1:1 Wooden Scale Model
This article forms part of a series concerning the development of methods of compost tea application via the keyline plow which are being published on taranakifarm.com
Part 1 : Introduction
Part 2 : Designing the Keyline plow frame extension.
Part 3 : 1:1 Scale Wooden Model
Part 4 : Re-Inventing the Herbicide Tank
Part 5 : Farm Like a Gardener
Part 6 : The Final Prototype
1:1 Wooden Scale Model
Today I developed a 1:1 scale model of the platform supports. This allowed me to consider the design in more depth and get a feel for where the pressure points are. I constructed the model from cypress which obviously is much easier to work than box section or plate steel. I’ve established exact dimensions so constructing the steel version only involves cutting each ‘part’ of the assembly, then welding it together. All position issues, levels etc. are correct. No painful mistakes.
My only regret thus far, is employing non-standard box section steel for the frame extension. In the keyline plow, there are three sizes of box section employed. The main frame is constructed from 100×100mm RHS (Rolled Hollow Section). This is a very strong steel product. One that allows the frame to withstand extreme pressures during plowing. The coulter beams, which don’t experience the same stresses, are build from 75×75mm box section. Finally a smaller kind again is employed in the coulter assemblies themselves - the 50×50mm variety.
Since the frame extension was made up for a purpose other than its current application, I opted for 90×90mm. I briefly considered a ’sleeved’ design. Involving reversed coulter with a ’sleeve’ of 90×90mm over the 75×75mm. The intent - to create an extended rear platform. But the forces at play made me abandon it. If I had opted for 100×100, the platform supports would be fully reversible. A regrettable oversight.
For the supports, I’m using the same box section as the coulter beams. 75×75mm. Never to later to correct the course. I’m pleased with this design and look forward to creating the final steel versions.
Update
The steel brackets are now complete and working exactly as intended, with strength to spare. I anticipated a measure of ’spring’ based on the design, but this doesn’t seem evident. They are extremely robust, and very straightforward to construct.
One of the completed steel support brackets.
As it appears, mounted on the plow.
Part 4 : Re-Inventing the Herbicide Tank
Hello Ben: Great to work together on this project, and also quite exciting to look forward to teaching the system together. This is “a first” here in Australia, as far as I know, the marriage of the keyline plow with “compost tea” soil inoculum. This is cutting edge technology that has the potential of being the most advanced systems to date for repairing one of the most serious issues with productive soils, soil compaction. It is soil compaction that prevents water from being absorbed into soils in the first place, when we reduce soil compaction we also prevent erosion as the water is absorbed into soils instead of running off and taking our topsoil and nutrients with it. It is the essential combination of breaking up the soils with the keyline plow and the injection of beneficial soil microbes deep into the rip-lines that moves us quickly toward more productive agriculture.. paul@trustnature.com.au
Found your talk at Bannockburn quite interesting. Have been brewing microbes for “biological” broadacre cropping using the LawrieCo system. They tell me that microbes can suffer damage at pressures above 40 psi.