Forum:

soil

I wanna make a broad fork.

brandon gross

pollinator

Posts: 251

I like...

posted 8 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

So I started teaching this year and have accesses atleast for now to w welder, torch, and grinder. So I want to make a broad fork as a class project. Most of the homemade of broad forks I have seen use big nails or rods, but I want to make something close to the quality and size of a meadow creator. https://meadowcreature.com/broadforks. My problem is that I cannot find any dimensions besides the length of the teeth. I mainlt need to know the general arc of the teeth. Could anyone post a side profile of there forks so I can come up with a templet for my teeth design? I would be happy to photograph the process.

My Signature for the last few years was "just spinning wheels," but after our PDC at Pauls Place this summer I feel like we are finally catching traction. Hope to be threading some more. got a roof on our house, swales dug, and finally starting to work on our plan in more details.

John Elliott

pollinator

Posts: 2392

105

posted 8 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

When I was growing up in the last millenium, my father had a "potato fork" which we used to loosen and turn soil (in addition to lifting spuds). It had about 6 tines, each about the width of a finger and spaced maybe two fingers apart. They were about the same arc as a regular round point digging shovel. Since it was for lifting potatoes out of the ground, it was not as wide as a broad fork, but that should give you a starting point.

Peter Ellis

Posts: 1670

Location: Fennville MI

posted 8 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Try reaching out to Larry Cooper at Gulland Forge. http://gullandforge.com/

He should be able to give you some ideas, if the pictures on his site are not inspiration and information enough.

round wood woodworking - air badge (verified skill)
Skill verified by Mike Haasl

woodland care - air badge (verified skill)
Skill verified by Mike Barkley

brandon gross

pollinator

Posts: 251

I like...

posted 8 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Well kinda looking for the flat steel fork like the Meadow Creator. I have some flat 1/2 in steel plate that I want to cut the forks out of. 1 because I have it 2 because it is part of what I am teaching right now. The round nail looking one look like they would be an issue in my really hard clay.

brandon gross

pollinator

Posts: 251

I like...

posted 8 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

So here is our broad fork I will post some pics of it in use soon.

Bryant RedHawk

gardener

Posts: 6829

Location: Arkansas - Zone 7B/8A stoney, sandy loam soil pH 6.5

1690

I like...

posted 8 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

The back side of a tine should be elliptical in shape and the base end needs to be in the 1.5 -2 inch range.

I made my template on hardboard and used a string method to get the back side elliptical shape first then measured 2" to the inside of the ellipse at the base for the start of the inner side ellipse, I also measured straight down 14" from the base line for length of the tine.

Mine is out of .25 inch plate steel with a 2.5" x .25" thick flat bar stock for the foot rest, the handle ends are 90 degree bends 18" apart to which 2" pipe pieces 8" long were welded for the handles. I made my handles out of hickory tree trunks for no break in the grain.

I used fillet welds on both sides of each tine and a fillet weld at the bend where the pipe pieces are welded for the handles.

Hope that helps you out.

Redhawk

List of Bryant RedHawk's Epic Soil Series Threads We love visitors, that's why we live in a secluded cabin deep in the woods. "Buzzard's Roost (Asnikiye Heca) Farm." Promoting permaculture to save our planet.

Does this tiny ad smell okay to you?

Learn Permaculture through a little hard work

https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp