Gas Powered Shredder / Wildflower Seed Thresher

I made this for breaking up seed heads for prairie restoration, but it ended up being an good leaf shredder too. I made an electric one earlier, but this gas powered one works so much better because of the lower RPMs and higher torque. This is very fun to use, the neighbor kids raked my whole yard just so they could throw leaves into this thing.
When collecting wildflower seeds for prairie restoration, hundreds of seeds can be enclosed in a seed head, (think of sunflowers.) I needed a way to quickly and cheaply break down the heads to extract the seeds for broadcast planting. Sure I could pay someone to process the seed or I could buy the expensive equipment, but this seems to work well and cost me about $5. I picked up almost everything from curbside trash at spring cleanup. The $5 went to new fuel line to fix the junked weedeater and to some .25" hardware cloth.

This doesn't work well with hard seed heads like echinacea, penstemon, and rose hips. For those seeds I made a smaller version of this using a five gallon bucket and a blender motor. That thing really rips things apart well without damaging the actual seeds.

You'll need:
A round 30 gallon trash can, already had this, new $20 (Use a plastic can, this metal one cuts the line a lot where the screen is attached.)
Gas power string trimmer, free or $60 new.
Lawn mower handle, free from junked mower.
.25" hardware cloth.
Some scrap wood, 1x6 board, 1x2 and 2x2 pieces.
Curtain rods or plumbing strap.
Deck screws and some bolts.
A throttle adjustment lever from a mower.

Step 1: Cut the Trash Can and add Mesh.

Cut three or four sections out of the bottom of the can with a drill and some tin snips. Make it look like a wheel with 2" wide mags. Cut the mesh/hardware cloth to fit the can. Use some 1x2 pieces of wood to reinforce the mags and hold on the mesh. Drill screws into the wood from the inside of the can. Snap of the screw tips with pliers if they're too long.

CAUTION: SHARP METAL EDGES HERE!

Comments

[Yard Sale Dale]

The video did not play. I like your machine, though.

[robbtoberfest]

It should work; youtube defaulted all my videos to private and I just updated them all. Thanks.

[AngryGuy70]

Now I'm thinking I have a dead mower with 5/8 shaft and blade flange. I also have a 2 horse sealed electric motor with, yes, a 5/8 shaft. I see a visit to the emergency room in my future.

I think as long as the blade direction is correct and I cut and balance it with enough clearance for the can I can make it work. Might be easier if I had a reversible motor.

[mcenerny]

Very nice ible! I have been looking for a low-cost solution to getting prepared mulch for my raised beds. I plan to mod it a little - build the wood platform base independent of the trash can, could even be a square with HW cloth mounted under retainer strips - mount the trimmer head underneath, then place a bottomless (cut out) plastic trash can over it all, fastened on with 4 angle braces (thin plywood shims inside the plastic can for strength. Or use luggage snap locks for quick release to service/change trimmer string. Thanks - I know this is an old ible, but I just found it looking for a way to get a mulcher here in Costa Rica - the ones available here cost over $1k!

[twotowner]

very interesting project. Quilter2 was asking about an 'industrial' version. My thought on this would be to try using a large electric motor like those found in a dryer. I would mount it off to the side and use a belt and pulley to turn a driveshaft from an old lawnmower. You could then put a mower blade or two inside the can. I think I have just found my next project.:)

[quilter2]

Is there a way to work with alpaca droppings? When fresh they can have a lot of moisture, but I could handle them to just drop the individual "beans".There is stings of grass. Nothing at all heavy. What about wet Big Leaf Maple leaves that have clumped together? I really need the INDUSTRIAL version. But would be so willing to add handfuls at a time ,not shovelfuls Please can someone make this happen? So respectful, quilter2

[Bardouv]

I saw your piece in farm show. And for like 5 minutes I was having all these wierd deja vu moments trying to remember where I had seen it before. Then I actually read the article... Good stuff.

[robbtoberfest]

Thanks, I love that magazine and was happy to have two features in it; this thresher and my pipe shovel. If there are other Farm Show fans here, maybe someone could start a group.

[Bardouv]

I saw both, but I had no idea it was the same person behind the two. I don't look too deeply into things...

[adamvan2000]

They also have a replacement for the part of the head that holds the line. The replacement essentially has two plastic blades that work just as well, if not better. Then again, you could always make one out of scrap metal for added durability and bonus recycling points! Let 'er rip! ~adamvan2000

[FireBAT]

Some landscapers use short sections of bicycle chain, screwed into the spin head. I worked for a school bus company, and one of our guys put a piece of chain right through a bus's rear window when the chain broke, so it is a bit dangerous.

[adamvan2000]

Here's a link: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_338393_338393
I also read while searching that a weed whacker can be converted to a brush trimmer by the replacement of the trimmer head with a saw blade.

~adamvan2000

[tenchi20229]

what if you replace the string with a saw blade?

[robbtoberfest]

Anything heavy like that would have to balanced on the head or it would shake to death.

[tenchi20229]

sawblades are already balanced

[robbtoberfest]

I haven't tried this yet, but I bet this would make great bean bag stuffing from old Styrofoam packaging.

[robbtoberfest]

For leaf shredding, one issue with this machine is the sharp metal bottom. If you add a lot of leaves it pushes the string into the cut metal and slices it off. A possible solution would be to use a plastic round trash can for the shredding chamber.

[tomw]

Just started making my own compost and found out i could use an electric strimmer to break down the leaves the plastic line kept breaking on the small sticks though :S I think it might have broken hitting the sides too. This is a much better idea will have to make, thanks!

[Prometheus]

Solution: replace the plastic line with coat-hanger wire as a simle loop around the spool....This will *eventually* break, but more likely will break far less often. Ideal if you counterbalance with a symmetrical line on the other side too. Run at full speed for added brutality points.

[robbtoberfest]

I tried this with 14 gauge car wiring; it's very hard to balance and just feels a little dangerous.

[Prometheus]

I wouldn't recommend copper wire for this, as it would fatigue rather quickly. Another alternative is to use bicycle spokes as they are quite strong and meant to take a beating. Their shape and consistent lengths should make it easier to balance the rig. Simply drill two holes opposite and run them through with a washer for support. If you need shorter than you have, just cut them both to the exact same length. I did this with a few other trimmers (bending the ends over in a small loop for safety), and they have made up for over 4 spools of the best trimmer line money can buy so far. Just remember to bend the loops away from the direction of rotation so they don't snag material Don't worry about spokes breaking under centrifugal force, you would need to exceed at least 10,000 rpm or so for 12-inch long spokes before that was a concern. Just food for thought...

[robbtoberfest]

Small sticks are sometimes a problem with this machine when they build up in the can. One way to keep the string from breaking a lot is running at a lower RPM and/or use higher quality string. If I wanted to spend money I would add an aftermarket head with the tough "strings/cords"

[Big Bwana]

Or you could use a light chain (( not 60,000 lbs logging chain )) it flexes well, It has enough weight to break heavy sticks with ease, and takes what ever might other wise damage a string or wire.. And doesn't need much balancing just make sure it centered or if your using two peices make sure they are the same length..

[thygreatone]

Thanks for clarifying about the logging chain - I'd hate to have tried it and then wound up with a big piece of chain lodged somewhere in my body. But seriously, I think the light chain idea is good, but you would want to make sure it was very secure.

[robbtoberfest]

I'm going to add a shoot made from sheet metal that was once a dishwasher shell. I'll post something if it's a success. I'm also adding a constant throttle lever on the side of the can.

[kP]

That's pretty cool, but I have found that I can just run my lawnmower over leaves and grind them up too. and they get bagged for dumping too. I too compost and have found that the prechewed up leaves do break down much faster. Also, key: add some pulverized limestone to the compost heap.

[static]

Interesting way to fill a need. I would never though Sunflowers would ever need help getting reestablished. Did I detect grey water recycling for flowerbeds?

[hitokiri_808]

A shoot to catch the shredded stuff would be a nice addition.

[fishbuster]

I am glad I saw this. I need something to chew up reeds and tall grasses I am removing from the property we just bought especially around the pond. I would think though using an electric weedeater would cut the noise and gas usage. I might have to make one of these or something similar.

[Spokehedz]

I think it would be easy enough to make a chute so you could put the debris into a bag or another can. instead of the four holes, just make one and then make up a chute out of sheet metal. Also, if you replaced the head with one of those replacement heads that use the plastic sticks instead of the string, you could get a finer grind. Thanks! I have a great weekend project now!

[rimar2000]

Good job, very interesting.

[Punkguyta]

Only the crazy would make one of these, personally I'd have more fun jogging around the yard chewing up the ground as I go. But it still turned out pretty neat, home made shredder, good job Bro.

[Mikey D]

Very cool. Excellent use of "found resources" An angled piece of sheet metal (with a slot for the wacker shaft) or a piece of tarp between the legs could channel your jetsom (as opposed to your flotsom) away from your engine and into a recieving bag/box/bucket. - - - Great job!