"I needed a way to trim trees on my farm but when I priced a commercial cherry picker, I decided I could build my own for a lot less," says Elmer Pinkerton, Elmwood, Neb.

"My home-built cherry picker goes up 40 ft. and swivels 45 degrees right or left. Four extension legs with jacks extend down for stability when working in the swivel positions.

"The machine is made from 6-in. square tubing (all 1/4 and 3/8-in. thick), all welded together. Pins are 2-in. cold rolled machine steel. Cylinders are 5-in. dia. for two-way power and to be sure lift speed is slow.

"Power is supplied by an 8-hp. gas engine with a 5-gal. hydraulic pump and a 20-gal. tank. The baskets are gravity-balanced with set screws to make them rigid when up. Dual controls are at the top and at the bottom for safety. There are restrictor valves on the boom cylinders to keep the lowering speeds slow.

"The rig must be securely attached to a heavy tractor or truck to prevent tip-over.

"I don't have any plans or additional information to pass on. I just wanted to share the idea because it works for me."