Turf

shrek008 · 08-05-2017 12:09pm #1

Anyone know of any type of hand held roller that would cut freshly cut hopper turf into sods about a foot long, usually do it with the spade but its a pain in the ass!! Makes it very easy to work with if sods are cut to uniform lengths

Muckit · 08-05-2017 2:45pm

If the lad cutting the turf had it set up right on his hopper there would be no need! But I know what you mean!

kollegeknight · 08-05-2017 2:51pm

shrek008 wrote: »

Anyone know of any type of hand held roller that would cut freshly cut hopper turf into sods about a foot long, usually do it with the spade but its a pain in the ass!! Makes it very easy to work with if sods are cut to uniform lengths

It definately works, we used one for years. The turf has to be fresh enough though.

It was like a big pizza slicer with the disk made from stainless steel about 450mm diameter.

Shannon757 · 08-05-2017 2:53pm

kollegeknight wrote: »

It definately works, we used one for years. The turf has to be fresh enough though.

It was like a big pizza slicer with the disk made from stainless steel about 450mm diameter.

Have 2 of them here. Great yoke altogether for slicing through rows.

Hagimalone · 08-05-2017 2:55pm

We made one yrs ago, when machine didn't have it installed, basically the bottoms of buckets, with threaded bar through centre, at a lenght apart that you want your sod, attach handle to centre or bar & of you go

Green farmer · 08-05-2017 3:44pm

I use a stick with a old con saw blade / disk, nailed on to end. Basic but does job.

SuperTortoise · 08-05-2017 5:11pm

I do go back after it's cut (less than 24hrs) with a broom stick and a knife gunthered onto the end of it and pull it along the sod, once it forms a skin on top it'll break where it was marked.

buffalobilly · 08-05-2017 10:22pm

SuperTortoise wrote: »

I do go back after it's cut (less than 24hrs) with a broom stick and a knife gunthered onto the end of it and pull it along the sod, once it forms a skin on top it'll break where it was marked.

thats the best job for it any wee mark and it will break
a hell of a lot easier than using a big heavy con saw blade

shrek008 · 08-05-2017 10:42pm

So have i got this right? You guys reckon its a better job just to put a track on top of the turf rather than cutting it all the way through!

buffalobilly · 09-05-2017 6:32am

shrek008 wrote: »

So have i got this right? You guys recrkon its a better job just to put a track on top of the turf rather than cutting it all the way through!

Does the same job I will put up a photo of what I have here later

BANNERMAN98 · 11-05-2018 10:57pm

buffalobilly wrote: »

Does the same job I will put up a photo of what I have here later

Have you the pic up? I'm looking for something like that

Aravo · 11-05-2018 11:06pm

shrek008 wrote:

So have i got this right? You guys reckon its a better job just to put a track on top of the turf rather than cutting it all the way through!

A light track will do the job. A prong of an old fork/grape works well. The sun/wind will do the rest. If it rained heavy straight after cutting it's likely the marks from hopper machine are gone. So remarking will assist otherwise you will end up with sods breaking all over the place. Not as easy to work with.

Aravo · 11-05-2018 11:09pm

Serious money in cutting turf especially if a load of banks together, therefore little travelling. A couple of machines, no stress of travelling on roads, like with drawing silage.

Muckit · 12-05-2018 12:01am

The future of silage is still fairly safe though.

wayoutwest · 12-05-2018 9:28am

I made this one out of an old circular saw disc (with teeth ground off), and a 2x1"baton. Makes quick, light work of scoring turf - reach out , chop down onto the furthest sod, and then draw towords you. I like to cut about half way through, rather than score, because it really encourages the sod to seperate where it's meant to.
20170509_202311.jpg
I'm still waiting for mine to be cut....last year I had it all in the shed on the Summer Solstice (june 21) and totally escaped the pisswet August. Was going to cut more than usual this year due to the high chance of cold winters ahead associated with the low sunspot activity that is happening now.

BANNERMAN98 · 12-05-2018 9:24pm

im hoping to have mine cut next week at the latest.

lakill Farm · 12-05-2018 10:02pm

Why doesn’t the hoppers cut the fresh turf every 14/16 inch ?

Anywhere I see it cut and my own is always done as the machine cuts it.

Aravo · 12-05-2018 10:27pm

lakill Farm wrote:

Anywhere I see it cut and my own is always done as the machine cuts it.

lakill Farm wrote:

Why doesnâ€™t the hoppers cut the fresh turf every 14/16 inch ?

True, but if it rains heavy after it's cut the marks can be gone. Some machines mark better than others. I always check the marking afterwards so there are not areas unmarked as they are sure to break into loads of small bits.

Bullocks · 13-05-2018 8:39am

lakill Farm wrote: »

Why doesn’t the hoppers cut the fresh turf every 14/16 inch ?

Anywhere I see it cut and my own is always done as the machine cuts it.

Some people prefer the rows uncut so when they are turning they can pull more than one sod over at a time

wayoutwest · 13-05-2018 9:22am

One year the machine scored them into short sods which made it a pain to handle, last year it was the correct length but too lightly marked in places + got a few showers after spreading. It's so quick to do with the disc that i think i will get the man to leave it unscored this year.

If anyone is struggling with wet spreadground, I would recommend the pallet method - done it a few times now + works a treat. 10 sods to each 'tower' plus connecting sods ontop to stabilise against wind. Once the turf is on the pallet, it doesn't matter how much weather hits it.
20170516_180625.jpg

20170516_180714.jpg

Tell me how · 13-05-2018 9:27am

Aravo wrote:

A light track will do the job. A prong of an old fork/grape works well. The sun/wind will do the rest. If it rained heavy straight after cutting it's likely the marks from hopper machine are gone. So remarking will assist otherwise you will end up with sods breaking all over the place. Not as easy to work with.

I'd argue to slice right through or sods will break unevenly leaving lots of cerhawns.

Even length sods will making turning and footing much easier. In my experience.

lakill Farm · 13-05-2018 9:33am

Bullocks wrote: »

Some people prefer the rows uncut so when they are turning they can pull more than one sod over at a time

Right. We never turn any of it except the first sod and Last sod in a hopper. They tend to be formed poorly. If there is a wet spot on way out when drawing these are used

lakill Farm · 13-05-2018 9:40am

Bullocks wrote: »

Some people prefer the rows uncut so when they are turning they can pull more than one sod over at a time

Right. We never turn any of it except the first sod and Last sod in a hopper. They tend to be formed poorly. If there is a wet spot on way out when drawing these are used

Bullocks · 13-05-2018 10:04am

lakill Farm wrote: »

Right. We never turn any of it except the first sod and Last sod in a hopper. They tend to be formed poorly. If there is a wet spot on way out when drawing these are used

Tradition here is turn , foot and refoot . Torture .
Some lads will foot it straight up alright .

Hard Knocks · 13-05-2018 10:09am

lakill Farm wrote: »

Right. We never turn any of it except the first sod and Last sod in a hopper. They tend to be formed poorly. If there is a wet spot on way out when drawing these are used

We never turned, just foot, refoot & bag
Saw a neighbour cut, turn, turn & home.
He started after we finished the 1st foot & had in the shed when we were refooting

Tell me how · 13-05-2018 10:12am

The way we do it, first turn is 180 degrees.

Some years, we've turned again and not footed. Have never turned twice and footed but that's not to say it's wrong.

Goes in a covered reek by bank for 8 months or so and then to shed.

Reggie. · 13-05-2018 10:31am

Bullocks wrote: »

Tradition here is turn , foot and refoot . Torture .
Some lads will foot it straight up alright .

Foot once here then into the trailer

Bullocks · 13-05-2018 3:41pm

Reggie. wrote: »

Foot once here then into the trailer

Do ye leave it season for a year in the shed before burning ? I think if it gets a good year seasoning its grand either way

Reggie. · 13-05-2018 4:58pm

Bullocks wrote: »

Do ye leave it season for a year in the shed before burning ? I think if it gets a good year seasoning its grand either way

No burned straight away

Bullocks · 13-05-2018 5:00pm

Reggie. wrote: »

No burned straight away

Ye are spoiled up there

Reggie. · 13-05-2018 5:01pm

Bullocks wrote: »

Ye are spoiled up there

Yeah it's stone turf. Very lucky

lakill Farm · 13-05-2018 5:23pm

Bullocks wrote: »

Do ye leave it season for a year in the shed before burning ? I think if it gets a good year seasoning its grand either way

I foot it straight. And home.

Burning 2015 turf at moment. It’s serious stuff.

Can’t beat 2 years seasoning

the_pen_turner · 13-05-2018 5:26pm

No amount of good weather is a replacement for a few years in a well ventilated shed

Aravo · 13-05-2018 11:02pm

I know of one area that turfs gets cut and then it's straight home. No turning and footing. Some turf bank to do that.

Tell me how · 13-05-2018 11:06pm

Aravo wrote:

I know of one area that turfs gets cut and then it's straight home. No turning and footing. Some turf bank to do that.

How long does it stay on the bank?
Surely this is weather dependent.

Aravo · 13-05-2018 11:18pm

Tell me how wrote:

How long does it stay on the bank? Surely this is weather dependent.

Yes, but a very good bank that it's spread on is key. My eyes nearly watered when I was told and my eyes did water when another confirmed.

Aravo · 25-05-2018 10:08pm

Looked at the turf earlier. With this weather I think we will not be turning but footing straight. Great turf weather.

the_pen_turner · 25-05-2018 10:23pm

shocking drying today

Tell me how · 25-05-2018 10:30pm

Unreal day in bog today. Brilliant sunshine and light breeze all day. Turf drying weather 101.

CloughCasey1 · 25-05-2018 10:51pm

Cut yesterday afternoon wasnt on the ground an hour and........

Reggie. · 25-05-2018 11:21pm

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

Cut yesterday afternoon wasnt on the ground an hour and........

Jaysus

Base price · 25-05-2018 11:36pm

;) It wouldnt be a proper turf cutting thread without -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaFQezHF_8A

:D:D

keepalive213 · 26-05-2018 11:11pm

Turf cut 3 weeks ago, hopper turf
Spread 2 weeks ago
Footed last week
Home this coming week
Serious weather for drying, never seen anything like it.

Reggie. · 26-05-2018 11:16pm

keepalive213 wrote: »

Turf cut 3 weeks ago, hopper turf
Spread 2 weeks ago
Footed last week
Home this coming week
Serious weather for drying, never seen anything like it.

Turf cut 3 weeks ago. Still haven't seen it

timmiekp · 29-05-2018 10:48pm

Have our own bog at home don’t burn turf anymore is there much money to be made selling it and wat way to go about it.would be at it myself wat would be the minimum I’d have to cut.

Aravo · 30-05-2018 9:24pm

Reggie. wrote:

Turf cut 3 weeks ago. Still haven't seen it

I'm no genius, but i'd say it's coming along well.

I remember in either 2010 or 2011 the turf was home before bonfire night. It was cut earlier that year than this year. This year cut later, but it's flying.

the_pen_turner · 30-05-2018 9:40pm

talking to a guy today . he is drawing home last year turf today

Reggie. · 30-05-2018 9:53pm

Aravo wrote: »

I'm no genius, but i'd say it's coming along well.

I remember in either 2010 or 2011 the turf was home before bonfire night. It was cut earlier that year than this year. This year cut later, but it's flying.

Ah it's stone turf so it doesn't break up thankfully. It'll stay there till things calm down.

Kevhog1988 · 03-06-2018 11:52am

We have ours footed now and after the week id say its nearly fit for home. I don't get the turning and refooting craic lads do be going on with at all. We just foot it once. Let the wind in through it and into the trailer and home. Have never done it any other way and dont see the need. I see down in belmullet where the missus is from they bring it out in bags to the edge of the road and stack it there for the winter. if i had to go on with all that bollixing id just get oil.

Kevhog1988 · 03-06-2018 11:55am

i was showing a lad in work from achill the bog we get ours from and he reckons theres lads with worse fields at home

yer man goes in and levels the bog before putting out anything

Bullocks · 03-06-2018 1:58pm

theemigrant wrote: »

We have ours footed now and after the week id say its nearly fit for home. I don't get the turning and refooting craic lads do be going on with at all. We just foot it once. Let the wind in through it and into the trailer and home. Have never done it any other way and dont see the need. I see down in belmullet where the missus is from they bring it out in bags to the edge of the road and stack it there for the winter. if i had to go on with all that bollixing id just get oil.

If thats the worst you've seen in Belmullet you're not doing too bad

Turf

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