Grass cutter from washing machine
The presence of a shredder on the farm allows you to profitably remove grass from the area after weeding. If you put it in crushed form in a compost pit, then after a while you can get high-quality and free fertilizer for the soil.
It is not always possible to buy a device, but it is quite possible to assemble it yourself. Let's look at the process of creating a shredder from an unwanted washing machine.
The content of the article
DIY herb grinder from a washing machine
First of all, you need to understand the operating principle of any shredder, and then start making it.
The principle of operation of the chopper
The operating principle is exactly the same as that of a food processor. The chopper is constructed of several parts: a motor and connecting wiring, two containers for chopping and collecting cut grass, a shaft with knives attached to it, a metal frame and a protective casing.
For ease of movement of the chopper, it can be equipped with wheels. The shaft with knives receives rotational movement from the engine, the grass is placed in portions into a container for cutting. The crushed mass falls into the prepared collecting container.
Manufacturing process
The motor shaft must be drilled with a drill. The diameter of the two holes made is approximately 7 mm. A pre-prepared bushing is put on the shaft. Its length must be at least 50 mm, there is a thread on one end and holes on the other.
It is more rational to order such a part from a turner. Next, the drilled holes on the sleeve and shaft are aligned, and the mounting bolts are installed in them. The engine itself is fixed to the bottom of the tank of the machine using studs or long bolts. The tank itself is cut with a grinder to a height convenient for work.
Important! At this stage, the engine only needs to be baited to find out the location of the outlet on the tank wall (more on this below). When the hole is ready, the engine can be finally screwed on.
The sharpened knives are placed on the sleeve and secured with a nut. The knives must be installed in such a way that the work process is not interrupted due to contact with the walls of the tank. At the bottom of the tank, a grinder makes a rectangular hole for throwing out the cut grass. The size of the hole is selected individually, but it should be located below the knives or at the same level as them.
Then a casing is made from a metal plate around the hole to prevent grass from scattering while the device is operating; bolted to the body. Using a welding machine, a frame is made from corners on which the tank will be installed. The height of the frame is selected taking into account the height of the tank and collecting container.
The finished container with the installed engine is securely fixed to the frame using a welding machine. Now you need to connect the motor. To do this correctly, you need to use a tester and determine the outputs of the starting and working windings.The resistance mode is set and the performance of both windings is compared; at the launcher it turns out to be larger.
The connection is made in the following order: the wire from the start button is connected to one end of the starting winding, the second end of the starting winding is connected to the cable and the working winding; the remaining end of the working winding is connected to the cable and wire from the start button.
What will you need for this?
Set of tools:
- angle grinder (grinder);
- drill;
- welding machine;
- tester;
- screwdriver (flat or Phillips);
- hammer;
- pliers or open-end wrenches;
- bolts, washers and nuts.
- components of the future chopper:
- washing machine tank;
- motor (it is possible to remove it from a washing machine with a rated power of 180 W or more);
- sharpened knives;
- electrical cable with plug;
- container for receiving chopped grass;
- metal plate for casing;
- metal corner;
- start and stop button.
Preparatory work
The preparatory stage is associated with the selection of an engine and knives for the future grass chopper. The designs of the knives allow you to obtain different output results: from small dust to pieces of 10 cm. The circular knife allows you to chop grass and small branches. This is the most suitable option for home use. An old wood saw is suitable for making diamond-shaped knives.
Engine power is the main factor to keep in mind when choosing an engine. Low power engines are only suitable for cutting grass. If, in addition to the body of the washing machine, the engine is also in satisfactory condition, then you can use it. This will reduce the cost of manufacturing the shredder.
Reference! For comparison, engines with a maximum power of 1.5 kW can easily grind branches up to 2 cm thick. Such a motor is suitable for designing a grass shredder with a reserve.
Safety precautions
Attention! The manufacture of this device requires care and compliance with safety precautions.
The grass chopper is equipped with sharp cutting elements that move at high speed. Therefore, it is recommended to use goggles and a mask to protect your eyes and face.
The entry of foreign objects into the operating area of the knives is fraught not only with damage to the device, but also with injuries if fragments (pieces) of these objects fly out.
The operation of the unit also involves electricity, so you should be careful and take the necessary measures: do not allow children near the shredder, monitor the integrity of the wires, and the quality of the engine.
Which washing machine motor is best suited?
The motors on modern washing machines are controlled by rather complex electrical circuits, so their use in a shredder device is impractical. Old washing machines are best suited for this. For example, the “Oka” or “Fairy” models would be the best option. The Oka machine has the shape of a barrel, a steel tank, loading is carried out from above, and the engine is located below. This design, with minor modifications, allows you to make a grass chopper.
Power consumption is 180 W, and engine speed is 1350–1420 rpm. For a simple shredder that operates no more than 10-15 minutes, such an engine will be quite sufficient.
Fairy washing machines use a centrifuge for spinning, so the motor in them produces a higher number of revolutions, 2700-2850 rpm. However, it has less power. Since the body of the machine itself is made of plastic, it is more advisable to use only the engine to construct the chopper.
Types of grass grinders
The motor used determines the type of shredder. There are two options: electric and petrol. The gasoline unit is powerful and independent of electrical resources, which makes it mobile.
The electrical installation is distinguished by its light weight and compactness, but its power is low. If the amount of grass being processed into compost is small, a 1.5 kW device is quite suitable; for longer work and when processing larger materials, you can choose a 4 kW motor.
If you can get an old washing machine, or have one on the household, then it won’t be too difficult to find a worthy use for it. Having even a little experience with basic tools and strictly following the above instructions, you can become the owner of an inexpensive and useful device for homestead farming - a grass chopper.
