Using a grass cutter in gardening makes it possible to effectively get rid of grass. If you put finely chopped grass in a compost pit, then in a short time you will get excellent plant food. It is not always possible to purchase a shredder, so a DIY grass cutter made from a washing machine is an excellent alternative.
Features of work
The chopper works on the principle of a food processor. The device consists of several elements:
- two containers for cutting and collecting grass;
- motor and connecting wiring;
- steel frame and cover;
- shaft with knives.
Assembly steps
The motor shaft needs to be drilled with an electric drill. The size of the two holes made must be approximately 1 cm. A pre-made bushing is placed on the shaft. Sleeve length – no less 60 mm. A thread is cut at one end and holes are made at the other.
This element is best made in a lathe. Then the holes made on the shaft and bushing are connected, where bolts are installed for fastening.The motor is directly fixed to the bottom of the grass cutter tank with pins. The tank can be cut to height, taking into account the ease of use of the machine.
The knives are installed on the sleeve and then secured with nuts. It is necessary to secure the knives so that the operation of the grass cutter is not interrupted due to impacts against the walls of the container. At the bottom of the tank, you need to make a hole with a grinder to remove the crushed mass. The size of the hole is chosen based on personal preference, but it must be below the level of the knives.
Afterwards, a casing is made from a steel plate near the hole to prevent the grass from being scattered when the grass cutter is operating. Using welding, a frame is made from the corners where the tank is placed.
The prepared container with the attached motor is firmly fixed to the frame by welding. Next you need to connect the electric motor. To do this you need to use a tester. This will allow you to find out the output of the working and starting windings. It is necessary to compare the resistance of the two windings - the working winding has a lower resistance.
The connection is made in this way: the cable from the start key is connected to one end of the starting winding, the other end is connected to the wire and the working winding. The end of the working winding that remains is connected to the start key wire.
Required tools for work
To assemble the grass cutter you will need:
- electric drill;
- Bulgarian;
- tester;
- welding;
- hammer;
- Screwdriver Set;
- bolts;
- pliers.
Components of a grass cutter:
- motor from a washing machine with a power of more than 200 W;
- washing machine tank;
- the wire;
- knives;
- steel plate for protection;
- grass container;
- start key;
- corner.
Preparation for production
Preparation is determined by the choice of electric motor, as well as grass cutting knives. The design of the knives causes different final effects. The circular blade makes it possible to grind grass and thin twigs. This is the best option for use on a personal plot. The wood saw is suitable for creating diamond-shaped knives.
Electric motor power is the main factor to consider when choosing a motor. Low-power electric motors are only suitable for cutting grass.
Security measures
The grass cutter has sharp blades that rotate at high speed. Therefore, it is necessary to use glasses as eye protection.
If foreign objects get into the working part of the knives, this can not only damage the device, but also cause injuries when solid pieces fly out.
The operation of the grass cutter is also dependent on the power supply, so you need to be careful and follow all safety measures: keep children away from the grass cutter, monitor the operation of the electric motor, and the integrity of the wiring cable.
Motor selection
On new washing machines, electric motors are controlled by complex controllers and microcircuits, so installing them in the design of a grass cutter does not make sense. It is advisable to choose old washing machines. Eg, washing machine "Fairy" And "Oka" are a great option.
Washing machine "Oka" It is made in the form of a barrel, equipped with a metal drum, the laundry is placed on top, the motor is located at the bottom. This design, with minor modernization, makes it possible to make a chopper.
Engine power - 200 W, number of revolutions 1360-1430 rpm. For a regular grass cutter that works for no more than half an hour, this motor is quite enough.
IN "Fairy" washing mashines a centrifuge is installed for spinning, so the engine has a higher number of revolutions - 2750-2900 rpm. Moreover, it is less powerful. Since the machine body itself is plastic, it is best to use only a motor to make a grass cutter.
Types of grass cutters
The electrical device is compact and light in weight, but less powerful. If the volume of mown grass is insignificant, equipment suitable for 1.6 kW. For long-term use and when chopping large branches, it is better to choose a motor 5 kW.
If the opportunity allows you to purchase an old washing machine, or it is on the farm, then finding a worthy use for it is very simple. Having even minor skills in working with tools, and fully observing the above recommendations, you can easily become the owner of a budget and useful device - a grass cutter.
In addition, from a used washing machine you can also construct:
- lawnmower,
- router,
- electric bike,
- honey extractor,
- irrigation pump,
- Potter's wheel,
- wood splitter,
- concrete mixer,
- lathe,
- juicer,
