Grass cutter: do-it-yourself grass chopper from a washing machine

A grass cutter in the household is a necessary thing. Such a chopper is able to minimize manual labor, quickly and efficiently process grass and straw for compost.

Not everyone can buy a new device. Therefore, we will tell you how to assemble a homemade chopper from a washing machine engine. Recycle brushwood, grass, straw productively and quickly, clearing the yard of debris and fertilizing the soil.

Varieties of grass grinders

There are two types of grass cutter:

  • Petrol. A powerful installation is not tied to the electrical network, so you can work with it in any corner of the site. Allows you to quickly process large branches, effectively chop the grass.
  • Electrical. Unlike gasoline, it is lighter and more compact, but less powerful. For processing a small amount of waste, a device with a power of 1,5 kW is suitable. For long and demanding jobs, opt for a device that delivers 4 kW. 6 kW motors will process even large branches.

The choice must be made based on the upcoming work.

The design is easy to use. The principle of operation of a garden shredder is no different from a food processor. It consists of the following parts:

  • shaft equipped with knives;
  • engine;
  • protective cover;
  • metal frame;
  • cable;
  • receiving container;
  • cutting container.

For ease of movement, the grass cutter is equipped with two wheels. The engine contributes to the rotation of the shaft of the device, grass and straw are thrown into the container, which are chopped with knives. Shredded waste is poured into a prepared container.

What you need to make a grass chopper

You will need tools:

  • Bulgarian;
  • drill;
  • screwdriver;
  • passages;
  • a hammer;
  • bolts, nuts, washers.

As well as accessories:

  • a tank, preferably cylindrical, from an old washing machine;
  • electric motor with a power of 180 W;
  • wire with a plug;
  • container for collecting hay;
  • metal corner – from it you will weld the frame for the apparatus;
  • start button;
  • knives.

If you need to process not only grass, but also thick branches, it is better to install a more powerful motor. It is recommended to use a gasoline engine.

How to choose knives

Depending on the design of the knives, you can get either 10 cm pieces or small dust at the output. In professional units, the following types of cutting elements are used:

  • The product in the form of a disk will allow you to grind grass and small branches.
  • The milling device will process dry brushwood 8 mm thick.
  • The milling and turbine design will cope even with large and wet branches.

For home installation, hacksaw knives or a circular knife are suitable.

Assembling the structure with your own hands

It is advisable to prepare detailed drawings before manufacturing the device. According to them, it will be easier for you to observe the accuracy and sequence of assembly.

How to do the job:

  1. From the bottom of the tank you need to make a rectangular hole where the knives will be installed. Hole dimensions – 20×7 cm. It is recommended to place the knives above the hole.
  2. Next, make a protective cover. Close the hole with a sheet of metal, fix it with bolts. So the grass will not scatter during operation.
  3. Make a stand using a welding machine. The height of the stand will depend on the choice of container you are using to collect waste. Additionally, wheels can be installed on the stand for easy movement of the grass cutter.
  4. Prepare the motor. Using a drill, make holes on the shaft and install a sleeve made on a lathe on it. The sleeve length must be at least 50 mm. Set the motor to the bottom of the tank. Secure it with pins.
  5. Before installing knives, they must be sharpened correctly. Perform one-sided sharpening for chopping brushwood. Make plates in the form of a rhombus for chopping grass. Make sure that the length of the knives is optimal and that they do not touch the walls of the tank.
  6. Make holes in the center of the knives and put them on the motor shaft. Fasten with a nut.
  7. Weld the finished structure to the stand.
  8. Connect the start button and the wire for connecting to the network.
  9. Make a casing for the engine that will protect it from the weather. To do this, you can use a metal sheet.

We wrote about how to properly connect an electric motor in previous articles.

How does a grass cutter from a washing machine work?

Grass is loaded into the connected grass cutter, just do not immediately fill the full tank. A container for crushed silage is substituted, and the device is connected to the network.

Be sure to follow safety precautions when working with a grinder. Try not to load wet branches, otherwise the device will jam. In the future, it is enough to sharpen the knives so that the grass cutter works normally.

Grass cutters are easy to make and just as easy to care for. Therefore, if you have an old washing machine, you can find a worthy use for it.

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