New float for smoothing the salt..

[mgriffiths]

Can anyone provide any more detail about this new float that is being tested...

Here's the reference from the recent Straight away news..

"Last year Ed Fenn came up with an idea to build a large float to smooth the deteriorating salt flats instead of using the conventional drag. Under the auspices and scrutiny of the BNI board of directors this 3500 lb. float is being built and will be tried when the salt conditions are just right. This one inch plate 8 foot by 12 foot will have a round nose and will be used to flatten the salt-mud flats. "

Thanks, Mike (2718)

[Dynoroom]

Not much more to know than what's been written.
Call Ed Fenn at his shop as he is the one building it. 760-927-6099

[thundersalt]

IMHO I think it should be out there ASAP to test in all conditions and applications.

[Dynoroom]

I agree with Brian. The salt is different today than 10 years ago, we should try something else. If we go early and TRY it if it works we can have more made....

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Idle curiosity here -- I'm not trying to stir up anything, k?

What's the float going to do to the surface that's different from the (new) wheel packer that was rolled out ( ) a year or two ago?  Said packer did some good, I believe I heard.  How's the float (flat heavy thing like a plate of metal with maybe a rounded nose so it "floats" over the surface vs. digging in) all that different from the wheeled thing?

[kiwi belly tank]

A float will move it around some where a roller won't. It seems like a logical tool to me so we'll see how it works, at least somebody's trying something!
After all the poking, prodding & eyeballing I've done out there I've found the golf ball dimples are actually in the dirt & probably created by the salt water sloshing around as it dries up & then it fills the dimple with salt when it dries. There can be up to an inch of salt in the middle of them but basically nothing on the edges so you can imagine what a drag does to it.
  Sid. 

[Buickguy3]

  Somebody needs to come up with a huge "Salt Zamboni".

     Doug 

[kiwi belly tank]

A really big power trowel would likely make an improvement but it would need to dress the dirt before the salt settled on it. The engineering & logistics of something like that is way out there.
Thanks to the BLM we basically have a bucket of muddy water & we're hoping somebody can make beer out of it.
  Sid.

[fordboy628]

A really big power trowel would likely make an improvement but it would need to dress the dirt before the salt settled on it. The engineering & logistics of something like that is way out there.
Thanks to the BLM we basically have a bucket of muddy water & we're hoping somebody can make beer out of it.
  Sid.

Sounds particularly unappetizing . . . . . . .

[deucemac]

I'm  not getting  a real good mental  image of this. Is it anything like  a land plane used in farming to eliminate  high or low spots?

[kiwi belly tank]

No.
  Sid.

[jl222]

I'm  not getting  a real good mental  image of this. Is it anything like  a land plane used in farming to eliminate  high or low spots?

   I get a picture like a toboggan only 8ft wide and 12ft long, front rounded up, but not as high and no sides.

  Hey..they could even put water barrels on it if needed for weight.

  Glad something is being tried, great idea


                  JL222

                       

[Happy Pappy]

....Park a small truck on it

[maj]

sounds like a tractor pull sled
Be a bit of trial and error to find enough weight to do whats needed and not too much that the tow vehicle leaves grooves
but like the concept

[DKrause615]

Just an observation.  Last year the salt seemed exceptionally wet.  The hot mid day sun only wicked more water to the surface.  I think the float is certainly worth a try.  To me, it seems like the ground water level is too high.  You could literally dig a small hole with your heel and come back 15 minutes later and it would be filling with water.  Last summer the weather was hot and dry for months before Speedweek.  I'm not sure what goes on with the pumping for salt restoration purposes,  but why not stop pumping sooner and get the ground water level further beneath the surface and give it more drying time.