Cool video! I need to remember the arcflat on the lift cart thing. That would be prefect for my cramped shop. (It wouldn't be so cramped if I got rid of some crap...) Thanks Mike!
SUPER sweet idea Mike! Part of me wants to make something like this for my mini excavator.... I also need to start thinking hard about getting that Arc Droid, it looks really nice and easy to get rolling. And you're right, if stuff isn't easy to work on, do, hook up, etc., you're not going to use it. Plain and simple. Hope you're doing well.
Awesome project and use! Damn near perfect for what U needed!! And the chickens are the best. Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks are what we had growing up. Rhodes brown eggs are the best too lol.
I don't have a mini-X but it'd be super cool to have an articulated arm on the side of the side by side with brush trimmer mounted like this. Easily removable of course. Counter weight on opposite side of course.
Pretty slick build. I chopped up a Honda walk behind mower I got cheap as the desk was rusted out in front and I use it as my heavy grass/brush mower. Lots of folks have said "that is dangerous" and yes I know that and as I am by myself when I use it I am careful. Wish I had something like your mini excavator
I could see this working well with an electric motor. Easy to control and you dont have to worry about seizing the engine on angles. If you weren't doing a large area, the onbord 12v would be ok.
This video also adds to the argument for buying a Chinesium mini-ex lol, just have to be creative and it can be useful for a lot of different jobs. Hedge trimming would be awesome if it could reach up 8 - 12 feet or so.
those chickens know all that cutting and stuff made a million bugs jump out of there, they are probably just going to town , i love chickens, i used to have 30 for no reason i dont even like eggs (in ohio you cant legally sell eggs, you can do it, and it's prolly fine, but not if your selling 25 eggs a day) i couldnt do anything outside without my chickens coming over to see whats going on, kind of made my day. i feel the same way when dogs come over to check things out, i must be lonely lol
This is awesome, something I'd do lol, but probably with a free junk lawn mower or whatever I had laying around. That trimmer line has a lot of pros over a mower though, like you said.
i kmow this aint a video about welding but i want to let you know how much i appreciate your honest and true reviews on welders and tips you share your videos really inspired me to go out and get a welder and the yeswelders you first started testing and using gave me the confidence to buy one and i went with the flux-135 and its been so reliable and such a great lil welder ive had everyone wanting to borrow it lol. i always tell people if there looking into nuying a weldder and want good reviews and compare vids to check you out. i truly appreciate your helpfulness and if possible if u read this im upgrading and i dont need anything big nut im liking the YMW-160 yesweld my uses are light fab and reason i wanna go with tht is for the mig capabilities with 220/110 otherwise i was lookin at the 135 pro. thanks for all the good helpful reviews andkeeping things simple and easier to understand lol. 👌👍
I use really oversized string on mine. For some reason it was quite a bit cheaper and on a larger roll.. (0.17" or 4.3mm). When you determine a good measurement for your string-- layout that length on the side of your machine somewhere; this way you'll have a quick reference when cutting another one.. Makes it much quicker to change out your strings when you don't have to measure it each time.... I had the same carb issues with mine.. Our fuel is so terrible now... Also, I had to add gussets to my spindle because it broke off. I found that if you only put string on one side, it will have much more power and not bog down at all.. but it's a bit out of balance and harder on the spindle without the gussets welded on; luckily it was steel and easy to weld back together. It's a pretty solid little trimmer now/
Hey, I just on my old one I put I found some steel cable and made a loop and looped the mil in there and made them long, just long enough to go in there and fit all the way to where they're supposed to chop off. At the little metal deal that cuts off instead of where the line trimmer would cut them off. And then I spuntered it around and put the other slide in and made them the same length, and I used the steel cable, just like you would for a garage door opener or something like that for a little small winch, or something as long as it goes in the hole when you can run 2. Sides in the hole, and then Stick it back through the interloop and then trim them all where you need 'em, and then that way as they frayed on the end, they really rip up the williams and brush and grass and everything else and mulch it up at the same time
maybe try a turnbuckle on each side hook the one end on the bucket edge and other end to the frame you made ,, also seen people use heavy wire braded / for the plastic string / nice unit you did .. thumbs up
I was half expecting you to incorporate the thumb into the mounting. But looks like that would have been overkill and potentially limit movement. For the vegetation you tackled it certainly seemed to be fit for purpose.
seems like a guy could use like braided steel cable (like the inner wire in a bicycle brake cable? maybe something thicker?) would still flex but would last WAY longer that the normal DR-trimmer plastic line
Interesting idea. I have a similar type unit that was made by Ariens/Gravely. Mine was actually made in the USA and has a bigger Kohler engine. The one in the video is a 144cc engine while mine has a 173cc engine. But like this one, it too is only a pull start.
I got tired of replacing the string on my walk-behind trimmer, so I took 2 links of small welded-link chain. Bolt one link, the other pivots, use a half-hitch to put the nylon line (I buy bulk spools of 0.107") on the end of the other link. This lets the line flex using the hard chain as a pivot, instead of the attachment point. I typically wear the lines down from the end to just past the knot. I do use a heat gun to "set" the line to the chain. There are two sets, for balance. I did try running full length welded chain as a cutting "blade" but the mass of that much metal spinning was worrisome.
You could change your mounting up just a little bit have it hang off the back of the bucket. Then a light ratchet strap would work great over the teeth or you could pen it place over the teeth. just an idea. Looks like it works. Great the way you have it.
A little sketchy and a bit Frankenstein-ish.. I here for it! Excellent build and great result. Use what you got and improve along the way is THE way to go. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from the Netherlands, Mark
I wonder if it would be better to take some small cable line and weld a clamp to the spinning head so you can just clamp on some cable wire and it should last forever and it will be forgiving as well
Very coo! You could use some simple tabs with turn buckles instead of the ratchet strap. I find that turn buckles often vibrate loose, so I run a wing nut on one end and tighten it up like a jam nut.
Weld a pair of fold over toggle clamps to the brackets that slip over the bucket sides and then slap a saw blade on it in place of the cutting line head Mikie !!! 😁
@Mikefestiva Thank you. We recently finished filming a lift test video with Rippa R319 and it will be posted next week. More videos to come. Stay tuned :)
Nice work! Glad to see it work out for ya. Looked like one of your chickens wanted to take your mini excavator for a spin 😂Train the chicken to do some of the field work and you'll be set!
Man, I think I'm going to buy one of these. I was going to buy a yanmar 425 with backhoe option. Going to put 5k down. But, it's a bit small what I need. So, I think I will pay cash for this, then buy a kioti 2620 with a loader, no backhoe, for about the same price. This machine is cheaper than the yanmar backhoe option. Plus it appears to be simple to repair and/or Jerry rig.
@@Mikefestiva I have been ripping up sod for a driveway expansion. Man, that thing can chew through the dirt. I am very happy with it. As is typical with auction Chinesium excavators, I have been finding a bunch of little snags with it but they are easily addressed and have not dramatically affected operation.
You could use a pivoting/swing blade like a bush hog instead of a single fixed blade as you mentioned in the video. I agree a fixed blade would be a bit sketchy.
Try using a chain instead of a ratchet strap. Like get one specifically cut for this use. I think a mower would work best. Maybe if you did a mower you could add some walls to the sides as protection.
I have looked at them online, they seem pretty good. I think they cost a little more but you get customers service and they stock parts so that’s a Big Benefit 👍
I actually know somebody took an old chainsaw chain and strapped it on one of those he no longer has to buy twine for it he just sharpens up the teeth and there they go
![KSI - Dirty [Official Visualiser]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VoDh1h1dPUE/mqdefault.jpg)
Great project Mike. Like your thinking out of the box. Have a good one!
Love seeing your fab work!
Thanks! I really appreciate it 😊👍
I enjoy all your videos Mike. My personal favorites are the metal fabrication, and the camper building ones.
Thanks Kevin! I should have more smaller fad videos coming up this Fall 😊👍
Very cool (in an entertaining kind of way) project! I think the chickens agree!
Cool video! I need to remember the arcflat on the lift cart thing. That would be prefect for my cramped shop. (It wouldn't be so cramped if I got rid of some crap...) Thanks Mike!
SUPER sweet idea Mike! Part of me wants to make something like this for my mini excavator.... I also need to start thinking hard about getting that Arc Droid, it looks really nice and easy to get rolling. And you're right, if stuff isn't easy to work on, do, hook up, etc., you're not going to use it. Plain and simple. Hope you're doing well.
Awesome project and use! Damn near perfect for what U needed!! And the chickens are the best. Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks are what we had growing up. Rhodes brown eggs are the best too lol.
That arc Droid is cool, every time I see you use it I try to think how can I justify it for my shop!
The Arcdroid is so handy for a small shop, really fast to go from design to a cut part.
Thanks for checking out my new video!
That's a cool idea, great imagination...
I don't have a mini-X but it'd be super cool to have an articulated arm on the side of the side by side with brush trimmer mounted like this. Easily removable of course. Counter weight on opposite side of course.
Nice project idea Sir.
Wow! That's very creative Mike. It worked great. Love the fab stuff too. Thanks for the content!!!
Nice one as always Mike! Keep em coming 👍
Cool video, nice and simple idea.
Amazing as usual!! Nice!
Thanks for the video Mike ! Nice job!
That's a fantastic idea Mike! Great job!
Pretty slick build. I chopped up a Honda walk behind mower I got cheap as the desk was rusted out in front and I use it as my heavy grass/brush mower. Lots of folks have said "that is dangerous" and yes I know that and as I am by myself when I use it I am careful. Wish I had something like your mini excavator
Handy little set up ,certainly useful, thanks for sharing, all the best to you and your loved ones
I could see this working well with an electric motor. Easy to control and you dont have to worry about seizing the engine on angles. If you weren't doing a large area, the onbord 12v would be ok.
Love it!
Mike, that's a great idea. Been thinking about doing something similar for years. Nice job as always
Thanks 👍
Love the video and your co-star 😂
This video also adds to the argument for buying a Chinesium mini-ex lol, just have to be creative and it can be useful for a lot of different jobs. Hedge trimming would be awesome if it could reach up 8 - 12 feet or so.
those chickens know all that cutting and stuff made a million bugs jump out of there, they are probably just going to town , i love chickens, i used to have 30 for no reason i dont even like eggs (in ohio you cant legally sell eggs, you can do it, and it's prolly fine, but not if your selling 25 eggs a day) i couldnt do anything outside without my chickens coming over to see whats going on, kind of made my day. i feel the same way when dogs come over to check things out, i must be lonely lol
This is awesome, something I'd do lol, but probably with a free junk lawn mower or whatever I had laying around. That trimmer line has a lot of pros over a mower though, like you said.
i kmow this aint a video about welding but i want to let you know how much i appreciate your honest and true reviews on welders and tips you share your videos really inspired me to go out and get a welder and the yeswelders you first started testing and using gave me the confidence to buy one and i went with the flux-135 and its been so reliable and such a great lil welder ive had everyone wanting to borrow it lol. i always tell people if there looking into nuying a weldder and want good reviews and compare vids to check you out. i truly appreciate your helpfulness and if possible if u read this im upgrading and i dont need anything big nut im liking the YMW-160 yesweld my uses are light fab and reason i wanna go with tht is for the mig capabilities with 220/110 otherwise i was lookin at the 135 pro. thanks for all the good helpful reviews andkeeping things simple and easier to understand lol. 👌👍
Right on 👍 I’m glad to hear you have found welding and enjoy it! It’s a great skill to know.
I’m also glad my videos have been helpful for you 😊
Super creative!!!
Dude, that's rad!
Cool idea to repurpose what you have
I use really oversized string on mine. For some reason it was quite a bit cheaper and on a larger roll.. (0.17" or 4.3mm). When you determine a good measurement for your string-- layout that length on the side of your machine somewhere; this way you'll have a quick reference when cutting another one.. Makes it much quicker to change out your strings when you don't have to measure it each time.... I had the same carb issues with mine.. Our fuel is so terrible now... Also, I had to add gussets to my spindle because it broke off. I found that if you only put string on one side, it will have much more power and not bog down at all.. but it's a bit out of balance and harder on the spindle without the gussets welded on; luckily it was steel and easy to weld back together. It's a pretty solid little trimmer now/
Hey Mike, Been following your excavator videos, U R doing a great job, I'm impressed with this remote trimmer!
Glad you like them! 😊👍
Always interesting videos about your mini excavator
Hey, I just on my old one I put I found some steel cable and made a loop and looped the mil in there and made them long, just long enough to go in there and fit all the way to where they're supposed to chop off. At the little metal deal that cuts off instead of where the line trimmer would cut them off. And then I spuntered it around and put the other slide in and made them the same length, and I used the steel cable, just like you would for a garage door opener or something like that for a little small winch, or something as long as it goes in the hole when you can run 2. Sides in the hole, and then Stick it back through the interloop and then trim them all where you need 'em, and then that way as they frayed on the end, they really rip up the williams and brush and grass and everything else and mulch it up at the same time
maybe try a turnbuckle on each side hook the one end on the bucket edge and other end to the frame you made ,, also seen people use heavy wire braded / for the plastic string / nice unit you did .. thumbs up
That was my thinking also.
I was half expecting you to incorporate the thumb into the mounting. But looks like that would have been overkill and potentially limit movement. For the vegetation you tackled it certainly seemed to be fit for purpose.
seems like a guy could use like braided steel cable (like the inner wire in a bicycle brake cable? maybe something thicker?) would still flex but would last WAY longer that the normal DR-trimmer plastic line
I tried that on a weed whacker once, it had trouble staying in the head.
Interesting idea. I have a similar type unit that was made by Ariens/Gravely. Mine was actually made in the USA and has a bigger Kohler engine. The one in the video is a 144cc engine while mine has a 173cc engine. But like this one, it too is only a pull start.
thanks for the link... that is a pretty clever attachment method
Nice job Mike!!!! Good video!!! Best part is… I have one of those weedwackers that needs a purpose 😊👀
Cool little mod dude, so much stuff you can do with a welder and some skill..:) thanks for the upload
Brilliant
I like the idea ...if you already have an excavator !! Nice build and a heck easier than doing this on foot. Take care !!
pretty cool Mike
Cool idea! Got to be nice for ditches.
I got tired of replacing the string on my walk-behind trimmer, so I took 2 links of small welded-link chain. Bolt one link, the other pivots, use a half-hitch to put the nylon line (I buy bulk spools of 0.107") on the end of the other link. This lets the line flex using the hard chain as a pivot, instead of the attachment point. I typically wear the lines down from the end to just past the knot. I do use a heat gun to "set" the line to the chain. There are two sets, for balance.
I did try running full length welded chain as a cutting "blade" but the mass of that much metal spinning was worrisome.
I like that idea. that's a pretty cool attachment. thanks for sharing
Absolutely brilliant.
You could change your mounting up just a little bit have it hang off the back of the bucket. Then a light ratchet strap would work great over the teeth or you could pen it place over the teeth. just an idea. Looks like it works. Great the way you have it.
A little sketchy and a bit Frankenstein-ish.. I here for it! Excellent build and great result. Use what you got and improve along the way is THE way to go. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from the Netherlands, Mark
SWEET thats freakin awesome man! Totally going to use this idea and make my own!
More ingenuity by Mike Festiva, Love It
I feel like you should make a counter weight bolt on for the mini. That would be a cool video.
I wonder if it would be better to take some small cable line and weld a clamp to the spinning head so you can just clamp on some cable wire and it should last forever and it will be forgiving as well
chain flail could fork nice, very nice job
Nice video. Come on down Place Rd. I have a trail through the DNR land that needs that brush cutter!
Haha right on 👍 😊
Very coo! You could use some simple tabs with turn buckles instead of the ratchet strap. I find that turn buckles often vibrate loose, so I run a wing nut on one end and tighten it up like a jam nut.
I want to see that chicken go on a ride along. 😂🤣😂
On the brush trimmer right?
@@funone8716
😂
That's pretty slick. I like it. Just another accuse to need a mini excavator lol
Badass, Mike! Super handy for the that NW country you live in, too. I like how you preserved the ferns.
Thanks Chris! Yes those ferns are awesome, I have done a little research on ferns and it seems they can easily live 150 years or more 😊👍
@@Mikefestiva prehistoric foilage 🌿🦕
Weld a pair of fold over toggle clamps to the brackets that slip over the bucket sides and then slap a saw blade on it in place of the cutting line head Mikie !!! 😁
Nice invention
Great idea with an old lawn mover and a great video. Thank you for making this video!
Right on thanks for checking out my new video!
I enjoy your mini excavator and skid steer content on your channel 😊👍
@Mikefestiva
Thank you. We recently finished filming a lift test video with Rippa R319 and it will be posted next week.
More videos to come. Stay tuned :)
Nice work! Glad to see it work out for ya. Looked like one of your chickens wanted to take your mini excavator for a spin 😂Train the chicken to do some of the field work and you'll be set!
That’s straight up too frikin clever. Be a great setup for building or clearing mountain bike trails.
you know i hear that chicken sound on a daily from the neighbor's chickens that run on my property all the time lol
Genius!
The chickens like it, good enough for me
Chicken approves.
👍👍Good job Mike.
Great video, Michael! Cool as hell, like everything you share!😎
Thanks! I really appreciate it 😊👍
Nice build man!
Nice! Practical solution!
bello, complimenti. ciao mike
Man, I think I'm going to buy one of these. I was going to buy a yanmar 425 with backhoe option. Going to put 5k down. But, it's a bit small what I need. So, I think I will pay cash for this, then buy a kioti 2620 with a loader, no backhoe, for about the same price. This machine is cheaper than the yanmar backhoe option. Plus it appears to be simple to repair and/or Jerry rig.
Looks like it does an awesome job.
Definitely works good 👍
Hope you have been enjoying your excavator
@@Mikefestiva I have been ripping up sod for a driveway expansion. Man, that thing can chew through the dirt. I am very happy with it. As is typical with auction Chinesium excavators, I have been finding a bunch of little snags with it but they are easily addressed and have not dramatically affected operation.
Mike - that is really cool.... and chicken approved too 👍👍😎👍👍
Thanks Joel! Yes the Chickens seem to really like the mini Excavator 😊👍
Love it. Work with what you have.
Dang thats a bada@@ idea😊
Maybe get a DR brush cutter that uses a blade.
LOVE IT !!! GREAT IDEA GREAT JOB!!!!
Cool project and video, thanks!
So cool man keep up the great work
Hi..Mike..Great idea ...thank you or share.
You could use a pivoting/swing blade like a bush hog instead of a single fixed blade as you mentioned in the video. I agree a fixed blade would be a bit sketchy.
Im doing this right now but with 2 mowers welded together 🤣 Been chopping stumps and bricks with it for 4 years now
you could easily do a larger engine with electric start. i'm modding a string trimmer to run off the pto on my zero turn the deck rotted out on :)
Mini boom flail mower!
Thankyou 😊
Try using a chain instead of a ratchet strap. Like get one specifically cut for this use. I think a mower would work best. Maybe if you did a mower you could add some walls to the sides as protection.
Awesome ! Now that is useful! Great to stay out of the poison ivy and whatnot.
Re: Alternative to ratchet strap... How about a small binder chain? Like you would use to fasten something to a trailer for hauling?
Ps the red chicken needs a name 😊 she likes you 👍
Cool 😎
👍
I think if you ran the ratchet to the teeth you'd get better purchase, maybe run 2. But good job. Great vid! Thanks!
Chicken wants to do some work and earn it's keep 😂
Mike have you looked at the kymron mini excavators
I have looked at them online, they seem pretty good. I think they cost a little more but you get customers service and they stock parts so that’s a Big Benefit 👍
Thank you have a great day
I actually know somebody took an old chainsaw chain and strapped it on one of those he no longer has to buy twine for it he just sharpens up the teeth and there they go
Sounds like maybe he only has to buy gloves one at a time too? 😂
What's type of fittings does this use? (In general for hydraulic hoses)
Did you buy the excavator from temu ? Looks like the same one they sell
No I bought it from a company out of Texas, the place I ordered it from should be mentioned in the description.
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