Here y’all go...

[manwitaplan]

[spidermonkey]

Man... y’all are some salt of the earth dudes! Thanks for correcting the pics! Still don’t even know who wanted this back to the top, oh well, it ended up getting my pictures straightened out for this dummy! Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

[big_smith]

Looks awesome. Question-are they top heavy, with the legs being the same width as the feeder? I always bent my legs out a bit to make the base wider than the feeder. I know when they are full nothing but a big bull could knock them over, but what about when they are getting close to empty?

[spidermonkey]

Big Smith, not as far as tipping, no. It had just come a big rain on our place when I was going to put this out, and had to drag it with 1600 yards with the 4-wheeler through all types of rough stuff. Now granted, when I’d go through ruts, or washes, I’d slow down to a creep. But, I built this to be a stand n fill, very sturdy, and where you could drag it with an ATV/UTV if needed. The legs being directly in line with the downward force of the feed weight helps it be very strong, and not put un-needed strain on legs like you can have when they are at an angle. To answer your question, it’s not top heavy, or tip prone when empty. The base foot print is as wide as the hopper in one direction, and obviously longer in the skid direction. Any more questions, feel free. Don’t get me wrong, when I came up with this, I thought it might be a little tippy with me not using legs on an angle. But it’s worked out real well, and it’s easy to move around by yourself when it’s empty. Have another different way I’m building some gravity protein feeders that’s working out as well, so far it’s been keeping the coons off too. I patterned it kinda after “steel products” protein feeders. So yeah, not my original idea, just my twist on it. Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

[spidermonkey]

I’m terrible at taking step by step pics cuz it just never crosses my mind. But here are a few pics of the protein feeder after I was done. Material is 16 ga. sheet metal, skids are 2”- 11 ga square tube, turned up 6” from the end at 22-1/2 deg. Upright leg tubes also 2”-11 ga. Sheet metal skins either side of leg posts keep coons from climbing up and grabbing ends of chutes. Also the reason I painted gloss JD green. So far no coons have conquered it. Been out since January 23rd. Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

[spidermonkey]

Dangit!! Thought I had the sideways crap figured out! Sorry guys!

[3ChordTruth]

Good design and good work, that’s just a cool project.

[spidermonkey]

And before it’s asked, no, it’s not tip over prone. Now I CAN tump it over if I try real hard, but it’s very sturdy when being drug behind a 4-wheeler, and when being used by deer. Even when getting close to empty. I’m done with pics, can’t get em upright to save my life! Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

[Darton]

Love it Rusty! Awesome design and a job well done

[RascalArms]

I’ll continue to wave the flag and vouch for Rusty here. Let’s just say he builds, fabricates and welds a lot better than he posts pictures on TBH.
Here ya go hoss!



And here’s another little project he shared with me recently. 2nd best looking gate he’s ever built
Guys, if any of y’all up around Greenville need any fab-welding done you should hit up Spidermonkey. Top notch dude IMO.

[spidermonkey]

Ha! Thanks Joel! And you too Jay! And yes... guilty as charged! Have yet to figure out the pic rotation thing! Luckily, I very seldom put em on here! And thank ya for the “props”! I’m grateful for all the bragging you do for me brother! DEFINITELY not deserving of it! Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

[Backwoods101]

Originally Posted by spidermonkey

Ha! Thanks Joel! And you too Jay! And yes... guilty as charged! Have yet to figure out the pic rotation thing! Luckily, I very seldom put em on here! And thank ya for the “props”! I’m grateful for all the bragging you do for me brother! DEFINITELY not deserving of it! Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

Your craftsmanship and your modesty don’t add up bud! You’re talented and we know it


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[spidermonkey]

Ha! Thanks brother Backwoods!

[spidermonkey]

And an FYI, the protein feeder will hold 500 - 550 lbs. based on cubic feet and protein pellets @ 40 lbs a cubic foot. Little less obviously with the internal diverters. But it’s 5 mins from the house, so huge capacity isn’t a big deal since I can check it frequently if I want to. Working on one now that’ll hold 8-900 lbs. Same single leg post/coon-proofing concept though. Just a little different, more structurally beefy cuz of the footprint size and weight difference. Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

[spidermonkey]

Few pics of the most recent one in progress. Still some welding to do, diverters to fab and weld in, and 8 chutes to cut, bend, weld up, and weld in place. Also the lid install with hinges, and latching hardware. Soooo, almost done! Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

[spidermonkey]

Ohh, and x-members are that funky blue cuz they were “scrap” 1-1/2” tube from work. Cut apart a hand rail, and saved for a rainy day.

[spidermonkey]

FINALLY got some time to cut some metal for the 8 chutes. The pieces will be bent to become the bottom and sides.

[spidermonkey]

Drilling the drain holes pre-bend...

[spidermonkey]

First one bent...

[Hogmauler]

Very nice and love the skids!

[spidermonkey]

All bent, and next I’ll cut the top rectangles, weld the two seams solid, and then weld all four sides over the holes of hopper. Hopefully get the internal diverters cut/bent, welded in this weekend, everything with the lid done, and painted. Fingers crossed. And yeah, the two on the end I spliced in a little piece to make em work, didn’t want to use another big piece when that’s all I needed. Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

[spidermonkey]

No progress reports. But... I did get my pictures turned right side up! Always a silver lining!

[RascalArms]

Originally Posted by spidermonkey

No progress reports. But... I did get my pictures turned right side up! Always a silver lining!

Progress with the pics for sure! I just hope those dirt dobber welds hold 😂😂

[spidermonkey]

Me too! I’ll just put the paint on real thick to hold it together!

[tdwinklr]

Originally Posted by spidermonkey

As I guess you can tell, I use what I can in material. Wasn’t bout to cut a fresh piece when I can splice together several to make it work.

my philosophy as well, I do NOT throw away metal, too expensive. Just wish I could find sheets like that.
The feeder looks amazing, not sure why anyone would just say 'good job'. lol

[spidermonkey]

You can “find” sheet metal all day long... it’s just “do you want to pay for it?!!”. 16 ga. is over $75 a sheet right now at some places. !!

[Backwoods101]

Originally Posted by RascalArms

Progress with the pics for sure! I just hope those dirt dobber welds hold

Shots fired! I repeat, shots fired! Lol
If I was him I’d come weld your gate shut...I mean...scheduled maintenance

[spidermonkey]

Hmmmm, Backwoods... I’ll keep that in mind.

[spidermonkey]

Tops cut, and tacked in place. Now to stitch up the seams. Can’t be having any moisture get on that hi dollar protein!

[spidermonkey]

Last one! Then they get sewed over their respective holes in the hopper. May do lid hardware next, or these, or... may just go in and hit the recliner! 😜 Thanks for following brothers! Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

[RascalArms]

Man....that’s some fine photography work right there. 👏👏 Welds are decent too. 😛

[spidermonkey]

Keep it down in the peanut gallery... 🙄😜

[spidermonkey]

Forgot the closeup of the feed chute last night. 👍🏼

[Backwoods101]

What method are you welding that with? Your last picture looked like you were fussing it together. I’ve been sheltered for the last 20+ years...all we did was TIG


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[spidermonkey]

Backwoods, I’m just melting the seams together with oxy-acetylene. I could use my tig, but I can do it just as fast with this, plus this way I don’t have to sand off the mill scale on the sheet metal. The oxy-acetylene will just burn it out and leave a good weld without pre-sanding, where my tig will sometimes leave some pinholes cuz of the scale. Clear as mud, I’m sure! I’m not the best “explainer” sometimes! Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty

[spidermonkey]

Same old school redneck method I used on Joel’s control box for his automatic gate opener. Seems like I spend half my life weld prepping, so this is just a way for me to be lazy and not do it I guess. 😜👍🏼

[Backwoods101]

Awwww, thanks for the splaining. Looking good


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[spidermonkey]

FINALLY was able to get back on it, and show a little progress! Hinges, lid opener handle, and stiffeners. Have short sections of air hose to slide over rebar handles after I paint it.

[spidermonkey]

Chain stop welded in...

[spidermonkey]

Chutes tacked and squared. All that’s left is cut/bend/weld in internal diverters, some type of “door closed” latch, feed stop “lips” on chutes, and weld up chute seams solid. 😜👍🏼 Good Huntin, and God Bless, Rusty