A farmer recently sent us the photo above (left) as an example of what “gumbo”, a heavy clay soil type commonly found in Texas and other areas of the South, can do to a field tillage implement.
The farmer was using two pry bars and a sledge hammer to chip away at the stuck-on soil, saying that “its seriously like concrete.”
We sent that picture to our resident handyman and columnist Dan Anderson to get his take on how a grower can get the upper hand on gumbo.
Here’s what Anderson told us:
“I suggest this farmer uses either a pneumatic hammer (example above, bottom right) with a chisel tip or an electric demolition hammer (above, top right). I often used my pneumatic hammer to remove dirt clogs because I had one in my toolbox and an air supply was handy in the shop. You can also buy or rent (most tool rental places have them) an electric demolition hammer. I used one of them to disassemble a concrete back step, and it worked pretty good.”
Additionally, Anderson offered this tool tip for farmers that encounter clogging in combines this fall as they work across the field:
“Another household power tool that can save the day is an electric or battery-powered reciprocating saw—like a Milwaukee Sawzall. If a small grain head’s auger gets wrapped with green-stem beans or weeds, or if a combine’s rotor gets slugged with crop residue, a reciprocating saw is a HUGE help in getting the mess unplugged. Much better than using a pocket knife to cut through the knotted stems.”
More from Dan Anderson:
Run It Versus Replace It: How to Assess Roller Chains, V-Belts and Augers
Farm Shop Doors: Easy Access Doesn’t Come Easy
