PVC Tube Tree Waterer

Bud Watts, Spencer, Iowa, r e c e n t l y s e n t

FARM SHOW his idea for a simple pvc tube
waterer that he uses to water young trees.
“I start with a 4 to 6-ft. length of 3 or 4-in.
dia. pvc tubing and drill 1/8-in. dia. holes
in the bottom 6 in., at angles of 10 and 2 o’
clock,” says Watts. “After digging the hole,
I place the pvc tube in it to one side, with
the drilled holes pointing toward the center
of the hole. Then I plant the tree as usual and
water it by filling the pvc tube as many times
as necessary for proper watering.
“The pvc tube gets the water down to the
roots where it’s needed for quick and deep
rooting. Once the tree gets established, I
simply pull the tube out of the hole and fill it A short length of 4-in. dia. pvc tubing has
1/8-in. dia. holes drilled in the bottom 6 in.
in with dirt. Larger trees may require more to water tree’s roots.
than one tube.”
Watts says he recently used this method to tube. “After I fill the tube two or three times
plant 4-ft. high fruit trees in light soil, using the water stops draining out the bottom on
just one tube per tree, and that the trees have its own. If you have sandy soil you could put
done well. “No surface watering cuts down a cap over the bottom,” notes Watts.
Stove runs on gravity feed. Pellets flow into a primary burn basket, then into a second- on competition from grass and weeds,” notes Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bud
ary burn chamber where they finish burning. Ashes fall into a tray below. Watts. Watts, 1645 310th St., Spencer, Iowa 51301

No Electricity Needed For He doesn’t put a cap over the bottom of the (ph 712 834-2034).

This Gravity-Flow Pellet Stove Carpenter Loves Giant Level

An unusual pellet stove recently came to our burn chamber and ash tray every 12 hrs.,” “The crew just loves it. Guys practically
attention, thanks to a reader from Maine. The Aguirre says. fight to get a hold of it,” says FARM SHOW
WiseWay pellet stove is the only UL-tested, Because the stoves only weigh 113 lbs. reader Bob Thompson about his “best buy”
EPA-certified, non-electric pellet stove in and come with a wheel option, customers use – a Plumbit extendable level.
the world. them for a variety of things beyond heating The 5-ft. 3-in. level extends up to 13 ft.
“It runs on gravity feed, thermal convection homes, basements and shops. They are used 10 in. It’s used to level everything from
and natural draft,” says Gary Wisener in a in greenhouses, on patios, for tailgating foundations to doorways to tall walls.
video on the WiseWay website. “It’s all run and for heating wall tents on elk hunts, for The Tonasket, Wash., contractor doesn’t
by Mother Nature.” example. remember how he learned about Plumbit, but
The machinist came up with the design The burning chamber is made of heavy- he bought his first one about 10 years ago.
when he lived with his grandparents. He wall square tubing. The pellet stove has a 75 Made of aluminum, it weighs 10 1/2 lbs. and
wanted to make it easier and cheaper for them percent efficiency rating with deflectors and extends on both ends with a simple squeeze.
to heat their home during cold weather. a heat shield to direct heat to flow from the The patented locking mechanism hold the
The hopper holds a 40-lb. bag of wood front. The back of the stove is cool enough extended ends in place so secure that a person
pellets that last from 10 to 36 hours depending to be within 2 in. of a wall. could hang off the end of it, Thompson says.
on whether the stove is set on low or high. The U.S.-built stoves sell for $1,799 Plus, the solid block cast acrylic vials have a
The pellets flow into a primary burn basket, retail and are sold through dealers in several lifetime warranty.
then into a secondary burn chamber where locations across the U.S., including Alaska. The Tucson, Arizona, company that makes
they finish burning, with ashes falling into a Check out the website for more information Plumbit sells them through distributors and The 5-ft. 3-in. Plumbit level extends out
tray below. and videos. at its online store (www.plumb-it.com). The up to 13 ft. 10 in. You can use it to level
Without any moving parts, the stoves are Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, model Thompson owns sells for $269. Five everything from foundations to doorways.
fairly maintenance free, says Matt Aguirre, WiseWay Pellet Stoves, 7587 Unit 5 sizes are available, with the longest extending Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Wizard
Wisener’s business partner who handles Highbanks Rd., Central Point, Ore. 97502 (ph to 21 ft., 8 in. Works, Bob and Jane Thompson, P.O. Box
production. 541 946-8108; www.wisewaypelletstoves. “Plumbit has stayed true to level and, it 581, Tonasket, Wash. 98855 (ph 509 486-
“We recommend cleaning out the secondary com). saves us so much time,” Thompson says. 2654).

Custom Tools Re-Size Bolster And Kingpin Holes

Wyoming machinist and mechanic Terry hole. Peterson says, “the key to getting a nice Another reason Peterson is seeing more
Peterson designed and built portable boring clean cut is to feed the bit at a slow and steady problems is because many farmers in his area
tools that he uses to re-size out-of-round holes rate.” operate heavily ballasted tractors in 22-in.
on farm equipment. Peterson says he initially Peterson has used his portable tool more row crops. “Tractor front ends with wheels
came up with the idea to repair the bolster on than a dozen times for repairing bolsters on spaced 88 in. on center experience extreme
a Deere front end without removing it from farm tractors and several more times for stress in pivot areas because of the extra
the tractor. “I had to get the tractor fixed repairing oversized holes on backhoe buckets ballasting,” Terry says. He also says that
between Christmas and New Years so my and articulating 4-WD tractor center pivots. farmers who use satellite-assisted steering
customer could use it to move snow,” says After a hole is bored to a larger and uniform on their tractors should remember to grease Boring tool connects to a Milwaukee mag-
Terry. “I looked into buying a commercial size, Peterson installs a new bushing to hold the front-end pivot points at least with every netic drill to re-size worn holes in tractor
boring tool for the job, but that would’ve the pin. “The bushing size I use depends on tank of fuel. bolsters.
cost more than I could justify for my portable how much the owner let the old hole egg out,” After his success with the bolster boring
lot of customers over the years and I’m still
repair business.” Peterson says. “If the front was extremely tool, Peterson made a different tool to
working with them today,” says Peterson. “I
Peterson came up with his own method of worn and the back was okay, then I’ll center repair the kingpin bearings on International
also get calls from people who try repairing
repairing the bolster on the tractor. He can at 270 degrees of the old hole and bore it for Magnum tractors. To use that device he first
their own equipment and don’t realize
now use the device on Deere 10, 20, 30, 40, a 1/8, a 1/4 or a 1/2- in. bushing.” welds a damaged hole undersized, and then
simple things, like the fact that bushings are
50, 55 and 60 series tractors. Peterson says equipment owners could machines it out to the size he needs to replace
directional. If they’re put in the right way
After he removes the damaged pin from the avoid the problem of worn bolster holes the bearing race. “This idea has been a work
they’ll last 15 to 20 years, but if they’re
bolster, Peterson uses heavy-duty clamps to and worn kingpin holes if they’d pay more in progress,” Peterson says, “but repairing
put in backwards they might last a year at
secure sealed bearing pillow blocks over the attention to greasing. “Some people don’t those kingpins is definitely less expensive
best. Peterson says people are also quick to
holes on both sides. Then he runs a solid piece grease at all, which is the worst, because than replacing them with a new or salvaged
use JB weld and Belzona metal, which is a
of 1 1/4 -in. chrome steel through the pillow metal on metal wears the pin and the bushings part.” fresh fit repair that doesn’t work on bushings
blocks to guide his boring bit. He adjusts the real fast. Others grease too much, and that’s After more than 30 years as a Deere
because it’s not designed to repair a large
clamps to center the shaft in the holes, and almost as bad as not greasing, because the mechanic, Peterson now has a mobile service
hole. Peterson uses 4140 steel. After he re-
then attaches the boring bit to the chuck on his grease pressure dislocates seals in pivots.” business that he operates from a 2002 Sterling
sizes the hole, original equipment pins and
Milwaukee magnetic drill. He uses a clamp Peterson says, “there’s so much hired help service truck with a 16-ft. crane. His business
bushings are used to complete the repair.
set from a milling machine to attach the drill nowadays without a clue about when and takes him to farms, ranches and commercial
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Terry
to the tractor, and then carefully bores the how to grease equipment that I have plenty outfits within a 100-mile radius of Powell,
Peterson, 1967 Lane 9, Powell, Wyo. 82435
oval shape into a perfectly round and larger of work on projects like this.” Wyo. “I’ve built up a relationship with a
(ph 307 202-0700).
1-800-834-9665 • [email protected] • www.bestfarmbuys.com • www.farmshow.com• vol. 37, no. 3 • FARM SHOW • 31