Snippy? Not really, just reacting to your first response, like I didn't
know anything about metal work.

Anyway, no good arguing about it. Life is too short!!

Later man.

--
Steve
"RoyJ" wrote in message
ink.net...
Well, your snippy response to someone who suggested buying versus building
could have been tempered with "I work in a fabrication shop, have access
to all the equipment AND shop excess scrap". Makes a big difference. Most
of the hobbist types do NOT have the access, would have different plans.

SteveC wrote:
"RoyJ" wrote in message

If you have to buy your materials at reasonable prices (new steel at a
steel supply place), have trouble with things like getting the plow blade
bent in a real brake, and spend lots of extra time cutting stock with a
sawsall rather than having it sheared to size, I'd say your real cost can
be higher than buying at a sale or closeout.


I work in a welding/machine shop, so equipment is at my disposal. And we
always have loads of excess metal lying around.
We have a metal roller, so I can get a blade made in a few minutes.



If you need a special unit, special features, have free material on hand,
value your time at a low value, or want to try some new things, go ahead
and build it.


Thanks, I think I will try and build it myself!! :-)


As for the ATV plow, I built a 36" blade for my old garden tractor. Used
a section of steel from a discarded 80 gallon water heater. Lower edge
was a peice of angle iron with three rows of hard surfacing bead for a
wear edge. Made 4 pieces of 1/4" stock in an arc to give the blade some
rigidity. Tractor was small enough that I did not need to make the blade
pivot and spring load it like the bigger units. Depending on your use and
ATV weight, you may need to add this feature. Tractor had a convient
front mount plus an existing mower deck lift arm so all that was trivial.
An ATV will need to have all this added. Would I build another for my
newer tractor? See next paragraph:

Go see your ATV dealer with tape measure in hand. Make notes, take
pictures. And while you are there, ask if they have any used or damaged
plow units. $100 for one with a few dings but includes the mount,
undercarraige, and lift mechanism would be a great deal.


SteveC wrote:


really. So you've built one? If I could afford one, wouldn't you think
I'd have one bought already??
My time is free, so that's not an issue. Materials I can get for free
or really cheap.
And it's the satifaction of building yourself. Have you ever built
something?