Post by jehuchris on Jan 27, 2010 16:41:17 GMT -5
Well, I've been busy lately trying to figure out how I wanted to build my milking stanchion. I have asked questions. Looked at photos and bothered Liz and Wyomamma to no end about their stanchions. I decided to begin my project and may alter some things during construction but this will hopefully help document the process I am going thru and maybe help others along the way.
One of the first things I wanted was a stanchion that could serve as a catch gate as well as a stanchion for treatments, de-horning, etc. So I wanted something with some substance.
I decided to use 2"x6" metal tubing for my runners. I had some 3" angle iron that I used as my cross supports. The uprights for the head gate as well as the uprights for the rails supports are made from 2"x2" 1/8 gauge tubing and the rails are made from 2"x2" 14 gauge tubing.
Yesterday I took a couple of hours and cut the 2x6 runners as well as all the 3" angle iron floor supports. The angle is 1/4" thick and so it took a while for the saw to cut through 5 pieces.
This morning after morning milking and a little chatting on the KFC chat box I got busy welding the runners and the floor supports together. This took about 30 to 45 minutes.
You're building a what?
Came in and had a little cup of joe and checked back in with the KFC to thaw out and then back to the welder.
With one side of the runners welded to all the floor supports it was time to carry the whole thing outside so I'd have more room. Put a piece of plywood on my saw horses to hold the whole unit. Finished floor dimensions are 3' x 8' so a standard sheet of 4' x 8' plywood worked well as a table.
Notice the two milk machines in the background looking on. - Who's that masked man???
By the time I had the other runner welded on and filled in all the places I had just spot welded the delivery truck was arriving from Caylor Industrial with my 2"x2" material.
I cut all of my uprights for both the head gate and the rail supports. Took the grinder and removed the burs and was ready to begin welding the uprights.
Paid actor - caution working around barns could be hazardous to your health
Took me until about lunch to get the uprights cut and welded. The head gate uprights are 65" from the top of the runner and the rail uprights are 49" from the top of the runner. This way I can put down either a 3/4" marine plywood or 1" rough cut boards on the floor and still have 4' height on my side rails.
At this point it was time to sit the whole thing down on the ground. Got my DW - Linda to move one saw horse at a time as I lifted one end and then the other and then very carefully let the beast down to the ground.
It was now time to start cutting side rails. This morning when the truck dropped off the metal one piece of 2"x2" 14 gauge tubing was bent so I sent it back. At 3 PM here's where I got to. Put my welder, chop saw and other tools up and in pulls the metal truck with a good stick of tubing. Too late for today.
Had all the tubing been good I'd have gotten all my rails on today. But then again this is a diary.
It may not be art but it sure is a beauty.
So this is the end of day one. Should have no trouble getting the other rails on in the moring. Don't know how I'm going to get it painted with the weather as cold as it is.
Stay tuned for diary of a mad milking stanchion.
Tagged for TOK.
One of the first things I wanted was a stanchion that could serve as a catch gate as well as a stanchion for treatments, de-horning, etc. So I wanted something with some substance.
I decided to use 2"x6" metal tubing for my runners. I had some 3" angle iron that I used as my cross supports. The uprights for the head gate as well as the uprights for the rails supports are made from 2"x2" 1/8 gauge tubing and the rails are made from 2"x2" 14 gauge tubing.
Yesterday I took a couple of hours and cut the 2x6 runners as well as all the 3" angle iron floor supports. The angle is 1/4" thick and so it took a while for the saw to cut through 5 pieces.
This morning after morning milking and a little chatting on the KFC chat box I got busy welding the runners and the floor supports together. This took about 30 to 45 minutes.
You're building a what?
Came in and had a little cup of joe and checked back in with the KFC to thaw out and then back to the welder.
With one side of the runners welded to all the floor supports it was time to carry the whole thing outside so I'd have more room. Put a piece of plywood on my saw horses to hold the whole unit. Finished floor dimensions are 3' x 8' so a standard sheet of 4' x 8' plywood worked well as a table.
Notice the two milk machines in the background looking on. - Who's that masked man???
By the time I had the other runner welded on and filled in all the places I had just spot welded the delivery truck was arriving from Caylor Industrial with my 2"x2" material.
I cut all of my uprights for both the head gate and the rail supports. Took the grinder and removed the burs and was ready to begin welding the uprights.
Paid actor - caution working around barns could be hazardous to your health
Took me until about lunch to get the uprights cut and welded. The head gate uprights are 65" from the top of the runner and the rail uprights are 49" from the top of the runner. This way I can put down either a 3/4" marine plywood or 1" rough cut boards on the floor and still have 4' height on my side rails.
At this point it was time to sit the whole thing down on the ground. Got my DW - Linda to move one saw horse at a time as I lifted one end and then the other and then very carefully let the beast down to the ground.
It was now time to start cutting side rails. This morning when the truck dropped off the metal one piece of 2"x2" 14 gauge tubing was bent so I sent it back. At 3 PM here's where I got to. Put my welder, chop saw and other tools up and in pulls the metal truck with a good stick of tubing. Too late for today.
Had all the tubing been good I'd have gotten all my rails on today. But then again this is a diary.
It may not be art but it sure is a beauty.
So this is the end of day one. Should have no trouble getting the other rails on in the moring. Don't know how I'm going to get it painted with the weather as cold as it is.
Stay tuned for diary of a mad milking stanchion.
Tagged for TOK.