Setting up the unidentified cultivator.

[sgt.porter]

I don't know who made this cultivator. There are no casting marks whatsoever on it, and I've yet to find another that looks like it. The PO, 4Speed here on OCC thought it was a David Bradley, and there is some dark red paint surviving in some places, but that's all I have to go on.
No matter who made it, this thing is a beast! Especially when compared to the Brinly cultivator I bought at the same time (2012) and sold to a friend a couple of years ago.
Haven't used it in 4 years, got it out to break up some clay the other day, and it worked, but I noticed the shovels were all dull, none were on straight, some edges had damage, none were set at the same depth, and the whole thing needed some maintenance.
Didn't take a before pic, but here's the after.


I spent most of the day working on it as a side project while I finished preserving a Civil War saber that a friend found in VA. I scrubbed each of the shovels with the wire wheel, did some sharpening and reshaping on the bench grinder, then coated them with "Krud Kutter". I really like using that stuff on iron. When used right, the phosphoric acid can help preserve rusted iron for years and it's very close to the old process of "browning" used on guns and other metal items before bluing came along.
Meanwhile, I coated the frame and spines with a different rust converter/inhibitor it's made by "Magik" and although it doesn't work as well as Krud Kutter, it comes in a spray bottle and is much easier to apply on large or complicated surfaces.
I had a large vat of microcrystalline wax and graphite mix going for the sword, so got the idea to experiment with the cultivator shovels and cooked them in the vat at 350 degrees for a couple hours, after the inhibitor had time to work it's magic.
You can kind of see them down in the vat.


The wax is rather hard, has a melting point of 175 degrees, and when mixed with graphite provides a life long protective coating used on iron relics from old buckles to large cannons. The idea is to see how well the coating holds up to a season of abuse on the cultivator. It might sound like a waste, but I buy the wax in bulk, cheaper than any paint, and get my graphite free from repurposing broken antique battery rods.
Here they are all cleaned up, preserved, and ready for action.


I set the cutting depth by pulling my tractor up onto my trailer ramps laying on the sidewalk. With the sleeve hitch level at the lowest setting, I held the cultivator frame level and tightened the spines, making sure the shovel points were facing forward. This would give me approximately 2" even cutting depth.


Took it out to one of the garden plots I have tilled up, and got immediate good results.


Using this setup, I should be able to comfortably cultivate rows as close as 24" and as long as I have clearance without harming any young veggie plants.


Will update when I put it to actual use instead of testing.
Meanwhile, anyone have a clue of the manufacturer of this beast?

[Shrewcub]

I have no clue as to who made it, but it looks like it does a great job!

[ACecil]

Looking good and looking forward to your update.

[Terry C]

I like that cultivator! Looks like it works good

[drglinski]

Anytime you can eliminate weeds AND have seat time is good in my book!

[Cubbie124]

it looks very similar to the one from my Spiegel. (similar to a David Bradley) but full gear drive and more primative