Winch-Operated Parbuckle Log-Loading Ramp
Whether homemade or commercial, a Winch-Operated Parbuckle Log-Loading Ramp is designed to allow one to roll long, large-diameter logs from the ground up onto the deck-bed of a stationary sawmill, portable sawmill, or log-carrying trailer. The basic items needed include: two ramps (steel or wood), a winch unit (hand-cranked, battery-powered, or plug-in electric), winch-holding mast,…
Read MoreElectric Hanging Harnessing System
Designed for her by a local harness maker, this Electric Hanging Harnessing System allows Jennifer Watchous of Newton, KS, to harness her large draft horses by herself. Called the “Harness Hire,” it’s a remote controlled, electric-powered winch crane (made from 2-inch square tubing) that’s mounted on the wall of her horse barn. It extends 15…
Read MoreFront-end Bale Spear Attachment
With a tractor- or skid steer-mounted Front-end Bale Spear Attachment, one person can raise, move, and stack large round or large square hay bales most anywhere desired (e.g., truck bed, wagon, field, barn). The attachment consists of (1) a varied-width rectangular frame that affixes to the loader arms, most being quick-attach system adaptable; (2) from…
Read MoreWalk-Behind Weed Wiper
Designed primarily for larger gardens and smaller commercial operations, this large-wheeled Walk-Behind Weed Wiper allows one to safely kill weeds in row-middles without the danger of spray drift. Its battery-powered motor underneath the 20-gallon tank continuously feeds the liquid herbicide to the wiper pad. This implement accommodates 18-, 24-, and 32-inch pads.
Read MoreCompact Handheld Flame Weeder
A Compact Handheld Flame Weeder-also known as a weed torch-is a relatively lightweight and inexpensive tool used primarily for spot weeding in gardens (between rows and between plants in the row), along fences/borders, around trees/shrubs, on driveways, sidewalks, walkways, etc. Other uses include lighting charcoal, burning leaves in fall, melting ice/snow in winter. The weeder…
Read MoreZero-Turn Mower One-Hand Steering Bar
A Zero-Turn Mower One-Hand Steering Bar is designed to allow the user to carry out all the mower’s driving functions (steer, maneuver, control speed) utilizing just one hand. The device will reportedly fit most mowers and attaches with two brackets on the existing handles. After initial installation, it can be attached/detached with limited effort.
Read MoreTertill Weeding Robot
Intended for home garden use, this solar-powered Tertill Weeding Robot doesn’t pull weeds; instead, it prevents them from growing all season long. The 12-inch-diameter device has a solar panel on top and four special “scrubbing” wheels plus a string trimmer underneath. With the push of a button, the robot travels back and forth through the…
Read MoreHandheld Gas-Powered Trencher
With a reportedly heavy-duty two-cycle engine plus a variety of blade sizes/configurations, this Hand-Held Gas-Powered Trencher is designed to create a clean, accessible trench, even through tough soil and roots. With dual blades affixed, the tool can reportedly dig a V-trench that’s 12 inches deep and 51/2 inches wide at the top. Remove one of…
Read MorePTO Sling
The PTO Sling is designed to relieve one of having to hold and support an implement’s driveline (i.e., PTO shaft) during the connection process – a task that otherwise requires manually lifting the heavy driveline then stooping or crouching at potentially awkward angles while reaching for the PTO housing area. Instead, the apparatus uses leverage…
Read MoreWheeled Baby-Leaf Greens Harvester
With this 30+-inch-wide Wheeled Baby-Leaf Greens Harvester, one person can reportedly harvest as much as 350 pounds of leafy greens per hour. Powering its cutting blades, winnower, and conveyor is a cordless drill with a pull-cord used to depress the trigger as the harvester is being wheeled. Also, its rear-mounted collection bag opens from the…
Read MoreDIY Unistrut Hive Lifter
This winch-assisted DIY Unistrut Hive Lifter allows one with leg, arm, and/or back limitations to hoist and transport an entire hive or individual hive bodies with reduced strain. It can be built with low-cost, readily-available materials and common farm shop tools. Detailed plans for making the lifter pictured here (sized to fit a 161/4- x…
Read MoreTowable Remote-Controlled Forklift
Receiver-hitched to most any type of vehicle (truck, skid steer, UTV), this Towable Remote-Controlled Forklift (called Tow-A-Lift) can be transported where needed and over various types of terrain. With hand-held joystick-equipped remote, the user directs the unit to pick up, lift (to a maximum height of 8 feet), and move up to 3,500 pounds of…
Read More5-in-1 Mobile Workshop
The 5-in-1 Mobile Workshop is designed to allow one to combine in one place the items needed and then transport them to the project site. This portable workstation consists of: (1) a two-wheeled, 300-pound load-capacity hand truck; (2) adjustable, three-speed fan; (3) adjustable, 1,100-lumen, LED work light; (4) power strip with three 110-volt outlets, two…
Read MoreSeedling Tray Plug Dislodgers
Seedling Tray Plug Dislodgers (also called poppers or pushers) are designed to quickly loosen/remove the plugs with little to no damage to the root systems, thus minimizing transplant failure. Following are three of the more common dislodging devices. (1) Metal sheet with cone-shaped spikes (Bootstrap Farmers): Designed for BF’ 72-, 128-, and 200-count trays only;…
Read MoreDrill-Powered Chain Binders
To aid in tying down a piece of equipment or heavy/bulky item on a trailer bed, chain binders are used to secure the chain’s tension. The traditional manual-type binder consists of a metal bar with a hook at both ends and a ratcheting lever in the middle. To operate, one affixes each hook onto the…
Read MoreHomemade Seedling Tray Dolly
This Homemade Seedling Tray Dolly allows one to transport up to 15 trays around greenhouse or field, which means less walking and greater efficiency. The farmer who built this conveyance used 15 3/8-inch rods, which he bent into a U-shape then welded them onto the sides of a commercially available dolly.
Read MoreCalving Assist Belt
This Calving Assist Belt is designed to help pull the calf safely, even if the cow goes down against a wall or in tight quarters. The device, which is worn around the buttocks, takes advantage of body weight and leg power to lessen lower back and shoulder strain. The pull ropes or chains are attached…
Read More3-in-1 Worktable/Dolly/Cart
This 3-in-1 Worktable/Dolly/Cart is indeed multi-functional. As a table, it provides a 401/2 x 201/2-inch work surface (with slotted areas for hand tools, etc.), which can reportedly handle a max load of 330 pounds when resting directly on the wheeled frame and 180 pounds when scissor-lifted to 31-inch full height. As a cart, with its…
Read MoreQuad-Friendly Reacher/Grabbers
These Quad-Friendly Reacher/Grabbers differ from conventional reacher/grabbers that require finger function and/or ability to firmly squeeze. The Quadtool and JAECO work by raising/lowering the wrist to open/close the gripping jaw; the KFK utilizes one hand to hold the device, the other to depress/release its plunger that opens/closes the jaw; The Hook-It is a bent metal…
Read MoreWire-Soldering Clamp
A Wire-Soldering Clamp holds in place and in alignment either two different wires to be united or one wire that needs to be reconnected. The tool clamps down onto the wires from either side, enabling easier soldering. It can be used for different gauges of wiring and protects the wire covering from abrasion, cuts, or…
Read MoreReacher/Grabber
A Reacher/Grabber, which serves as an extension of the arm, allows one to retrieve small-to-medium size, various shaped (but not heavy) items from high shelves, tight spaces, floors, or the ground without the need for extensive bending or stretching. Most types consist of a 32- to 36-inch shaft with a pistol-grip handle and pull-trigger at…
Read MoreProsthetic Heating System
A prosthetic device’s fiberglass or metal components are prone to become cold; in turn, that can produce pain and discomfort experienced in the remaining area where the device is located (e.g., hand, upper limb, lower limb, even nerve- or circulatory-related). Simple Abilities’ Prosthetic Heating System, which involves the placing of customized liners over, under, or…
Read MoreCustomized Gloves for Amputation or Limb Difference
Customized Gloves for Amputation or Limb Difference are available from these sources. Some suppliers design gloves (and glove liners) primarily for cold weather, including gloves/liners with integrated heating systems. One supplier (Benik) focuses on adapting neoprene gloves for work applications. Creating the correct glove(s) usually requires consultation involving the client, doctor or occupation therapist, and…
Read MoreFour-Wheeled Dump Cart
A Four-Wheeled Dump Cart allows one to move over uneven terrain-then deposit a load of dirt, mulch, debris, gravel, loose or bagged bulk material, etc., with more stability than does a single- or double-wheeled wheelbarrow. It is designed with 10-inch-diameter tires; has a polyester tray that is rust-proof; and has a quick-release, spring-loaded dump mechanism.…
Read MoreSkid Steer Folding Grab Bars
Getting on/off one’s skid steer can be a daunting task for those with leg impairments and/or arm-strength limitations. One possible solution is a set of these Skid Steer Folding Grab Bars, which consists of a pull-down bar with grab handle and a permanently-affixed bar mounted side by side to the machine’s both left and right…
Read MoreHomemade Load-Centered Wheelbarrow
Unlike a standard manual wheelbarrow (i.e., cargo tray with wheel in front and handles behind), this Homemade Load-Centered Wheelbarrow is a rectangular frame made from narrow lengths of any available material (in this example, bamboo) joined together by straps, cords, or wire and with a bicycle tire affixed in the middle of the frame. The…
Read MoreHarvest-Wall Vertical Growing System
The Harvest-Wall Vertical Growing System is designed to provide a controlled environment for organically producing leafy greens and vegetables continuously and in a wide variety of locations yet with 97% less water than conventional gardening and no pesticides. A complete system consists of: (1) the wall or walls (being attachable and varying in number of…
Read MoreHomemade Loader Firewood Basket
With his Homemade Loader Firewood Basket, Dave Fisher of Syracuse, NY, can transport about 2,500 pounds of ready-to-sell wood from the splitter to the storage area via tractor or skid steer with minimum handling required. He made the basket from an old round-bale hay ring plus hog wire-fence panel, which allows debris to be filtered…
Read MoreRemote-Controlled Trailer Movers
Remote-Controlled Trailer Movers-also called dollies, tugs, pullers, pushers-are used to maneuver large/heavy, wheeled conveyances (e.g., trailers, grain wagons, machinery, campers, boat haulers) relatively short distances to/from pull-vehicles, storage areas, etc. To move an item, the Parkit360, Trailer Valet, or TRAX attaches via ball hitch (video #1); whereas the Enduro, attached to the chassis, powers alloy…
Read MoreMonarch Electric Autonomous Tractor
Utilizing artificial-intelligence (AI), the Monarch Electric Autonomous Tractor (known as the MK-V) is equipped with 3-D cameras and sensors that allow it to be operated with or without a driver. Its AI capabilities also collect data that analyze crop health/performance and various other management-related functions, plus activate safety practices (e.g.. collision prevention, PTO protection, and…
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