Just left the army as have been suffering with PTSD and I’ve been trying to do my own DIY to stay busy. Just discovered this channel and I’m learning a ton. Thanks mate 👍
A testament to a good channel, I have absolutely no need or use for something like this, but enjoyed every minute of your video. Keep up the great work. 👍
Great project Stuart. Don’t start me on angle grinders. Two tales … Firstly my mate cut me some metal and was wearing glasses and goggles. A shard shot through both and sat in his eye. I couldn’t look at him driving to hospital 🤮 The shard was removed and his eye healed. Secondly, I once went for a job interview at the boss’ house. He was having metal gates installed and the workmen were grinding away. As I looked out of his window I saw sparks flying straight in the direction of my car. I thought it’ll be fine. As there were a group of us being interviewed, I couldn’t really excuse myself but the sparks flying preyed on my mind. Anyway interview over and I ran outside. My windows had been peppered with hot metal and I needed two new windows! The boss paid my excess but I didn’t get the job. Loving your videos. Cheers.
19 minutes of MASTERCLASS!!! What a pleasure it is to watch you meticulously execute a task and it's the small tips that really do it for me. I note a professional gardener has just complemented you- Premier Lawns........his channel is also wonderful for all your lawncare tips.
I love how you solve problems with an understanding that you don’t need ‘contractor grade’ tools that you’ll only use occasionally. Although, your lawn equipment is pretty kick ass.
A garden project with plenty of DIY tips, fantastic. Have to concur with 'Home maintenance' as well, this channel is synonymous with good content and engaging to watch
Made one of aluminium a few years ago, it works great and is surprisingly heavy. 30” wide and 18” deep and I used a soldering system to join the pieces backed up with pop rivets.
Thank you so much for making this video. I’ve been looking at lutes since lockdown. I just couldn’t justify paying so much for something so simple. Always thought quite straight forward to make. Now I know exactly how to do it, I’ll get on it over the weekend.
Hi Stuart Wow mate I’m impressed. That is bang on not used one in many years now, as my first trade as teenager was a head green keeper for 14 lovely year Ps Don’t forget to cut the grass first before you apply the top dressing Otherwise it will be hard work mate Great video 👍👍👍👍
I made one from the dimensions here but used countersunk headed bolts and came up from the underside enabling good locking of the nuts and no need for ends to be cut off. I also used second flat plates on the underside of the higher lengths to get a completely flat surface as well as adding weight.
Hope to see you use this. I have never heard of this tool. Loved the clever use of the hinge. Love how your mind is thinking ahead to prevent making mistakes.
Never seen one of these before. We get lots of worm casts in our lawn, making it rather bumpy. I guess part of this tools job is to knock these back. Looking forward to seeing it in action and how it performs, nice one Stuart
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, with heavy equipment, large dumpsters of storm debris my lawn is deeply rutted, bumpy, and on the verge of dangerous to walk on (ankle injuries from uneven surfaces) so this video is of real interest to me as we rebuild. Thanks!
I found this quite informative as I was on the search for lute but I can not find one cheap enough but watching you doing this Im now going to make my own and as iv got a welder I shall weld my up ,great idea the gate hinge as I can see it will need to take any resistance give going and forth, keep up the great videos 👍
They work in reverse ways. The roller compacts the high spots, while the Lute levels the 'tossed on the grass' soil and sand mixture to fill all the low spots.
How funny, I've recently been enjoying videos of tractors pulling "Land planes".. they are used to re regrade stone tracks etc This is the hand held version.
Find a pallet with wide gaps between the boards or remove a couple of boards. Tie 2 pieces of rope to the sides of the pallet, turn it upside down then drag it over the area you need levelling. pulling the rope saves you walking over the level ground. Drag from side to side with two people.. When you have finished burn the pallet to keep warm.
So thanks for the advice on eye protection but continued use of a grinder and no ear protection.... I suffer massive tinnitus in my right ear and that is down to me not considering ear protection... I struggle to sleep if there isn't a sound drowning out my internal whine...
Great video, I’ve fancied one of these for a while but they are overpriced. I dismantled a steel box framed gazebo last year & kept the parts with the idea of making one out of it. You made it look easy, can’t wait to see it in use 👍
Thank you, looks good. I'd be tempted to use flat head wafer thin bolts coming up from underneath plus bolts to save cutting threads and grinding off. Admittedly raises the bars a little.
Spring is on the way, I wanted to level my lawn too before reseeding. Lawn Loute’s are stupid expensive, so super idea 👏🏻 This is now on my list of projects 🥳 Edit: both WILKO and B&Q are now selling one for £44, so not sure I can justify the project 😅
perfect for smaller areas. If I was doing your large garden Id start off with ladders, weighted down & attach rope at the ends if its not very flat. Done that many times on a cricket square.
@@illmitchjax ladder is a good idea. you can also do this with an old pallet with rope tied to it, and just drag it over. i'd recommend something like this for large areas and then use a lute if you really want to get a few smaller problem areas levelled in the future
after watching your video i decided to make a larger one for our mini loader width: 1600 mm length: 1050 mm also will be adding some teeth on it so we can dig or loosen up the gound if needed for upto: 100 mm thank you for a fab idea 😍💪👍
I have been considering buying a 'real' one, but seeing your efforts I think that I will have a go with your design. I have scoped-out some metal-work, and I think that I will go with the slotted stuff as it is a bit lighter. I still need to figure out how to fit the handle, as I can't find a similar hinge to yours, but I will bodge something together. If all else fails, I will use an up-turned wooden pallet.
If you want to achieve the same results with a minimal budget or work then attach a loop of rope to an upturned small pallet and pull that across the lawn like a drag mat 👍
You could set-up your laser at the side of your lawn, & get a laser-line detector that is fixed to the top of your 'lawn-leveler', so you can see/hear the beeps if it needs more,or less soil at that particular spot.. 👍🙂
Another good one Stuart. I can't help thinking it would have been worth investing in a low cost welder. I did arc & gas welding / braising when I was an apprentice many years ago but never since so like you I don't have the kit to do any welding. I also have a cordless angle grinder so I think a full face mask is now on the shopping list. 👍
Another enjoyable video with some very useful learning points along the way. A well made product and should set you up for some 'work outs' in the garden! As I had taken delivery of new lawn lute 2 days ago I started to wonder if I'd been a bit hasty but after watching the video and not having all the tools and skills you have, it probably was a reasonable buy.... I hope? Really looking forward to seeing future lawn videos.
Very nice job, well done, you can use a metal bed frame for the steel, everyone around you put it to garbage ! :) For the bolts, use a mechanical one with round head under the frame, for tighting, use a flat washer + luck washer and a nut.
great video thanks for showing me how easy it is to build one of these lawn lutes, like you I was astonished at the price these items reach on the the likes of amazon. I will be buying a welder soon as i want to learn to weld so mine will most likely be welded together insteads of bolted.
It is not simply a case of a cutting disk wearing and then shattering as it gets thin if you use it as a grinding disk but the fact the cutting disc has no real strength in tension. You should not use it even once for grinding - a new one can easily shatter the first time you try to grind with it. As for using the angle grinder to clean up the cut edges - use a file and get a bit of exercise and you wont have sparks (and tiny bits of metal ) bouncing round the workshop,you'll save a tiny bit of electricity and help the environment. Top tip - don't put a fire extinquisher on the edge of a bench. Experience tells me you will knock it off
@@ProperDIY You are making some cracking videos yourself. Even your early videos are top notch, I didn't have a clue once I started making videos. What camera do you use, I use the zv1, I'm thinking about upgrading.
I'm making one of these soon as I don't have a lawn yet but just an uneven garden area which we want to level over nicely ready for our top surface, I'm a welder so will be welding my example and maybe adding some small teeth to the underneath of the lute to give a cutting action to the ground which is a mixture of earth, shingle and old roots (-:
Great job, Stuart. Another tool to your arsenal. May I suggest... Would drilling through the hinge spigot and adding an R pin (hinch?) make the job even more professional looking than it is already, so you get rid of the jubilee clip? Just a thought. ?? 👍👍🇬🇧
Enjoyed this video (as usual). Although I admit to being totally intrigued as to how it actually works! Guess I’ll have to wait until the next video. Is the idea that it actually slices off chunks of turf where it’s too high and drags those sliced chunks into lower levels? But wouldn’t that completely mess up the lawn by spreading soil everywhere? Presumably if the peaks and troughs in the lawn are that pronounced you’re better just getting out the spade, lifting the top turf, dig out the unnecessary soil and then relay the top turf back down?
Man, chuck that tap in the drill and go to town. Material that thin is not trouble to power tap with a drill. Just dab a little oil and make sure it's straight. If you're worried still, set your clutch to the lowest setting and go up a setting until you make it through. Then you can go ahead and do the rest of the holes on that setting and if the tap binds, the clutch will slip and keep the tap from breaking.
Hey Mister the wheels have fallen off your Hoover... sorry I couldn't resist. How have you found it works leveling soil or sand. I'm new to your video's and have found them to be helpful and entertaining at the same time.
I actually made this and used your links to buy the parts. It did work out ok, but the grinder cuttings was a bit scary! I'm not entirely sure the bolts will remain tight, so I added a 10x4 mm rivet as well. I really think it would be better welded, but unsure where I could take it and need to consider the cost. The total costs came to approx. £80, so I don't think the saving was worth the effort to buy one from eBay? Anyway a good project (but I ruined a fleece jacket as the sparks from the grinder melted it) - so additional cost.
Really helpful video thanks. Reading through the comments a lot of people are asking for advice on regrouting. Would you be able to advise on how to do this please or whether you’ve used/recommend the ready made mixes you can buy. I have a large patio to repair and would rather do it right first time! Thank you.
Well done good video. Would have thought a split pin and a drilled hole and washer would have been better than a jubilant clip though. LOL 👏👍👏👍👏👍🏴
A great step by step instruction on how to build this tool, but I have never ever seen it before. I do understand the principle though. Albeit, I doubt it will have much effect on a really bumpy (and/or compacted) soil especially without just sheering off all the gras. Would love to see it in practice though.
You're supposed to put lawn top dressing (70% sand and 30% soil) on top of the grass and then rake it around with the lute, all the top dressing gets pushed around and drops into any holes or valleys to bring them up level with the highest part, not digging into the existing turf to flatten any bumps
You are One of the best because you talk and explain all the details so I’m very interested to fallow your posts and I have a question for this item. What do you think if add 4 bearings on each corner? Does it work for moving early and save the energy? I think the height of bearing is important. Thank you so much.
Great video... might copy this ready for the lawn levelling video.... my lawn is in extreme need of levelling... (although why I'm bothering when I'll just nacker it all with my kids padding pool is anyone's guess) #dadlife
Just made your flute slight modification to yours instead of a jubilee clip I used a big washer and a R pin so that it can be easily assembled/disassembled and easier storage had to grind off some of the angle so the handle can slide off
Great video and well thought out project. I was wondering if you stored your lawnmower petrol around there somewhere as you started grinding! Our garage had a 35 gallon oil drum in which we tipped all the old oil etc. Someone was grinding something, a spark went in and there was an almighty bang! A battery which had been on the top, ended up 30 feet away!
Came across your great videos a few weeks ago and enjoy your videos not only for your great work /great ideas but I really enjoy the way you present/explain things 🙂 I looked at this project and ponder a query instead of tapping threads into 3.5 mm steel (which can never be that strong ) would counter sink from below and using a double nut on top not be easier ? or for that matter - would pop rivets be strong enough ?? great work whichever way you believe 🙂
Really good video thank you I am in the process of making your lute I have the main framework made but I would to know where you got your gate hinge from I am having problems finding a heavy duty cranked gate hinge thank you
I was thinking 3.5mm is just not enough meat for them M6 screws and was about to suggest split washers and threadlock but you came good and did it yourself, well done. I would have used Loctite 638 though but anything is better than nothing. I reckon you could have gone bigger with the lute but that might be too much weight to drag around. Have you already got a scarifier and aerator?
Sir, May I suggest reversing the orientation of the bolts to put the head down in use. Also re-do the tapped and straight bore holes as well. With the threads of the bolts facing upward there is available room for a washer and a nut with the 30 x 30 shielding the threads (no cutting off of threads). The square build of this project means that there will eventually be diagonal movement (turning the square shape into a diamond), so the extra rigidity would be a plus.
@@Markusbloodpet No, not so. The head of the bolt is inconsequential in a "Lawn Leveling operation". Scarification of the Lumpy-Bumpies and the subsequent filling in of the low spots is the very object of the exercise - and that isn't a gentle operation. If that underneath exposed hex head is such a problem for your uniquely delicate grass you could simply exchange the common bolts shown for Carriage Bolts where the rounded heads would protect that unusually delicate grass of yours. I would imagine that it's much more important to increase the holding force at the bolts (to keep the entire unit from "wracking" first one way and then the other, ending up a 'floppy mess on the end of a stick'). The 3.5 mm of threads won't last long facing Stewart's energetic efforts in his lawn leveling operation. Not the first time it is used nor other times in the future.
I learned a lot about drilling through steel, so now I am off to watch the video you mentioned. Will you please post the name of the "green paint tool" you used to mark the drilling position on the broom handle? I am in awe of your ability to explain what you are doing with such ease and clarity and I certainly enjoy the chuckle-worthy comments, facial expressions, and gestures.
I think you will find dropping the lute forward is problematic, I did. I altered my lute to drop backwards. The advantage was when putting the lute on the ground it will drop forward read to start work.
Just left the army as have been suffering with PTSD and I’ve been trying to do my own DIY to stay busy. Just discovered this channel and I’m learning a ton. Thanks mate 👍
Sorry to hear that, hope you are doing great/better now : )
Thank you for your service.
hope your doing better mate
Day at a time mate, day at a time. I've been working outdoors in the garden even though it's pissing down and it helps clear my head.
🫡
Many thanks for your service 🙏 Respect to you...
A testament to a good channel, I have absolutely no need or use for something like this, but enjoyed every minute of your video. Keep up the great work. 👍
Thank you 'Home Maintenance'!
Tip on screwing, use countersink screws inserted from the bottom, which allows you to use a lock nut from the top, no need to cut threads.
Great project Stuart. Don’t start me on angle grinders. Two tales … Firstly my mate cut me some metal and was wearing glasses and goggles. A shard shot through both and sat in his eye. I couldn’t look at him driving to hospital 🤮 The shard was removed and his eye healed. Secondly, I once went for a job interview at the boss’ house. He was having metal gates installed and the workmen were grinding away. As I looked out of his window I saw sparks flying straight in the direction of my car. I thought it’ll be fine. As there were a group of us being interviewed, I couldn’t really excuse myself but the sparks flying preyed on my mind. Anyway interview over and I ran outside. My windows had been peppered with hot metal and I needed two new windows! The boss paid my excess but I didn’t get the job. Loving your videos. Cheers.
19 minutes of MASTERCLASS!!! What a pleasure it is to watch you meticulously execute a task and it's the small tips that really do it for me. I note a professional gardener has just complemented you- Premier Lawns........his channel is also wonderful for all your lawncare tips.
Thanks for the shoutout!
Well thank you Hitesh - I'm glad you liked it.
I love how you solve problems with an understanding that you don’t need ‘contractor grade’ tools that you’ll only use occasionally.
Although, your lawn equipment is pretty kick ass.
A garden project with plenty of DIY tips, fantastic.
Have to concur with 'Home maintenance' as well, this channel is synonymous with good content and engaging to watch
Thank You!
Made one of aluminium a few years ago, it works great and is surprisingly heavy. 30” wide and 18” deep and I used a soldering system to join the pieces backed up with pop rivets.
Thank you so much for making this video. I’ve been looking at lutes since lockdown. I just couldn’t justify paying so much for something so simple. Always thought quite straight forward to make. Now I know exactly how to do it, I’ll get on it over the weekend.
Hi Stuart
Wow mate I’m impressed. That is bang on not used one in many years now, as my first trade as teenager was a head green keeper for 14 lovely year
Ps
Don’t forget to cut the grass first before you apply the top dressing Otherwise it will be hard work mate
Great video 👍👍👍👍
I made one from the dimensions here but used countersunk headed bolts and came up from the underside enabling good locking of the nuts and no need for ends to be cut off. I also used second flat plates on the underside of the higher lengths to get a completely flat surface as well as adding weight.
Thanks for the advice. How many additional bolts did you use to connect the flats?
Pretty much how I made mine, just a different hinge mechanism.
Will serve you well and last a lifetime.
So glad I found this. I’ve been looking on and off for a year for a lute and they are prohibitively expensive.
I have no grass and can’t see that ever changing but I’m so addicted to this channel, love it.
Thanks
Hope to see you use this. I have never heard of this tool. Loved the clever use of the hinge. Love how your mind is thinking ahead to prevent making mistakes.
Thanks Pamela. Very common in the US for lawns - not so common in the UK. It's all about planning.
This is ace. I’ve been dragging a pallet around on a rope
Never seen one of these before. We get lots of worm casts in our lawn, making it rather bumpy. I guess part of this tools job is to knock these back. Looking forward to seeing it in action and how it performs, nice one Stuart
Thank you Simon. Levelling in a couple of weeks!
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, with heavy equipment, large dumpsters of storm debris my lawn is deeply rutted, bumpy, and on the verge of dangerous to walk on (ankle injuries from uneven surfaces) so this video is of real interest to me as we rebuild.
Thanks!
No problem
I found this quite informative as I was on the search for lute but I can not find one cheap enough but watching you doing this Im now going to make my own and as iv got a welder I shall weld my up ,great idea the gate hinge as I can see it will need to take any resistance give going and forth, keep up the great videos 👍
Shade, gradient, idea, colour remarkable m8
I think one of these will be on the list for next year’s lawn renovation.
I am 75 and this is the first time I’ve have seen this tool. I used to use a roller, you don’t see them so much now.
They work in reverse ways. The roller compacts the high spots, while the Lute levels the 'tossed on the grass' soil and sand mixture to fill all the low spots.
How funny, I've recently been enjoying videos of tractors pulling "Land planes".. they are used to re regrade stone tracks etc
This is the hand held version.
And now this is a channel worthy of a subscription 👏 🙌
I made my lute from 25 x 25 mm batten timber. Works great and just if you’re wondering it is very heavy. Cuts through high spots with ease.
Find a pallet with wide gaps between the boards or remove a couple of boards. Tie 2 pieces of rope to the sides of the pallet, turn it upside down then drag it over the area you need levelling. pulling the rope saves you walking over the level ground. Drag from side to side with two people.. When you have finished burn the pallet to keep warm.
And the size of the lawn in video will be torture with a lute
With a lawn as big as his, I'd want something to tow behind a lawn tractor.
Built it today. Very happy with your instructions; thank you!
Always clearly presented and interesting.
So thanks for the advice on eye protection but continued use of a grinder and no ear protection.... I suffer massive tinnitus in my right ear and that is down to me not considering ear protection... I struggle to sleep if there isn't a sound drowning out my internal whine...
Thank you sir for good idea!
You have gold hands.
I make it like you.
Great video, I’ve fancied one of these for a while but they are overpriced. I dismantled a steel box framed gazebo last year & kept the parts with the idea of making one out of it. You made it look easy, can’t wait to see it in use 👍
Thanks
Mate - 10 videos later. I've bought a bloody sprinkler system and now a lawn level 😄 subbed
Nice one!
Thank you, looks good. I'd be tempted to use flat head wafer thin bolts coming up from underneath plus bolts to save cutting threads and grinding off. Admittedly raises the bars a little.
Thanks for the video and congrats! Now I plan to use my welder to make this happen! I guess - as you said - it will be much faster and easier that way
Spring is on the way, I wanted to level my lawn too before reseeding. Lawn Loute’s are stupid expensive, so super idea 👏🏻
This is now on my list of projects 🥳
Edit: both WILKO and B&Q are now selling one for £44, so not sure I can justify the project 😅
perfect for smaller areas. If I was doing your large garden Id start off with ladders, weighted down & attach rope at the ends if its not very flat. Done that many times on a cricket square.
Used a ladder for my own lawn from scratch, 10m x 10m, considered weighting it but kneeling and using bodily force worked well
@@illmitchjax ladder is a good idea. you can also do this with an old pallet with rope tied to it, and just drag it over. i'd recommend something like this for large areas and then use a lute if you really want to get a few smaller problem areas levelled in the future
Or a drag mat
Exactly that. Done it. Worked well. This year is time for a bit of levelling in a couple of spots after 4 years since laid the lawn
@@illmitchjax a couple of unused railway sleepers will weigh down ladder this year for me
after watching your video i decided to make a larger one for our mini loader
width: 1600 mm
length: 1050 mm
also will be adding some teeth on it so we can dig or loosen up the gound if needed for upto: 100 mm
thank you for a fab idea
😍💪👍
Nice one! That's a monster!
I have been considering buying a 'real' one, but seeing your efforts I think that I will have a go with your design. I have scoped-out some metal-work, and I think that I will go with the slotted stuff as it is a bit lighter. I still need to figure out how to fit the handle, as I can't find a similar hinge to yours, but I will bodge something together.
If all else fails, I will use an up-turned wooden pallet.
Great engineering my friend . Bet a welder couldn't have done it like you did 👍
Thanks 👍
The hinge is pure genius 👏
Thanks
If you want to achieve the same results with a minimal budget or work then attach a loop of rope to an upturned small pallet and pull that across the lawn like a drag mat 👍
Kudos to you for showing fire safety here.
I ready don't want the workshop to go up in smoke
I watched this the whole way through and i dont even have a garden 😂
Nice one!
😂😂😂
You could set-up your laser at the side of your lawn, & get a laser-line detector that is fixed to the top of your 'lawn-leveler', so you can see/hear the beeps if it needs more,or less soil at that particular spot.. 👍🙂
Another good one Stuart. I can't help thinking it would have been worth investing in a low cost welder. I did arc & gas welding / braising when I was an apprentice many years ago but never since so like you I don't have the kit to do any welding. I also have a cordless angle grinder so I think a full face mask is now on the shopping list. 👍
Thanks Colin. I would like to do some welding but it will be a long time before I feel I can show anyone hold to do it!
Another enjoyable video with some very useful learning points along the way. A well made product and should set you up for some 'work outs' in the garden! As I had taken delivery of new lawn lute 2 days ago I started to wonder if I'd been a bit hasty but after watching the video and not having all the tools and skills you have, it probably was a reasonable buy.... I hope? Really looking forward to seeing future lawn videos.
Very nice job, well done, you can use a metal bed frame for the steel, everyone around you put it to garbage ! :)
For the bolts, use a mechanical one with round head under the frame, for tighting, use a flat washer + luck washer and a nut.
Those Bosch point tq bits are excellent.
great video thanks for showing me how easy it is to build one of these lawn lutes, like you I was astonished at the price these items reach on the the likes of amazon. I will be buying a welder soon as i want to learn to weld so mine will most likely be welded together insteads of bolted.
It is not simply a case of a cutting disk wearing and then shattering as it gets thin if you use it as a grinding disk but the fact the cutting disc has no real strength in tension. You should not use it even once for grinding - a new one can easily shatter the first time you try to grind with it.
As for using the angle grinder to clean up the cut edges - use a file and get a bit of exercise and you wont have sparks (and tiny bits of metal ) bouncing round the workshop,you'll save a tiny bit of electricity and help the environment.
Top tip - don't put a fire extinquisher on the edge of a bench. Experience tells me you will knock it off
This is cracking stuff, great video
Thank you very much. Love your channel - I've been watching avidly for over a year now.
@@ProperDIY You are making some cracking videos yourself. Even your early videos are top notch, I didn't have a clue once I started making videos. What camera do you use, I use the zv1, I'm thinking about upgrading.
@@Premier_lawns_official Thanks Robbie. I just use a Canon G7x mk2. I need something easy and quick to use as I do tend to do quite a few set ups.
I'm making one of these soon as I don't have a lawn yet but just an uneven garden area which we want to level over nicely ready for our top surface, I'm a welder so will be welding my example and maybe adding some small teeth to the underneath of the lute to give a cutting action to the ground which is a mixture of earth, shingle and old roots (-:
Great piece of fabrication and made to look easy 👍
Thanks
Your timing is excellent, thanks soooooo much 👍
No problem
Made my day hearing jubilee clip rather than hose clip.
Totally agree 😊
That's what my dad used to call it so that's good enough for me!
Much needed here!!! Definitely a job for my Aldi welder!!!
oooh, is it any good? what sort of price was it?
Go for it
Great job, Stuart. Another tool to your arsenal. May I suggest...
Would drilling through the hinge spigot and adding an R pin (hinch?) make the job even more professional looking than it is already, so you get rid of the jubilee clip? Just a thought. ?? 👍👍🇬🇧
Enjoyed this video (as usual). Although I admit to being totally intrigued as to how it actually works! Guess I’ll have to wait until the next video. Is the idea that it actually slices off chunks of turf where it’s too high and drags those sliced chunks into lower levels? But wouldn’t that completely mess up the lawn by spreading soil everywhere? Presumably if the peaks and troughs in the lawn are that pronounced you’re better just getting out the spade, lifting the top turf, dig out the unnecessary soil and then relay the top turf back down?
Usually sand is added to the lawn and then leveled using the tool. It can help when overseeding too.
Nice job, might make one of these this spring
Real nice project for a bad weather day !
Exactly
you will have so many !! could sell them to viewers or ebay 😆
I’m definitely doing this one. The price of them is ridiculous. Excellent video.
Excellent video, subscribed straight away.
If you prefer a flat bottom, you can put slots in the side pieces, so that the longer pieces can be underneath.
Man, chuck that tap in the drill and go to town. Material that thin is not trouble to power tap with a drill. Just dab a little oil and make sure it's straight. If you're worried still, set your clutch to the lowest setting and go up a setting until you make it through. Then you can go ahead and do the rest of the holes on that setting and if the tap binds, the clutch will slip and keep the tap from breaking.
Hey Mister the wheels have fallen off your Hoover... sorry I couldn't resist.
How have you found it works leveling soil or sand.
I'm new to your video's and have found them to be helpful and entertaining at the same time.
Welll done, great video !!! I to have been in the market for one, and these are expensive. Will try this for the summer !!
Nice one Lance
I actually made this and used your links to buy the parts. It did work out ok, but the grinder cuttings was a bit scary!
I'm not entirely sure the bolts will remain tight, so I added a 10x4 mm rivet as well.
I really think it would be better welded, but unsure where I could take it and need to consider the cost.
The total costs came to approx. £80, so I don't think the saving was worth the effort to buy one from eBay?
Anyway a good project (but I ruined a fleece jacket as the sparks from the grinder melted it) - so additional cost.
Really helpful video thanks. Reading through the comments a lot of people are asking for advice on regrouting. Would you be able to advise on how to do this please or whether you’ve used/recommend the ready made mixes you can buy. I have a large patio to repair and would rather do it right first time! Thank you.
Well done good video. Would have thought a split pin and a drilled hole and washer would have been better than a jubilant clip though. LOL 👏👍👏👍👏👍🏴
Nice to see a metalwork project that doesn't assume you know how to weld 👍👍.
A great step by step instruction on how to build this tool, but I have never ever seen it before. I do understand the principle though.
Albeit, I doubt it will have much effect on a really bumpy (and/or compacted) soil especially without just sheering off all the gras. Would love to see it in practice though.
You're supposed to put lawn top dressing (70% sand and 30% soil) on top of the grass and then rake it around with the lute, all the top dressing gets pushed around and drops into any holes or valleys to bring them up level with the highest part, not digging into the existing turf to flatten any bumps
You are One of the best because you talk and explain all the details so I’m very interested to fallow your posts and I have a question for this item. What do you think if add 4 bearings on each corner? Does it work for moving early and save the energy? I think the height of bearing is important.
Thank you so much.
Sorry for outdo correction,lol. I repeat it: Does it work for moving easily and…?
Great video... might copy this ready for the lawn levelling video.... my lawn is in extreme need of levelling... (although why I'm bothering when I'll just nacker it all with my kids padding pool is anyone's guess) #dadlife
Don't worry, it's just what father's have to do!
You know what you at. Well done.
Thank you
Absolutely brilliant.
I bought some of those drills from that shopping channel, all I can say is that they must use different ones on air.
And yet again 'absoLUTEly' (see what I did there) no need of one but I still watched the whole of the way through! Cheers.
But just think, one day you may need one so see it as an investment.
Just made your flute slight modification to yours instead of a jubilee clip I used a big washer and a R pin so that it can be easily assembled/disassembled and easier storage had to grind off some of the angle so the handle can slide off
Your lutes a beaut!
Nice one
Nice, but a losing battle when Mr Mole visits again every time I clear the evidence of his last intrusion!
excellent vids.. thanks for your service
Nice work Stuart. 👍
Thanks
Great video and well thought out project. I was wondering if you stored your lawnmower petrol around there somewhere as you started grinding! Our garage had a 35 gallon oil drum in which we tipped all the old oil etc. Someone was grinding something, a spark went in and there was an almighty bang! A battery which had been on the top, ended up 30 feet away!
Great video Stuart. Thanks.
Thanks
Another cracking video !👍
Thanks
Great work!!
Came across your great videos a few weeks ago and enjoy your videos not only for your great work /great ideas but I really enjoy the way you present/explain things 🙂
I looked at this project and ponder a query
instead of tapping threads into 3.5 mm steel (which can never be that strong )
would counter sink from below and using a double nut on top not be easier ?
or for that matter - would pop rivets be strong enough ??
great work whichever way you believe 🙂
Really good video thank you I am in the process of making your lute I have the main framework made but I would to know where you got your gate hinge from I am having problems finding a heavy duty cranked gate hinge thank you
Screw fix heavy duty cranked gate hinge about £8.75
I was thinking 3.5mm is just not enough meat for them M6 screws and was about to suggest split washers and threadlock but you came good and did it yourself, well done. I would have used Loctite 638 though but anything is better than nothing. I reckon you could have gone bigger with the lute but that might be too much weight to drag around. Have you already got a scarifier and aerator?
Great project. My only concern is if thread lock will do after hours of work?
There you go, clearly works well….good for you…..
Thank you
All it needs is a little harness for Speedy the snail and then you can put him to work.
Now that's a thought
Sir,
May I suggest reversing the orientation of the bolts to put the head down in use. Also re-do the tapped and straight bore holes as well. With the threads of the bolts facing upward there is available room for a washer and a nut with the 30 x 30 shielding the threads (no cutting off of threads). The square build of this project means that there will eventually be diagonal movement (turning the square shape into a diamond), so the extra rigidity would be a plus.
If he did put the bolts in "upside down" he would then scratch his grass in the process of using it, though. That would defeat the purpose.
Difficult to countersunk a hole in 3.5mm steel
@@Markusbloodpet
No, not so. The head of the bolt is inconsequential in a "Lawn Leveling operation". Scarification of the Lumpy-Bumpies and the subsequent filling in of the low spots is the very object of the exercise - and that isn't a gentle operation.
If that underneath exposed hex head is such a problem for your uniquely delicate grass you could simply exchange the common bolts shown for Carriage Bolts where the rounded heads would protect that unusually delicate grass of yours.
I would imagine that it's much more important to increase the holding force at the bolts (to keep the entire unit from "wracking" first one way and then the other, ending up a 'floppy mess on the end of a stick'). The 3.5 mm of threads won't last long facing Stewart's energetic efforts in his lawn leveling operation. Not the first time it is used nor other times in the future.
I learned a lot about drilling through steel, so now I am off to watch the video you mentioned. Will you please post the name of the "green paint tool" you used to mark the drilling position on the broom handle? I am in awe of your ability to explain what you are doing with such ease and clarity and I certainly enjoy the chuckle-worthy comments, facial expressions, and gestures.
It's called a Marxman Pen
Really enjoyed watching. Any chance you could do a video on grinder how too...tips? Even something short on patreon?
Lovely stuff!
Thanks
I think you will find dropping the lute forward is problematic, I did. I altered my lute to drop backwards. The advantage was when putting the lute on the ground it will drop forward read to start work.
Well done.
Thanks for the video.. What is that neon green marking "pen"?
Great video I bought one last year only if you made the video then lol