It is very difficult to spud potatoes and beds with one's own hand, however, a self-made hiller makes life easier for the farmer. The scheme for creating the unit is very simple.
Operating principle
A key part of the manual hiller is a cultivator or a plow. It will be he who will do what is manually done with a hoe or a hoe - to plow the soil. This plow, with its sharp end (“nose”), burrows slightly into the soil and distributes it on its sides, filling the potato rows with earth.
If a self-made model from a bicycle acts as a hiller, then the cultivator will be mounted on its frame. By slightly changing the structure of the unit, grabbing the steering wheel, you can control the device, directing it in the right direction. The movement of the hiller itself is carried out due to a single wheel in the front of the frame.
More briefly, you can summarize the essence of the work of the manual hiller with the following algorithm:
- the cultivator crashes into the ground;
- the machine control unit with the help of the steering wheel guides the hiller in the right direction and moves it forward;
- the movement is due to the existing wheel.
What will be needed to create a hiller?
The first thing you need is certain equipment and materials:
- frame of an unnecessary bike (required with a steering wheel and one 26-28 inch wheel);
- cultivator (plow), which you can buy or make yourself;
- fixtures for welding;
- wrenches for nuts and bolts (if the cultivator will be screwed to the mount).
At the same time, a little patience and the ability to work with the welding machine will be required.
Preliminary Actions
To begin with, a bicycle frame is prepared: a steering wheel, a saddle, pedals, the rear wheel is removed. The second wheel is disassembled and cleaned - only a metal rim is needed.
The metal rim better enters the soil, which is why the hiller will receive much greater stability and maneuverability than with rubber. Manage such an aggregate will be greatly simplified.
The process of creating a hiller
The manufacturing process can be divided into 5 stages:
- The rear wheel mount is trimmed so that in the end there is only a “triangle” from the bicycle frame.
- The cultivator will be placed instead of the wheel, there it must be fixed.
- Screw or weld the cultivator. This should be done qualitatively, because this part of the hiller will have the greatest load.
If the cultivator is screwed on, tighten the nuts as tight as possible, otherwise the manual hiller will not last a couple of days. It is here that both keys come to the rescue: for bolts and nuts. By wielding them at the same time, it will be possible to firmly and permanently fix the details.
- Further, the cultivator is regulated (how far / close it is). This is done with the aim of convenience in the process of hilling, so as not to trip over the blades of the cultivator.
- A pre-made steering wheel spins tightly in place of the saddle.
Creating a cultivation section
If you could not find / buy / remove the cultivator, you can make it yourself.
Creating a basic cultivator is quite simple. In fact, this is the same plow. Near the base are attached two plates that form an angle directed forward (towards the wheel). During the movement of the hiller, the plates will divide the soil into 2 parts and spud potato rows with raised ground.
However, the following requirements for this part should be followed:
- the total width of the blades should be equal to 2/3 of the aisle of potato bushes;
- the cultivator should go under the ground by 10-15 cm;
- the angle of the blades should be close to 90 degrees - so they will perfectly pick up the soil.
After carrying out a full range of work, you should get a full-fledged hand hiller, perfectly doing his job during the cultivation of potatoes.
Useful Tips
If you manage a hiller together, the hilling process will be greatly simplified and the efficiency of the work done will significantly increase. To work as a manual hiller in pairs, you need to attach a regular belt to the front of the unit.
You can attach a load to the back. Thus, penetration into the ground is improved, which, again, will increase the work efficiency. But at the same time with such an aggregate it will be more difficult to move forward due to the increase in mass.
Other types of hills
There are many schemes for creating hills. Next, we consider other methods.
From a bicycle wheel and fork
If there is a front bicycle fork and a wheel to it, then you can create a hiller using this technology:
- 2 pipes need to be welded at an obtuse angle;
- the handlebar of the bicycle is attached to a long pipe (it would be more reasonable to weld it so that it does not fly off during work);
- the cultivator is attached / welded to the joint of both pipes below.
The final result will be similar to this:
Creating such a hiller is much easier than the one mentioned earlier. However, for different purposes, different types of aggregates should be used.
Out of the kids bike
You will need a metal bike on 3 wheels:
- the saddle and front wheel are removed and retracted;
- cultivator blades are welded on the inside of the frame near the wheels;
- the angle of their placement is selected individually (affects how the hiller will move: in rows or between them).
It is recommended to weld the blades so that the angle is directed to the feet of the worker, and opens in front. Thus, the hiller will move on the ground not between rows, as the previous varieties, but along the row itself. The advantage is that each of the blades of the cultivator will process a row at once from two sides:
But it is important to remember that if the children's bike is too low, the higher the potato plants, the more difficult the hilling process will be (damage to the sprouts will directly affect the health of the tubers).
On this, the creation of a homemade hiller for potatoes is over, and you can begin the process of hilling the beds. To make this device is not difficult, especially in comparison: to work a little with a welding machine and get tremendous efficiency in work, or to spud each bed with your own hands.