Wrapping the curved surface of round bales

[Dry Rot]

An update. (I hate to leave a thread with everyone hanging!).

Just to confirm, the idea is to wrap the curved surface/circumference of the bale only, leaving the ends open so the fodder can breath but still stay protected from the weather. Even with my system (top half of the bale covered), quite a substantial hole in the plastic is not a major problem as it's still shedding most of the water (like my sweater with holes still keeps me warm!) and there is no vacuum to suck water in when the temperature goes down like total wrapping or in a bag.

I emailed the inventor of the Wrapede CW-1, no reply. Through the rural spy network, I gather it is thought to be too expensive to manufacture and is not being marketed, but this is unverified. Maybe there is a new version on the way? The CW-1 is patented. I don't know a lot about patents but I don't think they would prevent someone making a copy for their own use, it only gets tricky when it goes commercial -- but I stand to be corrected.

I also located the wrapper in Aberdeenshire which looks a lot more affordable. This one was made by a contractor for his own use and is basically a rotating bale spike on a front loader with a wrapping dispenser. Again, I gather not in general production yet. (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100017072433028). And, yes, I am still interested. Just need to find a cheap hydraulic rotating bale spike!

 

[renewablejohn]

If thats all you want to do then my forwarding crane will easily do that. Just use a grapple head to lift the bale and rotate. I do a similar thing to stop logs falling out of the IBC cages when delivering long distance on the road. Got fed up of manually going around the crates and getting dizzy with the wrap on a rake.

 

[thesilentone]

Years ago one of the baler companies developed a plastic or net wrap system to wrap plastic instead of net on the baler.

I think it was Krone.

 

[Highland Mule]

An update. (I hate to leave a thread with everyone hanging!).

Just to confirm, the idea is to wrap the curved surface/circumference of the bale only, leaving the ends open so the fodder can breath but still stay protected from the weather. Even with my system (top half of the bale covered), quite a substantial hole in the plastic is not a major problem as it's still shedding most of the water (like my sweater with holes still keeps me warm!) and there is no vacuum to suck water in when the temperature goes down like total wrapping or in a bag.
View attachment 975888

I emailed the inventor of the Wrapede CW-1, no reply. Through the rural spy network, I gather it is thought to be too expensive to manufacture and is not being marketed, but this is unverified. Maybe there is a new version on the way? The CW-1 is patented. I don't know a lot about patents but I don't think they would prevent someone making a copy for their own use, it only gets tricky when it goes commercial -- but I stand to be corrected.

I also located the wrapper in Aberdeenshire which looks a lot more affordable. This one was made by a contractor for his own use and is basically a rotating bale spike on a front loader with a wrapping dispenser. Again, I gather not in general production yet. (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100017072433028). And, yes, I am still interested. Just need to find a cheap hydraulic rotating bale spike!

How many bales are we talking about @Dry Rot? I’d be tempted to just hang on a normal spike or front loader and walk around if it’s under 30 or so.

 

[Dry Rot]

How many bales are we talking about @Dry Rot? I’d be tempted to just hang on a normal spike or front loader and walk around if it’s under 30 or so.

I don't think I've ever baled "under 30 or so"! Or are you talking from personal experience?

 

[Mr Mackay]

Years ago one of the baler companies developed a plastic or net wrap system to wrap plastic instead of net on the baler.

I think it was Krone.

Mc Hale Fusion . Loads about here !
I dont know if many of their operators do straw in plastic for stacking outside ?? ,but would be ideal instead of net BUT you need to be careful with them ,the plastic can rip and just open much more easily than net

 

[Bury the Trash]

i made a hydraulic turning spike years ago, ( theres pics on here of it somewhere )its intended purpose was to unwind bales for feeding out
but i tried it for wrapping the outside /circumferance of bales as well iirc, put a roll of wrap on a piece of pipe on a old trailler chassis , tucked into edge of net way to go,......no stretcher tho.

bit of of faff and cost of plastic i think was why i never carried on after the first one

 

[Dry Rot]

i made a hydraulic turning spike years ago, ( theres pics on here of it somewhere )its intended purpose was to unwind bales for feeding out
but i tried it for wrapping the outside /circumferance of bales as well iirc, put a roll of wrap on a piece of pipe on a old trailler chassis , tucked into edge of net way to go,......no stretcher tho.

bit of of faff and cost of plastic i think was why i never carried on after the first one

The guy wrappng bales in Aberdeenshire is a contractor and seems to have several other items on the go. An interesting guy.

Mc Hale Fusion . Loads about here !
I dont know if many of their operators do straw in plastic for stacking outside ?? ,but would be ideal instead of net BUT you need to be careful with them ,the plastic can rip and just open much more easily than net

See post 2, It is not about wrapping the whole bale.

 

[Highland Mule]

I don't think I've ever baled "under 30 or so"! Or are you talking from personal experience?

I buy all cut fodder in these days, but try and build a buffer of standing fodder in the autumn too. I find (with exception of 2018) it’s cheaper and easier than shutting fields off, juggling work commitments and repairing machinery.

Sorry, I thought you just had a few horses and were winding down on scale - didn’t mean to offend.

 

[Mr Mackay]

The guy wrappng bales in Aberdeenshire is a contractor and seems to have several other items on the go. An interesting guy.


See post 2, It is not about wrapping the whole bale.

I know what you meant ,as I tried it with one of our bale wrppers a few yrs ago, put 2 layers on instead of 4 and slit the ends so they could breathe !! Ended up with pockets of wet !!
Never did it again !
So I was thinking the balers that apply white plastic to silage before they wrap it ,might do the job on straw !!
The ends would be left open !!

But as I pointed out ,they dont stand much abuse I would have thought

 

[Dry Rot]

I buy all cut fodder in these days, but try and build a buffer of standing fodder in the autumn too. I find (with exception of 2018) it’s cheaper and easier than shutting fields off, juggling work commitments and repairing machinery.

Sorry, I thought you just had a few horses and were winding down on scale - didn’t mean to offend.

How many bales I have to wrap is a moot point. The discussion is about the method of wrapping and how it can be achieved, Hopefully those who are interested can learn something from shared knowledge.

 

[MRT]

How many bales I have to wrap is a moot point. The discussion is about the method of wrapping and how it can be achieved, Hopefully those who are interested can learn something from shared knowledge.

Can you get a normal wrap done but two layers and stanley knife away a semi circle at the bottom of each? So each bale has its own dutch barn?

 

[Bury the Trash]

i made a hydraulic turning spike years ago, ( theres pics on here of it somewhere )its intended purpose was to unwind bales for feeding out
but i tried it for wrapping the outside /circumferance of bales as well iirc, put a roll of wrap on a piece of pipe on a old trailler chassis , tucked into edge of net way to go,......no stretcher tho.

bit of of faff and cost of plastic i think was why i never carried on after the first one

Bale unrollers for filling ring feeders?

Pictures please actually we are still just using ordinary spike atm manually slipping hay into 2 side by side ring feeders fairly easy to with short dry grass. bits get in yr eyes tho :rolleyes: and also if ive done the baling the bales wont be as tight ..... this it simple frame welded into...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[Mr Mackay]

Can you get a normal wrap done but two layers and stanley knife away a semi circle at the bottom of each? So each bale has its own dutch barn?

You can , but I think it tends to want to peel off and what a faff!!
I am suprised there isnt any Fusion owners (who have the plastic applicator upgrade) ,who can comment !!
Fusions arent the best for straw , but will do it ,and a lot of straw balers wont be Fusions

 

[Poorbuthappy]

See post 2, It is not about wrapping the whole bale.

No but what @Mr Mackay is talking about is exactly what you're asking. Some fusion balers do film on film. They do not use net wrap but film to hold the bale together. Post 2 suggests it may not hold as well as net, but I suspect this is down to minimal amount applied for bales that will be subsequently wrapped.
If you could get a contractor with a fusion with this facility and he apply extra layers, I suspect this will be your cheapest/ easiest option. He then drops the bale prior to wrapping in the 2nd chamber same as he would for hay or straw.

 

[Highland Mule]

How many bales I have to wrap is a moot point. The discussion is about the method of wrapping and how it can be achieved, Hopefully those who are interested can learn something from shared knowledge.

In that case , tubeliner and then split by lifting with the loader if you don’t want a long line of them - last we used one it was Hugh, but he doesn’t have it any more (and is well retired too). Wouldn’t be worth getting in for a few though. I’d do that by hand.

 

[Nearly]

https://m.facebook.com/groups/BritishFarmingForum/permalink/10158523132034891/

 

[KennyO]

In that case , tubeliner and then split by lifting with the loader if you don’t want a long line of them - last we used one it was Hugh, but he doesn’t have it any more (and is well retired too). Wouldn’t be worth getting in for a few though. I’d do that by hand.

We used to had wrap bales for the ends of tubelines of silage. It is no fun and not easy.

 

[Highland Mule]

We used to had wrap bales for the ends of tubelines of silage. It is no fun and not easy.

Always double bagged the first and last of tubelines. Can’t imagine hand wrapping was easy at all, but for just the curved parts of a few it would be okay.

 

[KennyO]

Always double bagged the first and last of tubelines. Can’t imagine hand wrapping was easy at all, but for just the curved parts of a few it would be okay.

There were no bags available in NZ (or my boss was too tight) 20 years ago.