Design features of hay and straw grinders for private farms

Owners of their own economy find it difficult to do without the help of small-scale mechanization. One of these assistants is a hay and straw chopper for private households. You can buy a ready-made unit, but such models are not cheap. For those who are well versed in technology, it will be more profitable to make it with their own hands.

Read also about: electric shredder.

What is a shredder for?

Hay becomes the main feed for livestock during the winter months. It is also used for flooring in a stable, mulching soil, making fuel briquettes and so on. Therefore, hay has to be harvested in large quantities. For ease of use and storage, it is processed. The easiest way to do this is with a hay and straw chopper for private households.

These crushers are available in various capacities and sizes. The principle of operation of the device is based on the operation of rotating knives. Hay is fed into a special bunker. Passing through the drum with knives, it is ground and enters the recoil hopper.

Design features

The design of the straw and hay chopper includes the following main elements:

1. Electric motor. The processing speed will depend on its capacity.
2. A container into which untreated hay or straw is fed. It can have different dimensions, depending on the amount of raw materials that you plan to grind.
3. The shaft on which the knives and counter-knives are mounted. They must be made of strong steel and well sharpened.
4. Waste material bin. For convenience, it is mounted on a slope floor.
5. Supports. Most often they are made of pipes with a diameter of at least 25 mm. Their height is selected based on the dimensions of the electric motor.

Popular Factory Made Models

For those who have no desire to spend time and energy on making such a device, it is better to purchase a finished model in a store. Among the most popular choppers of hay and straw for private households are:

1. M15. Has a convenient hopper for raw materials supply. Equipped with high-strength steel sharp knives and a 3 kW motor. Thanks to this, such a unit can process not only hay and straw, but also thin branches. The drum rotates at 1500 rpm. The weight of the whole structure is 130 kg.
2. KR02. This model is compact and yet has excellent performance. The engine power of 1.54 kW is enough to process up to 25 kg of raw materials per hour. It works from a standard 220 V network. With low energy consumption, it does an excellent job of its functions.
3. K-500. It is able to process up to 300 kg of raw materials per hour. Engine power 2 kW. This model is suitable for large farms with a large number of livestock. The design of the bunker allows to lay the canopy using a fork, which makes work easier and faster.

You need to choose a specific model based on the amount of raw materials that will have to be processed. If your livestock population is small, there is no point in overpaying for powerful units. It is better to save money and buy a small capacity shredder.

Choose a product only from trusted manufacturers. A low-quality shredder with an underpowered motor will perform poorly and break down quickly.

The absence of complex parts and devices in the design allows an experienced craftsman to make a grass and hay chopper on his own. It is enough to purchase an engine of sufficient power, all other elements can be found in every household. Before making a shredder, study its drawing.

How to make a shredder yourself?

If you do not want to spend a lot of money on the purchase of equipment, then you can make a hay and straw chopper with your own hands. To do this, follow a few guidelines:

1. Find the right electric motor. If you plan to process up to 200 liters of raw materials, then give preference to models with a capacity of 2 to 5 kW. For a small amount of hay, use a less powerful machine.
2. The device is assembled in accordance with the drawing. Today on the Internet you can find a lot of options. You just have to choose the right one.
3. For the manufacture of metal structural parts, use metal with a thickness of at least 3 mm. Choose a thicker material to support the engine.
4. The working part of the unit is a metal cylinder, inside which a disk with sharp knives is mounted. The axle must be securely fastened to the engine.
5. You can take an old metal barrel as a container for loading hay.
6. A support for the engine is welded to the working part. For reliability, they are equipped with kerchiefs.
7. The engine is secured to the support using bolts and screws.
8. It is possible to install an electrician only after all parts of the structure are assembled and securely fixed.

If you have the skills to handle the welding machine and understand the operation of the electric motor, such a unit can be made in one day. If you still don't understand any subtleties, watch the video on how to make a hay chopper: