Bale Feeder Rings Make Low-Cost Safety Cages

Bale Feeder Rings Make Low-Cost Safety Cages CROP STORAGE Grain Storage 27-1-2 Old round bale feeder rings make great "safety cages" when you're working on top of grain bins, says Lowell Nelson, St. Edward, Neb. He buys new light duty, 7 or 8-ft. dia., economy-priced bale feeders and clamps homemade brackets around the bottom of the rings to bolt them to the top of bins. "The ring lets me work on cross auger motors or grain spreaders without worrying about falling off," says Nelson. "I installed rings on three of my bins, all of them either 30 or 36 ft. in diameter. Grain bin manufacturers offer similar safety cages, but they sell for $400 or more. "The cross auger that we use to fill two of our bins is 3 ft. higher than the bin roofs. It's almost impossible to stand on the roof and work safely on the auger at the same time. I use a portable saw to cut out a chunk of the ring where the auger goes through it." Nelson used a crane to lift the rings onto existing bins. On new bins, he puts the ring on the roof before the bin goes up. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lowell Nelson, 44802 550th Ave., St. Edward, Neb. 68660 (ph 402 447-6086).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.