For more information or assistance
on the burley bale marketing program, contact your County Extension Agent
for Agriculture or the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service
Office.
(Figure.)
Building A 1-Box Burley Bale Press:
Materials needed (for each bale box):
| Plywood: |
1/2" A-C EXT.: |
1-4' x 8' sheet
1 pc-12" x 35 3/4" |
| Wood: |
2 x 4 (dressed):
2 x 6 (dressed): |
4 pcs-8' ea.
1 pc-43 3/8" |
| Nails: |
6d common:
1 6d box (sinker): |
1 lb.
1/3 lb. |
| Bolts: |
1/4 x 21/2 carriage:
3/8 x 21/4 hex:
3/8 flat wshr.: |
4 ea.
2 ea.
2 ea. |
| Angle Iron: |
3/16 x 2 x 2 x 6": |
1 ea. |
| Rod: |
1/2"- dia. x 4": |
1 ea. |
| Latch: |
6" heavy duty safety hasp
with 1/2- or 5/8" No. 10
flat hd. screws: |
2 ea. |
| Jack: |
car bumper type w/handle: |
1 ea. |
(Estimated retail cost of above items: $50 - $60.)
Step 1. Cut the plywood pieces:
Step 2. Cut the wood pieces:
Step 3. Assemble the bale box:
NOTE: Put ripped edges of 2 x 2's to the plywood and nail with
6d common nails at 6"-8" spacing.
a.Nail 2 x 2 x 44 to SMOOTH side of
plywood BACK.
b.Nail BOTTOM to 2 x 4 x 12, 32, and
32 3/4-inch members.
c.Nail ENDS to BACK.
d. Set box upright,
put BOTTOM snugly in box, WIDE EDGE TO FRONT, raise box 11/2 inches up
onto 2 x 4's of BOTTOM per figure below and nail.
e.Nail plywood STRIP to FRONT 2 x 4
with 1 inch extending above BOTTOM as support for door.
f.Cut saw notches and slits for TWINE
in BACK & DOOR SUPPORT.
g.Paint marks on BACK at 22 & 24
inch heights for bale height reference.
h.Fabricate DOOR.
i. Set DOOR
in position & install appropriate fasteners.
j. Fabricate
presshead.
k Bolt jack
base to presshead.
l. Fabricate
jack anchor frame.
m. Mount jack
anchor frame on box.
Making Burley Bales:
1.Set bale press boxes in stripping
area opposite bench.
2.Cut a supply of 84-inch long TWINE
(cotton type approved for tobacco bale use).
3. Remove DOOR
and put 3 TWINE in each box:
4.Replace and latch DOOR.
5.Strip LOW to MEDIUM case (order)
tobacco only! Don't put HIGH case (order) tobacco in bales.
6.Fill
each box with bunches of oriented leaves of the same grade, butts out,
tips over-lapping, alternating direction
of bunches to build a uniform bale. DO NOT put FOREIGN
matter (suckers, stalks, sticks, cans, bottles, etc.) into the bales or
NEST the tobacco (conceal inferior tobacco).
7.Use jack to compress leaves.
8.Refill box with leaves once more,
or as required, to get right amount of tobacco for a firm, proper size
bale.
9.Before final press of bale, pull
top end of TWINE across top of leaves.
10. Press bale
to a firm 22-24" height. Remove the front door. Pull each TWINE snugly
and tie with a BOW KNOT. Tie TAG with producer's NAME and farm GRADE ID
to center TWINE at top edge of bale.
11.Retract bale presshead, remove bate,
and take bale to barn storage area.
12.Store bales on EDGE (as removed
from press) with moisture protection underneath. Begin at post or wall
to keep bales upright. Lay boards or plywood on top to permit stacking
a second layer. Cover and protect as with normal bulked tobacco. Check
daily to be sure condition is safe.
13.To check if your bales are FIRM
enough: Put a test bale flatways on a level place. Stack 3 more similar
bales on top of it. Leave for 24 hours. If the stack remains nearly vertical,
the bottom bale is OK. If the stack leans 3-4 inches or topples over, the
bottom bale is TOO SOFT! Repress and make it and all other similar bales
tighter! Bale dimensions are 1' x 2' x 3'. Bales properly made should weigh
60-70 pounds for flyings, 70-80 pounds for lugs, and 75-85 pounds for leaf
grades..DO NOT make bales over 24- high or over 90 pounds in weight.
14.CAUTION: Some MOIST tobacco can
be pressed too tightly resulting in "bruised" or "caked" leaves and should
be avoided. DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE FORCE with modified or other type press
equipment.
