How We Think About Broadfork Design.
M
Mr Uglytool
- Broadfork
- Tool-Design
- Minutiae
- FYI
- Pro-Tips
TL;DR
Why We Build TWO Broadforks..
We Stared at the best Broadfork... And asked what we could improve?! A Folly tale.
Steel Tines
I stared at the 1065 heat-treated and replaceable tines. Already the choice of steel made this a tough endeavor. That combination made for one of the stiffest and toughest steel tines in a market that tends to use regular, un-tempered plate steels and a prayer that they don't bend... For real!
- after 15 years of building the Gundaroo Tiller Broadfork design, I'd only had to replace maybe 15 tines....! And they were usually acase of foul-play, like being driven over by a tractor... Never a case of failure in use...
- after 15 years of building the Gundaroo Tiller Broadfork design, I'd only had to replace maybe 15 tines....! And they were usually acase of foul-play, like being driven over by a tractor... Never a case of failure in use...
Could I make the tines tougher? (bing-bong...) That's a firm not-really.
Could I improve how the tines work? Perhaps?
But then they are precision machined and treated. They design was already a banger because it's tapered points shed soil in a tiny surface area, even in sticky soils. Tapered plate steel designs build more work (pressure) as they progress into soil, limiting real penetration.. and then the GT's uneven tine lengths make punching the soil initially, a simple, and reliable process that doesn't overload the user, like expecting to drive in all tines at once on the competitor designs.. It just adds physicality onto the user that isn't really fair.
But then they are precision machined and treated. They design was already a banger because it's tapered points shed soil in a tiny surface area, even in sticky soils. Tapered plate steel designs build more work (pressure) as they progress into soil, limiting real penetration.. and then the GT's uneven tine lengths make punching the soil initially, a simple, and reliable process that doesn't overload the user, like expecting to drive in all tines at once on the competitor designs.. It just adds physicality onto the user that isn't really fair.
Oh! But just perhaps.. if we used a slightly upgraded 4140 steel and could drop the heat treatment process.. ( 4140 already has the 'toughness' of the previous tine.. it's just a pain to machine in years gone by.. ) It's true! We could, and have made these tines both tougher and cheaper! A premium result that may not show in the ground.. but a tick to Longevity, a tick to Simplicity, a tick to Value.
Handle Design
Ok, the GT's T-bar handle design honors wrists. At shoulder width and in the plane where they aren't expected to have a strength that no-one trains for... I've personally said "thankyou" to this design for years come strawberry planting time.. Granted, its not the 'longest' handle design, so true leverage is limited, and then places demands on bodily force..
..and it may be the most overbuilt design.. it always survives being left in the field without much complaining.. The full steel design is both crazy-strong and crazy-durable, which can make a difference when broadfork designs usually come in heavy.. no timber to perish and crack..!
So in conclusion.. it's tough to best a design that honors hands and shoulders and back so well, it even limits the 'over-zealous' types to a standard handle length so they don't 'breakdown' physically after the first enthusiastic bed workings..it really has a magnificently disruptive design...
but then.. we were selling modified tools for folk with heavy-clay soils. Perhaps that leverage of a longer handle really was needed.. Perhaps we didn't solve broadforks for everyone.. we could do more... And this took a while before I copped the slap-of-simplicity.
So Two-Handles? Nah.. they just kill shoulders and require big overhand grip change movements.. and freighting a fully fabricated frame just makes things inconvenient to everyone...
How to recreate the ergonomic magic? A single handle???! Could it really be?
Well.. when the handle gets longer... Then the offset to the front makes the distance go a grip larger, and higher, which to give back control and force-potential requires two handed grip, on a single handle.
What a crazy speculation! But it was easy to try. And then I admit I didnt see the benefit coming! The Gt's T-bar always required the user to step back on a pull, and still required a gentle grip change to pull the tool to reset the position, and then step back up to the footbar. I believe that step is worth saving.
BOOM! A single centre handle!.. It's longer for the needed leverage options, is further out of the way when pulling the handle and higher when the tool needs picking up again.. Feet and weight stay on the footbar longer for a better fulcrum moment breaking soil, in fact, with a side-step and a change in tactic, the feet don't come off at all! The initial pull breaks soil, the rest of the movement fractures the sod... Not an overtly forced moment.. when a sidestep 90degrees keeps a foot on the bar, and offers the opportunity to 'one-hand' the fracturing move.. using the big chest muscles that are brawny enough for the job.. (check the video of the change in action!) - without having to step off the footbar, one foot takes one step back and the tool is able to reset. A little difficult to describe, sure, but a RESULT that shows in speed. Time resetting the next pull cycle is MASSIVELY reduced. Just ask Jodi Roebuck if a side-worked broadfork style has speed...
Construction..
Ok. Perhaps I'm cool with taking the option of less 'fail' moments in design..
Take a moment, look at the GT Design.. Tell me how many welded components you see? After jigging & clamping 4 parts and tack welding, there's a full 20 welds in that frame. Ohmigosh it's a strong concept. A tubular box frame shifts force spectacularly well. No plate gussets needed. It'll last until I'm way Grandpa. Heck, that galvanised steel is just built for the outdoors life... Yes?
Take a look at the More-Fork..... That's exactly 2 welds, over multiple planes and big edges. Still epic strong, but you see how I could afford that fancy laser-cut handle bracket now.. yes?
In order to keep this tool both economical and premium, we reduced failure points and increased beam-strength in whichever handle you choose.. Double win!
It's still a galvanized frame. But we chose to powder-coat it too! The cut edges and welds are still pre-disposed to rusting. Paint? Not tough enough.. Premium = Powder-Coat.
None of these were deal breakers. The broadfork would still function perfectly. I hope I didn't go too far in dealing with these finer points. I did trade a lot of construction time for construction certainty - and believe it, this may have paid for these finer points, subsidising the final retail price......
None of these were deal breakers. The broadfork would still function perfectly. I hope I didn't go too far in dealing with these finer points. I did trade a lot of construction time for construction certainty - and believe it, this may have paid for these finer points, subsidising the final retail price......
TL;DR
"..Whats in it for me?.."
The More-fork took a brilliant 40 year old design and recreated it with the production precision and steels that were difficult to source back then.
What we kept:
- the epic Tine design and footbar mounting.
- The Galvanized steel framework
- The superior ergonomics that keeps you soil building
What got upgraded:
- The vibe.
- The epic tine design and footbar mount!!
- More handle leverage and custom size fit to you.
- Choice. You choose a handle. And it's still cheaper for all of us!
- The Grip! A palm-boss will give you years of comfort at the 'sweaty-end' of the tool.
- Distribution - now sends a compact frame, safely and cheaper.
- SPEED! Get done wit hdigging and start planting!
What got 'dropped'
- Two extra steps each pull-cycle.
- ergonomics that don't tune to an 'individual-you'.
- So many fabricated fabrications. Heat treatment, welds, paints, and packaging.
Congratulations.
You probably are now in the top 1% of tool enthusiasts.
You *know* Broadforks.
You know enough to see through an inferior design.
Get Digging!
You probably are now in the top 1% of tool enthusiasts.
You *know* Broadforks.
You know enough to see through an inferior design.
Get Digging!
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Join the list and feel free to ask questions.. always better questions!
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