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Hay wagon lumber

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mark ct

01-01-2003 10:33:31




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what do most of you guys use to make your haywagons out of. my fathers friend always made them out of rough sawn hardwood. a guy up the street has been making them out of pressure treated lumber from the local lumber yard, it seems that the pressure treated might cost more but how do you think it will hold up in the long run, has anyone else did this before. my main concern is that the pressure treated lumber is softer than hardwood so i dont know if it will stand up to the beatings that a wagon takes.

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farmerjohn

01-04-2003 19:25:40




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
We have two, the main beams and floor boards are of oak, the racks are all of poplar. They are going on 20-plus years of service and have held up excellent for durability, however they are never left outside to the weather.



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CATSKILL PETE

01-02-2003 12:30:50




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
The framework at least should be made of hardwood or steel. Treated is OK for deck but too soft for frame it will bow down with time.
My wagons held up well for many years stored outside [not my first choice]. Have tried most of the treatments mentioned, not much difference between them that I could see. They help BUT,the
best preservative I have found is a pressure washer, at the end of the season power wash all the gaps to remove old hay chaff. The wood will last for years even stored outside and rained on IF it has a chance to dry back out afterwards, like barn siding. My nickels worth.

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Michael Soldan

01-02-2003 06:12:48




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
I have three flat wagons and here is the story My Dad built one in the 1950's and it is still as good as new. He used cedar and painted it, it has always been stored inside but has been rained upon lots of times. The running gear was made of 2-1935 Ford car axles. I am going to put a new wagon gear under that flat rack which is as new after almost 50 years. I have built two racks since using pressure treated lumber. I used two inch on the rack I built last summer and it is a solid rack. Another rack I built using 5\4" pressure treated, it is a light rack but serves the same as the others. At the end of haying I sweep them off, fill my garden sprayer with Thompson's Water Seal and give them a sopping and let dry for a few days. I then stack them. I block the bottom wagon and put a set of ramps up the front. I back the second wagon up the ramps onto the first. I block it and chain it down. Now two wagons take up the space of one. I can also set a flail mower, and the sickle mower on the top wagon so storage is totally utilized. I haven't stacked three wagons but it is quite possible. My racks are all bolted together and if a board was to be broken somehow all I have to do is unbolt the sides and replace the board with a new one. Yes, they get slippery especially when doing straw. I found pressure treat was expensive but I believe the way I treat my racks it will be around for a long time. The wagon rack I built last summer cost me $80 for two sills 3"x16'.These were oak from a local sawmill.I had 32 pieces of 2"x8"x8' and 6 pieces of 1"x4" x16' of pine to edge the rack. I had about$375 in it with hardware. I bought the wagon running gear for $100 from a retired farmer and I put some replacement tires on it that I got at The garage I work at for free. I painted the frame with J-D green at 29.95 a gallon. For $500 give or take I have a real nice hay wagon. I know storage isn't always possible but if they can be out of the weather they will last like my dad's 50+ year old rack.....Mike in Exeter Ontario

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JMS/MN

01-01-2003 23:07:10




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
I would not use pressure treated lumber for a wagon-(too soft)- rough sawn hardwood is much better, and will hold paint if you need it. Biggest thing about long life on a hay wagon is CLEAN OFF THE RESIDUE IF THEY SIT OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN- that's why they rot! One inch unpainted lumber can easily last 15-20 years if they just get cleaned off between cuttings.



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Bill B

01-01-2003 21:39:30




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
HI, I have serveral wagons, one treated and the others are rough cut oak. My biggest complaint is the treated lumber floor is slick as ice after a little loose hay gets on it. I have also had the 8ft 4x4s(which are trated pine) which go across the rails brake. Bill



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haycreek

01-01-2003 20:34:54




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
Rough cut white oak is the best choice around here. Tamarack works good to if you get it laid down rite away. Even pine or poplar can "toughen up",still won't handle moisture like white oak. GL



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Phil Munson

01-01-2003 19:55:43




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
Sorry, but I do not agree with most of the advice you have received. Elm is a very cheap hardwood, but is not weather resistant. We always used old engine oil and painted the racks every year before we were done. The racks were stored outside and lasted forever.

Most pressure treated wood is no where near as strong as hardwood and the pressure treat chemicals are seriously nasty!!



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norm

01-01-2003 19:47:00




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
Unless you have a cheap source for rough sawn hardwood, I would use pressure treated and soak it down, (paint it), with several coats of a 50/50 mixture of oil based polyurethane and kerosene or mineral spirits. For best results let it soak in and keep painting it til it starts to shine. It will get as hard as hardwood and have the pressure treated properties as well, and will probably last forever. That's what the guys on "This Old House" do with softened sills and timbers that are still intact.

norm

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norm

01-01-2003 19:44:41




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
Unless you have a cheap source for rough sawn hardwood, I eould use pressure treated and soak it down, (paint it), with several coats of a 50/50 mixture of oil based polyurethane and kerosene or mineral spirits. For best results let it soak in and keep painting it til it starts to shine. It will get as hard as hardwood and have the pressure treated properties as well, and will probably last forever. That's what the guys on "This Old House" do with softened sills and timbers that are still intact.

norm

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thurlow

01-01-2003 18:16:55




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
For years all of my trailer flooring, including cattle trailers, has been made from used utility poles (creosoted)sawn into 2 bys or 3 bys depending on application. Used poles can often be had for free or for a nominal amount. Be aware the the chemical(s) they are treated with are CARCINOGENIC and appropiate measures must be taken while sawing.



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david

01-01-2003 13:47:22




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
In addition to farming I teach ag mechanics. One of our main items to sell are wagons flats. I use either rough cut white oak or will use pressure treated on steel runners. Seems that the pressure treated has held up well, built some 24' for a guy 5 years ago (10 of them). He's still pleased. Be sure and use white oak instead of red or poplar if you plan to leave them outside. I have a red oak flat of my own that lasted about 7 yrs, got some white oak flats I built 20 years ago that are still good. Good 6/4"x8' white oak flooring costs me .50/bdft, 20' 3"x10"s .75/bdft.

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Woody

01-01-2003 11:11:51




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 Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to mark ct, 01-01-2003 10:33:31  
I live in Northern Ohio, and I just rebuilt a John Deere hay wagon with rough cut poplar. Poplar is a hard wood that is light and easy to work with. We keep all our wagons inside, Other farmer here will paint them with a water preserver. Total cost in lumber includes floor, main beams, and supports was $140. Hope this helps.



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jls

01-02-2003 19:01:19




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 Re: Re: hay wagon lumber in reply to Woody, 01-01-2003 11:11:51  
doesn't matter just maintain them, blast off the crud every fall and soak in used moter oil (cheap) my wagons also get use for big rnd bls and take a beating, Wht oak is best but I use treated for the long frame members just because I don't need to have them cut special and they don"t twist or warp, or crack around a knot. double the 2X and bolt them together. P.S. worked in chem treat lumber and as a carpenter, you can't eat enough CCA treated wood to hurt you just don't burn, it releases the arsnic, penta or old creosote utility poles are nasty though

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