[GSBN] re tying half bales

[David Eisenberg]

Hi all,

I saw the clamp technique used at the ESBG, I think by the Belgian bale
builders. It impressed me with its simplicity and speed. I may have a photo
or two of this technique but don't have the drive with those pictures with
me at present. Derek's description accurately describes what I saw.

David

On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 11:08 AM, Derek Roff <derek at unm.edu> wrote:

> As others have mentioned, I haven't experienced this specific problem with
> arm pain.  However, it might be more common than we imagine, since workshop
> participants are likely to be unsurprised by being sore after a bale
> raising, and unlikely to call us, even if the pain persists.
>
> On the other hand (the right hand, usually), I have seen many workshop
> participants with blisters or lacerated fingers due to the repeated abrasion
> by the bale twine.  Usually right at the upper joint of the little finger,
> where the twine feeds through the hand, as they are pulling it tight.
>
> I consider this to be a more serious thing than the injured people do. It
> is a surface wound, and if properly cleaned, it will heal quickly. But with
> all the micro-organisms around bales, if it isn't cleaned, it has a good
> chance of getting infected.  Bale frenzy tends to lead to people not taking
> care of themselves.
>
> At the recent colloquium in Oregon, someone (Chris Magwood?) referred to an
> approach that was new to me.  They suggested using four bar clamps to divide
> and compress the bale, before retying.  The head of a bar clamp is pushed
> into the bale at the length of the future partial bale.  Then the screw part
> of the clamp is brought up to the end of the bale, and tightened.  Use two
> clamps per side, so four clamps are needed to divide a bale this way.  Next,
> the strings are cut, and the bale divided.  Finally, the partial bale is
> retied, without the need to provide much compression via the new strings,
> since the clamps are providing pressure.  If the remaining portion of the
> bale needs to be retied, the clamps can then be moved to that piece.
>
> This approach is supposed to be faster and easier, eliminating all the work
> with the bale needles.  I'm planning to try it.  Has anyone else seen this
> approach?
>
> Derek
>
>
>
> --On Thursday, October 29, 2009 6:32 AM -0400 Carolatkn at aol.com wrote:
>
>
>> Hi
>> I'd really appreciate your thoughts on re tying bales. I did a straw
>> bale workshop 3 weeks ago and my left arm is still throbbing from
>> making half bales. It is very painful. I've noticed this for a few
>> days before, but it is definatley much worse this time. It could have
>> been exacerbated by the fact that they only had the really thick
>> baler twine which is very difficult to pull through.
>> We call our knot the "truckers hitch" although I don't think that is
>> strictly correct - a loop on the end, a loop a hand width away,
>> threaded through and pulled in as tightly as possible and tied off.
>> So my questions are
>>
>> Is this just me or has anyone else experienced something similar? I
>> don't want to be demonstrating this technique if I could be injuring
>> some one.
>> Is there a better way to do it or a tool perhaps that could take the
>> strain? I've seen someone use a pallet strapper but the best tension
>> is achieved with a metal buckle - could those buckles be a
>> condensation point in the wall? I've also heard of farmers making
>> half size bales but inevitably some adjustment will be needed so
>> customising will always be needed.
>>
>> best wishes
>> Carol Atkinson
>> www.strawcottage.co.uk
>>
>>
>
>
> Derek Roff
> Language Learning Center
> Ortega Hall 129, MSC03-2100
> University of New Mexico
> Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
> 505/277-7368, fax 505/277-3885
> Internet: derek at unm.edu
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GSBN mailing list
> GSBN at greenbuilder.com
> http://greenbuilder.com/mailman/listinfo/GSBN
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sustainablesources.com/pipermail/gsbn/attachments/20091029/ccea0449/attachment.htm>