I paid less than $200.00 for it.



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Steve Finley

01-31-2005 03:54:15




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 Re: Pipe for building yard roller in reply to Pitch, 01-30-2005 13:09:06  
Thanks. I'll check out TSC. I've never seen one that big before at any of the farm stores. Any idea what gauge the steel would be? Thanks again.



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