Projects In Metal

1/3rd scale Case Hay Press

The Case Hay Press is quite interesting to see operate as the plunger with the teeth packs loose hay that is fed into the bale chamber.
My model requires a minimum of 2 people, althought 3 people and possibly 4 is better to operate the hay press. As the hay is being packed in the bale chamber, one of the boards that Jennifer is holding is dropped into the bale chamber with the board dropper located behind and at the top of the bale chamber.
The spring loaded fingers that are visible on the side of the hay press keep the bale board out of reach of the packing arm and tight up against the hay being packed in the bale chamber.
The tension on the bale is determined by a pair of adjusting screws located at the extreme end of the bale chamber. These adjusting screws are visible in the previous photo. When the bale is sized correctly, 2 pre-cut lenghts of baling wire are passed through the 2 slots cut in the boards at the ends of the bale that has been formed.

The person on the other side of the hay press takes and ties off the tag ends of these 2 wires with a pair of pliers. The bale continues along, pushed by more bales being formed and once it reaches the end of the bale chamber at the rear, the bale drops out on-to the ground, and the bale boards are retrieved at that point.

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