PVC FRUIT PICKER

Step 7: ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO MOUNT THE POLE

These alternative ways to mount the pole are maybe not as elegant as the molded plastic bracket.
They are, however, lighter, faster to make, and suitably strong.

Flatten the end of the metal pole to keep the pole from rocking sideways.

One picture shows the use of a bolt at the end of the pole and a wire wrap further down.

The other picture shows the job done using only wire tying techniques.

Depending on factors of time and materials available, choose the technique you prefer.

Comments

[calgirlya]

This is the smartest and most efficient fruit picker. Thank you!

[Thinkenstein]

My thanks to you! Positive feedback is always nice to get.

[strmrnnr]

What about just using the long PVC tube and when the fruit falls you can catch it at the bottom with your hand or a small net bag.

[Thinkenstein]

That works with smaller pipe and smaller fruit. See my berry picker instructable, http://www.instructables.com/id/BERRY-PICKER/

The big pipe is heavier and harder to maneuver. The idea of the sleeve to conduct the fruit to the ground is an attractive one, but I find it too awkward for large fruit pickers. It works for the light-weight berry picker, though.

Commercial orange pickers here climb the trees, and pick the fruit by hand. They fill a big sack, mouth held open by a ring of rebar, and lower the sack to the ground with a rope.