help dad stack the bales easier

[BobbySusie]

I work off farm part time, as we get most of our straw off a neighbour, dad usually sets it up to draw it home when Im at work. But he just cant get used to stacking them well with the forks.

I was thinking of putting on the soft hands for him as he is grand with silage.
Any one doing that?

 

[Dry Rot]

I've wondered how people stack round bales with a fork on a loader. I've hit on a plan using a rope which sort of works but can't imagine how I would manage with the fork alone. 'Soft hands' would cost money and that makes me feel faint.

 

[BobbySusie]

I've wondered how people stack round bales with a fork on a loader. I've hit on a plan using a rope which sort of works but can't imagine how I would manage with the fork alone. 'Soft hands' would cost money and that makes me feel faint.

I have a soft hand for doing silage bales. Really hand tool

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I work off farm part time, as we get most of our straw off a neighbour, dad usually sets it up to draw it home when Im at work. But he just cant get used to stacking them well with the forks.

I was thinking of putting on the soft hands for him as he is grand with silage.
Any one doing that?

What size bales

 

[michael N123]

By fork do you mean a muck fork with loads of spikes ? If so remove the muck spikes and fit 2 long bale spikes

 

[multi power]

Pallet forks are my weapon of choice for straw bales

 

[Dry Rot]

I use a muck fork with every other spike removed, so I think four spikes.

Tilt the fork about 30 degrees, push under the edge of the bale (sat upright on end) nearest the tractor. Put rope around the top of the bale and tie to fork lift with slip knot. Lift the fork which tilts the bale inwards slightly. By varying the tilt, I can now lift the bale and place it vertically on the stack. Pull the rope off (which was tied with a slip knot) and on to the next one.

Hope that makes sense! If anyone is interested, I might try to take some photos as I need to move some bales soon.

 

[neilo]

I have a soft hand for doing silage bales. Really hand tool

If you’ve got a Soft Hands handler already, then surely a no-brainier to use it?

I agree, it’s a very handy tool. I can pick up and neatly stack 20 odd wool bags on a 24’ bale trailer using my Soft Hands and a Merlo, without leaving the seat more than twice.

 

[BobbySusie]

If you’ve got a Soft Hands handler already, then surely a no-brainier to use it?

I agree, it’s a very handy tool. I can pick up and neatly stack 20 odd wool bags on a 24’ bale trailer using my Soft Hands and a Merlo, without leaving the seat more than twice.

I put on the soft hands last night, bales of barley straw 4ft round. It was a lot easier for him. Hes delighted

 

[roscoe erf]

get a bale spike or make one not much money either way

 

[Dry Rot]

get a bale spike or make one not much money either way

So, tell me how you stack 'em with a spike? Yes, I've seen it done and can do it as described above, but I'd be interested to hear how others do it.

 

[roscoe erf]

So, tell me how you stack 'em with a spike? Yes, I've seen it done and can do it as described above, but I'd be interested to hear how others do it.

just like that not like that just like this

 

[michael N123]

So, tell me how you stack 'em with a spike? Yes, I've seen it done and can do it as described above, but I'd be interested to hear how others do it.

If you’ve got 2 long spikes they push in and out the bale easier

 

[digger64]

⚃ foot E="BobbySusie, post: 6490508, member: 139542"]
I put on the soft hands last night, bales of barley straw 4ft round. It was a lot easier for him. Hes delighted
[/QUOTE]
4foot 6 bales more stable in the stack , if you can load with soft hands flat side down then stack 2x2 and unload/stack much faster

 

[J 1177]

I use an old bomford 4ft 6 muck gripe with two worn tines left in either side (Its very worn so the holes are slack) spike them in the sides and stack them bean can. Its not perfect but I can make a decent job with them.

 

[7610 super q]

If you're having trouble pulling out ( ohhh matron ) just use one spike. If you're stacking bean can fashion, try and spike, and crowd up a bit, place on the stack, and lower the spikes out, rather than pulling out level, and toppling the bale back off the stack.

 

[neilo]

4foot 6 bales more stable in the stack , if you can load with soft hands flat side down then stack 2x2 and unload/stack much faster

I use an old bomford 4ft 6 muck gripe with two worn tines left in either side (Its very worn so the holes are slack) spike them in the sides and stack them bean can. Its not perfect but I can make a decent job with them.

If you're having trouble pulling out ( ohhh matron ) just use one spike. If you're stacking bean can fashion, try and spike, and crowd up a bit, place on the stack, and lower the spikes out, rather than pulling out level, and toppling the bale back off the stack.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. You'll all have the H&S stazi after you. It's a big no no to stack bales in vertical columns, they must be stacked on their side, pyramid fashion.

 

[7610 super q]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. You'll all have the H&S stazi after you. It's a big no no to stack bales in vertical columns, they must be stacked on their side, pyramid fashion.

I do anyway, I find they seem to breath better stacked on their sides. No, I don't know why either.

 

[milkloss]

If handling on their side we use a double spike. If you pick two up they rotate together and stack well. Never really been a fan of bean can stacking as they always want to lean the way you don’t want. If we do then we will box them in with big squares.

 

[neilo]

If handling on their side we use a double spike. If you pick two up they rotate together and stack well. Never really been a fan of bean can stacking as they always want to lean the way you don’t want. If we do then we will box them in with big squares.

I'm not quite sure how you can box them in with big squares in a fashion that would keep the stazi happy either. Big squares have to be stepped back every 2 layers...…

Bean can stacking is a lot easier, and more precise, with a soft hands stacker...…. a friend tells me.