My latest invention – THE LONG-ARMED MANGOLATOR! (First test…)

First up – for those who say just hire a mini-digger/excavator/bull-dozer, please send money along with your suggestion. Do you know what those things cost to hire? We live on a shoe-string, remember?! And the same applies to bringing in more gravel for the lane – we’ve spent many hundreds already. We’re not short of gravel/fill, it’s just that it’s in the wrong places. But it’s not just about the money – I hope this thing will get into places bigger machines just couldn’t go. And repairing our lane is an on-going, never-ending job, so it would be good to have our own machine to do that work with. And I like making things. And, no, a garden rotovator would not do the same thing. Especially when it comes to harder conditons which I hope we will get to later. These are my thoughts on the design after this first test – It would be more stable if the wheel hub was set lower in the trolley.  The leveling wheel worked really well, but the flat plate that it rides on was too narrow (and not fixed) so it ran off the sides. Needs improvement.. The engine/shaft/reducer/chain/sprocket arrangement worked surprisingly well. But ideally I would replace it all with a hydraulic motor. That way, the power source (pump) could be sitting on the ground and just two pipes would attach to the cutting head. Big money though. Of course it needs a second cutting head on the other side of the beam – but I’m having trouble getting matching bullet points…  Potential uses for this sort of machine.. These would cost a fraction of the price of any kind of track machine, so that’s the biggest advantage - but they are more limited too, of course. They may be good at leveling sites/lanes/lawns/gardens though. Also clearing rough ground, laying down new railways, and trenching. (And maybe even some light tunneling!). Lastly – it needs a better name. The Long-Armed Mangolator isn’t exactly elegant, is it? Any suggestions gratefully received? Thanks, Tim

Haha, "light tunneling work." Looks like fun to me!

I'd rather see someone use their brain and available resources to problem solve than just throw money at it. Well done!

Tim, you have a voice for narrating children's audio books - it dips and peaks and has a flow to it. I could listen all day :- )

ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE YT CRITICS THAT SAY I WOULDN'T DO THIS,I WOULDN'T DO THAT,YET HAVE ZERO VIDEO OF ANYTHING. TIM,DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY ANYONE OR ANYTHING! LOVE YOUR PROPERTY AND WHAT YOUR DOING TO IT!!

Hi Tim, As a retired Engineer, I should be horrified at your Mangolator, but I love it, well done and keep up the good work. I've built a 7 1/4" gauge railway at the Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey Essex, and your device would have been ideal for preparing the track bed, only problem, it would probably have given our safety office a heart attack. regards John

Innovative craftsmanship at its finest! You've done so much with so little for so long that at this point you can do anything with nothing! Its much more rewarding to take scrap and make a swiss watch than to take a swiss watch and make nothing.

Nice, I think I would want a sprung tensioner on the chain, but other than that, I think you should call it the In-Tim-idator...

It's like having Dr Emmett Brown in your own garden :D

I love this thing, can't wait to see more about it!

I like how the goose was briefed about this machine.

Brilliant Tim! You made a ground planer. Don't let anyone discourage you, just keep up the good work. You fit right in with the blossoming maker community here. It's tough enough just surviving. You are a big inspiration.

The "Long-Armed Mangolator" is something that only an Englishman in a shed could have invented. I approve. Bravo, Sir!

This mildly eccentric channel has earned my subscription, I love this fascinating kind of stuff!

Freshly subscriber here. I don't know which I was the most attracted to, your little railway or your wonderful accent. The BBC should snap you up for story telling on audio tape.

I like the way the depth stop inadvertently bends to create a camber.

I think it's brilliant! Of course there are improvements and upgrades. He who makes no mistakes makes nothing at all! I love listening to your voice. I knew a young lady from Ireland a long time ago...... Terry from South Carolina USA

I've no idea what you just did... but I enjoyed watching you do it!!

You don't need any help or suggestions, it's all there in your head as always, just crack on and get it finished and working. Just ignore the H&S commentators, no one who is in the slightest bit interested ever reads what they have to say. Well done again.

Anyone can throw money at a project but who would want to watch those videos! Your inventions are great and much more fun to watch!