Hay Feeder

By Don Dewerff and John Frazier
Instructed by Paul Stevenson, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
From Arc Welded Projects, Volume II
The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation

If you have ever considered building a hay feeder, here is a simple set of plans developed by a competitor in one of the past James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation School/Shop Award programs. So, gather up your materials, practice your welding skills and jump in!

The feeder is built on skids so it can be easily pulled from plate to place in a cow lot. The actual length is 19' 7". All the pipes were welded in the Tee position for added strength. This required much cutting to form each joint. Identical sides were made.

After forming and welding the side portions together, the braces or center pieces were welded to the sides. Metal clamps were used to help hold the pipes together while tacking. The pipes were positioned so the water does not remain in the pipes when it rains. The best way to keep water out is to cover the ends of the pipes or lay one pipe on top of the next at a 90º angle and weld.

The end section was made to swing open and closed as it was moved in the field. The strap iron was heated and bent around the two-inch pipe. This iron serves as a mounting bracket for the 2 x 10's which fit on each end of the feeder.

Strap iron 2-1/2" was welded to the center and end braces for a mount to bolt boards to. Rods were diagonally spaced at 14" intervals to reduce hay loss. A slightly wider space is recommended for dairy cows - perhaps 16".

Holes were cut in the pipes for inserting the rod instead of just welding the butt end of the rod to the pipe. The feeder was painted with a rust preservative. The 2 x 10's were bolted in place with 3/16" carriage bolts and the feeder was ready for use.

This project has been published to show how individuals used their ingenuity for their own needs, convenience and enjoyment. Only limited details are available and the projects have NOT been engineered by the Lincoln Electric Company. Therefore, when you use the ideas for projects of your own, you must develop your own details and plans and the safety and performance of your work is your responsibility.

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