care of fertilizer hoppers

Charlie M · Jun 12, 2011

I've got one of the old 4 row IH planters with a fertilizer bucket for each row. I used to take them off and wash them out before storing them trying to keep the fertilizer from doing any further damage. A couple of years ago I cleaned them and spray painted them with Rustolium. Seem to work pretty good. They been stored a couple of years and when I took them out this year they only had a little rust on the inside. Just wondering how other people cleaned them up after use. The old buckets aren't the best but they are usable as long as they don't get any worse.

Janicholson · Jun 12, 2011

You are doing well. The only thing I would add is to dry them in the sun and put each in a plastic bag. with a twist tie. Jim

sflem849 · Jun 13, 2011

Couldn't plastic bags do just as much harm as good? My thought is they could lock the water in making a more humid environment.

If you don't paint them you could soak them down with oil.

IH fan · Jun 13, 2011

Dad always washed his fertilizer boxes, let them dry, sprayed a little oil on the cast parts and hung them up inside. He always had IH planters as far back as I can remember.

Eric P · Jun 13, 2011

I work in the fertilizer industry and for you to have working fertilizer boxes this many years later is quite a feat. We wash everything and air-dry them. A little steal wool to clean-up the surface rust and a coat of paint are key. Keep it up!

mazemeister · Jun 13, 2011

1. pressure wash
2. dry
3. thoroughly coat with oil.
4. store indoors

Tom Fleming · Jun 13, 2011

for those of you that are fertilizing with amonium nitrate, I surely don't want oil near it. Not sure that there would be enough on there, but static electricity, hydrocarbon liquid, and amonium nitrate are a bad mix.......

I don't have any WOW stories from the past, but Dad was sure careful as we used amonium nitrate to fertilize the corn. wasn't any better corn fertilizer.......

sflem849 · Jun 13, 2011

Where in the world do you get ammonium nitrate anymore!?!

Tom Fleming · Jun 13, 2011

it's been about 3-4 years since I planted corn, but I bought 3 bags last time I planted it. Agway.

SouthernFarmall · Jun 13, 2011

Ammonium nitrate is very common in the southeast. It's used mainly for hay fields, and I have had and continue to have very good luck with it.

SF

IH fan · Jun 13, 2011

(quoted from post at 18:16:26 06/13/11) for those of you that are fertilizing with amonium nitrate, I surely don't want oil near it. Not sure that there would be enough on there, but static electricity, hydrocarbon liquid, and amonium nitrate are a bad mix.......

I don't think a light coating of oil hurt anything, besides it was pretty much disappated by the next year. When Dad had a mounted planter for his C and Super C, he used the same boxes to side dress with 33-0-0. When planting he used a more balanced fertilizer like a 10-10-10.

Dan in North Houston · Jun 13, 2011

Years ago I tried to take care of a lawn spreader by washing it out and then spraying with a lot of WD-40. Results were not very impressive.

Janicholson · Jun 13, 2011

If dry the bag (well tied) keeps it from getting ambient moisture in/on it. That is why Potato chips need to be sealed up after opening! Jim

sflem849 · Jun 13, 2011

(quoted from post at 19:45:09 06/13/11) If dry the bag (well tied) keeps it from getting ambient moisture in/on it. That is why Potato chips need to be sealed up after opening! Jim

Good call!

It is VERY tough to find ammonium nitrate around here (SE WI)

care of fertilizer hoppers

Charlie M

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Janicholson

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sflem849

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IH fan

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Eric P

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mazemeister

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Tom Fleming

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sflem849

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Tom Fleming

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SouthernFarmall

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IH fan

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Dan in North Houston

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Janicholson

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sflem849

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