Built my own lawn roller

[BigBlue]

I made my own lawn roller this spring. Started with an ancient (1960's) steel water softener resin tank. Was about 44" tall and 12" diameter and 1/8" steel. Removed the plumbing, emptied it out, fabbed up a frame and turned it into a functional roller.

Mocked up the frame using 2x2 1/4" angle iron:

Welded on some mount plates for flange bearings on each end. Mount plates are 3" wide 3/8" flat stock.

Mounted the axle (solid 1" rod) between both frame rails while they were back-to-back to get them squared up nicely, then cut the rod between them to separate.

Welded filler plugs in the plumbing pipe holes:

Lined the frame up to ensure everything was straight and concentric before final welding. That way the axles/bearings run true.

Added a bar across the back to solidify the frame and so I can hang suitcase weights for extra weight.

I had to adjust the hitch setup a bit because it tipped back a little too far for the suitcase weights to hang right.

Now have to paint the frame and put the final touches on it. It works great though. It is filled with concrete (6 x 60# bags). Total weight is about 450# by itself, and I run about 250# additional with suitcase weights.

Rob

 

[sonny580]

Looks great! --I did one with a large 80 gallon 4.5 foot tall and almost 3 foot diameter a long time ago. Made it water tight and stood it on end to fill, took one heavy garden tractor to pull it and would crush the edges off concrete sidewalks so you had to stay away from them. It did mash the ground down good.

 

[poncho62]

Cool....I am thinking of a roller as my next project. I have an old welding cylinder that was left here by the previous owner of my house. Hope it is large enough.

 

[sonny580]

Bigger diameter pulls easier too.

 

[StuckRod]

Nice looking lawn roller.

 

[Boomer1025]

Nice roller. Build a basket for over the top of the roller and put your weights in the basket.

 

[imkcmac]

I made my own lawn roller this spring. Started with an ancient (1960's) steel water softener resin tank. Was about 44" tall and 12" diameter and 1/8" steel. Removed the plumbing, emptied it out, fabbed up a frame and turned it into a functional roller.

Mocked up the frame using 2x2 1/4" angle iron:

Welded on some mount plates for flange bearings on each end. Mount plates are 3" wide 3/8" flat stock.

Mounted the axle (solid 1" rod) between both frame rails while they were back-to-back to get them squared up nicely, then cut the rod between them to separate.

Welded filler plugs in the plumbing pipe holes:

Lined the frame up to ensure everything was straight and concentric before final welding. That way the axles/bearings run true.

Added a bar across the back to solidify the frame and so I can hang suitcase weights for extra weight.

I had to adjust the hitch setup a bit because it tipped back a little too far for the suitcase weights to hang right.

Now have to paint the frame and put the final touches on it. It works great though. It is filled with concrete (6 x 60# bags). Total weight is about 450# by itself, and I run about 250# additional with suitcase weights.

Rob

Great engineering job, great fab and welding, great job.

 

[kayco53]

That came out nice.