Air drill or Box drill

[Dman2]

Thinking time has maybe come to replace our old Nordsten box drill.

What if any are the advantages/Disadvantages of an air drill over a simple box drill

 

[J 1177]

Easier to get down to the last bit of seed and easier to fill. An accord is as good as anything cheap and simple.

 

[two-cylinder]

A centrally metered air drill is better when drilling small seeds at a low seed rate.
A three meter air drill will hold a half tonne bag of seed, many 3m box drill's will not.

 

[Colliedog]

Box drills generally cheaper and quieter!

 

[Hesstondriver]

I still think there is a market for a new mf 30 or nordsten. the old KISS thing comes to mind
Keep IT Simple Stupid!

 

[Robt]

Happ to quote for either if it helps your budgeting for new or used . Rob, sulky uk

 

[Dman2]

Happ to quote for either if it helps your budgeting for new or used . Rob, sulky uk

PM sent

 

[sahara]

We have a Kuhn Integra box drill, (3m). Its 600L as the base unit and it has both of the optional 300L extensions to take it to 1200L, So I can just about get tonne of wheat in it.

We can fill it with a bucket on the loader, its got a lower centre of gravity than the air ones, I can see over the top of it easily to help when moving about, on the Kuhn you can have a hydraulic ram as part of the Drill/PH attachment system so you can roll the drill forward if its not needed, or to help with weight transfer, and best of all, its so much quieter than an air drill!

I would quite happily recommend one to any one!

 

[Phil P]

After going from a 4m box drill to an air drill I wouldn’t go back to a box!
Air drill has only 1 metering unit so less moving parts, more accurate calibration, holds more seed (nearly a ton without extensions) and easier to fill/empty.
I went for a front hopper which seems to be a bit love hate for some people but personally I think you get much better weight distribution, especially with a press to take the weight off the front axle. Also gives much better visibility of the coulters out the back.

 

[fermerboy]

I've an Amazone RPD 3m box drill on a tyre packer power harrow.
Bought it because it was my first go at sowing myself.
Holds about 600kg so takes a half tonne bag of seed with some left, dead quiet, simple as it comes, can see if the tramliner is working, its dead on accurate for seed rate, if tramlining there is no extra metered seed being blown down the other 20 rows like an air drill.
Downside is changing variety or emptying, its a curse then, usually plan our sowing so not to have to empty often, different if contracting I suppose.
I like to go for the simple option, usually pays when running old stuff.

 

[Rookie]

if tramlining there is no extra metered seed being blown down the other 20 rows like an air drill.

On our accord das which is over 20 years old, when tramlining it shuts coulters off but returns seed back to tank, so doesn't increase seed rate down other coulters.

 

[its.... only me]

On our accord das which is over 20 years old, when tramlining it shuts coulters off but returns seed back to tank, so doesn't increase seed rate down other coulters.

Is that my old one ?
Funny how things turn out..... we’ve just bought another

 

[Rookie]

Is that my old one ?
Funny how things turn out..... we’ve just bought another

Yes it is.
I saw your wanted advert and thought that things had gone a full 360.!
We put it onto a kuhn ph and changed it to a 3 row stagger.
Got everything drilled, so can't be too bad however haven't got much heavy land.

 

[ORRA LOON]

I've an Amazone RPD 3m box drill on a tyre packer power harrow.
Bought it because it was my first go at sowing myself.
Holds about 600kg so takes a half tonne bag of seed with some left, dead quiet, simple as it comes, can see if the tramliner is working, its dead on accurate for seed rate, if tramlining there is no extra metered seed being blown down the other 20 rows like an air drill.
Downside is changing variety or emptying, its a curse then, usually plan our sowing so not to have to empty often, different if contracting I suppose.
I like to go for the simple option, usually pays when running old stuff.

I had someone trying to buy a broken up Amazone drill for me at Thainstone last year for a project but i believe you must of wanted it more than me . Bought a Nordstein instead for £150 .

 

[Nearly]

@Drillman

 

[Drillman]

@Drillman

Accord air drill

 

[fermerboy]

I had someone trying to buy a broken up Amazone drill for me at Thainstone last year for a project but i believe you must of wanted it more than me . Bought a Nordstein instead for £150 .

I did bid on it as the nylon gears in the metering gearbox on mine are worn, but somebody from Ireland wanted it more than both of us!!!

 

[fermerboy]

On our accord das which is over 20 years old, when tramlining it shuts coulters off but returns seed back to tank, so doesn't increase seed rate down other coulters.

Not had anything to do with air drills for a lomg long time, stand corrected!!

 

[Dman2]

How would an air drill cope with a bit of trash in the seed
We save quite a bit of seed and can have a bit of trash in it
Never a problem for a box drill

 

[rob h]

If you have a coulter block with a box drill it will come out the top in line with coulter and harrow in with the following harrow so you don't get gaps.i fill ours sideways just pull the boom back in to spread it out