Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

[Boobydoo]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

I would build the next one with a bigger diameter as pinpointing is not an exact science. This is a really cool idea... probably not patentably because the golf green plugger and othersimilar designs would be prior art but it could be maketable which is much more valuable. Patents are not worth the paper they are printed on 99.9% of the time. Not like they used to be. The patent lawers make all the money, not the inventor.

Keep refining and improving Smitty. This rocks buddy!

Smiles!
BDoo

 

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[IndianaSmith]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

Thanks all! I probably wouldn't go much bigger, the plug it cuts is probably "average" to what alot of us cut, and the harder the ground, that harder it would be to insert it, especially as size increased . lol, and by no means am I attempting to brag, but a majority of the time, I can flip a coin out of the ground with my screwdriver I've welded a flatwasher onto the end of. If you look at a ruler, a 2.5" diameter hole is a pretty fair-sized opening to work, not much smaller than a coffee cup I'd guess (never measured one)

It'll probably be springtime before I can actually use it to extract a coin, but atleast I know it will remove a plug of sod. I'm anxious to try the taller one too. If it works, I'd probably put it to good use, it'd make things alittle easier on my back. The one thing is, I can always remove alittle more dirt from the hole if needed, plus having a pinpointer is an advantage (as we already know), and I still have a consistent-shaped plug to replace into the ground.

I agree BDoo, I don't think patents are worth much. I just enjoy trying t do stuff like this. lol, I've done a few that wound-up at the scrapyard before anyone could see them

Smitty

 

[sandrailer]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

I made of of them it works great.you can see a vid of it on youtube.The one i made i used a contractors caulk gun as it takes a larger tube and is built stronger.Works great for nice lawns.check out the video here

 

[IndianaSmith]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

I wished I didn't have this stupid dial-up, half the time I can't even view pics, so I won't be able to see the video. Can you post a pic of it here (hopefully I can see it)?

Smitty

 

[Farmercal]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

It probably will work but like all pluggers, it is going to leave a brown spot on the lawn.

The pluggers used by the greens keepers at golf courses do not leave brown spots.

I wasn't talking about proffessional greens keepers repairing golf courses. I was talking about what I have seen in the past when a treasure hunter uses a plugger to cut a plug and retrieve a coin. I have seen the brown spots left the day after many times. Now, if the ground is moist, perhaps that won't happen but I have seen it too many times to think it won't happen again. I am just pointing out facts not saying it won't work.

 

[teverly]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

It probably will work but like all pluggers, it is going to leave a brown spot on the lawn.

The pluggers used by the greens keepers at golf courses do not leave brown spots.

Thats because the soil is very sandy and greens are watered every night.

 

[civilman1]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

Hey Smitty.....cut a void into the cutter itself so you can leave a hinge.......grass spread's for the most part!!Tweek it a bit

 

[IndianaSmith]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

Hey Smitty.....cut a void into the cutter itself so you can leave a hinge.......grass spread's for the most part!!Tweek it a bit

Wouldn't doing that defeat it's purpose? I wouldn't be able to remove the plug, unless I'm misunderstanding.

Smitty

 

[civilman1]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

I'm just saying if you remove the whole plug depending on depth would leave a brown dot.....If there was some way to punch the plug and still leave a hinge there would still be some more root to recover.Don't get me wrong Smitty....Great Idea......You got the talent!!

 

[IndianaSmith]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

lol, it's a fine line between "talent" & too much time on my hands, but thanks I'm just trying to weigh-out the pros & cons of your suggestion. If I began by cutting a flap, folded it back, it may be just as easy to use my screwdriver to remove the item. Would be worth trying both ways though, since this would be on the rare occassions of being particularly careful on a well-kept lawn where the extra effort would be required.

I have another post on this board about anything that can be done to help prevent killing grass (and leaving spots), I'm hopng to get some replies on it. I may have to cut some holes this spring in the yard & try some feeds "additives" to them & record the results.

Smitty

 

[sandrailer]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

I know what your saying about dial-up,so here is a pic for ya hope you can see it ok.

 

[IndianaSmith]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

Sandrailer- Looks like you did a great job! Once the time comes where you can use it alittle more, let me know how it goes.

Tom- Thanks, it takes over an hour most of the time to watch a short video ($10 a month dial-up, barely better than nothing). I agree that this kind of plug-cutter would only work in certain soil conditions, wet/damp would help soften it, and from what I understand from just reading replies to another post, damp sod helps reduce the odds of killing the sod. You'd never sink this type of cutter into the ground if it were hardpacked.

Thanks
Smitty

 

[Shortstack]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

It probably will work but like all pluggers, it is going to leave a brown spot on the lawn.

The pluggers used by the greens keepers at golf courses do not leave brown spots.

I wasn't talking about proffessional greens keepers repairing golf courses. I was talking about what I have seen in the past when a treasure hunter uses a plugger to cut a plug and retrieve a coin. I have seen the brown spots left the day after many times. Now, if the ground is moist, perhaps that won't happen but I have seen it too many times to think it won't happen again. I am just pointing out facts not saying it won't work.

You're certainly right about THing pluggers. Some folks just don't use their heads. If the ground is real dry, I don't plug.

 

[JW]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

Here are few designs I threw together...

First photo is 3.75" diameter plug, 12" deep...

Second photo 5" diameter plug, 10.25" deep...

Third photo 6" diameter plug 11.25" deep...

Fourth photo 6" diameter plug, 10.25" deep...

 

[sandrailer]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

Smitty
I made the unit last spring and used it all summer,it works great but they are right about not using it when the soil is dry.First it will kill the grass and second it pushes in the ground real hard if its dry.

 

[imafishingnutt]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

I'm just saying if you remove the whole plug depending on depth would leave a brown dot.....If there was some way to punch the plug and still leave a hinge there would still be some more root to recover.Don't get me wrong Smitty....Great Idea......You got the talent!!

I being a parks guy we have machines to punch holes in our grass on purpose i dont think the sod plug will turn brown.
and in the summer heat it turns brown anyway or used to till we got the new fertalizer that just came out not the lawns stay green year round and grow slower. SWEET COMBINATION

 

[imafishingnutt]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

look at my avatar pic by my name and you will see the best plug popper for dry ground.

 

[imafishingnutt]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

Here are few designs I threw together...

First photo is 3.75" diameter plug, 12" deep...

Second photo 5" diameter plug, 10.25" deep...

Third photo 6" diameter plug 11.25" deep...

Fourth photo 6" diameter plug, 10.25" deep...

see here on the coast we have a sandy dirt mix typ soil or just plain wet year round so those would work great here ill take the 10.5 x 5 incher.
ill give ya 20.00 bucks for it

 

[IndianaSmith]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

Too many pics on here for my "mighty" dial-up to let me see

Bummer...............

Smitty

 

[fatsmahoney]

Re: Will it work? A Sod Plug "Gun"

just carry along some grass seed