i totally agree with you.. those store bought ones (or the ones if find at the stores i go to) are too cheaply built..
this may not be the best idea, but it is something i just did and time will tell how they hold up...
i bought some 3/4" sch 40 pipe and bent it every 38" at about 45 degrees with some conduit benders. this pipe comes in 21' lengths, so you will have to make some welds to complete the ring. it took some adjusting to get each bend right, or close enough. i got one like i wanted it and used it for a pattern for the rest..
i then welded some 1" X 1/4" flat bar as spacers to connect the top, middle and bottom ring. i put about 16 of them at about 18-20 inches apart. you can divide it out to get the distance based on how many you put.. but i recommend at least 15-16 of them. i only put 8 to begin with and the hay was falling out everywhere too easy.
just my 2 cents, good luck
gene
> I'm in SE Texas --- Do any of you
> know of a commercial source for
> good, sturdy hay feeder rings? I'm
> tempted to contract with a good
> individual welder to make some for
> me, but I fear that pipe and/or
> rebar bending capabilities might
> be a problem. I've been using the
> rings sold at TSC and they are
> just cheaply made pieces of junk
> (piss-poor welds, tubing walls are
> much too thin, etc.). I'd
> willingly pay a good bit more for
> some substantial rings that could
> be used for a number of seasons.
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