Mccomick deering no. 15 hay press

[Brian Zimmerman]

Would like to know if anyone knows the dimensions of the wooden blocks for this hay press that goes between the bales
 

[jbp]

Went out and measured mine and surprisingly they only measure 15X15 inches. That is a factory block and the bale chamber is 16X18 inches. Joe
 

[Brian Zimmerman]

What is the thickness of the wood and demension of the cut out notches
 

[Ron W]

I have a 1918 M style baler; an old guy told me to make the blocks out of 1x4s or 1x6 pine. Never use plywood, oak or ash. Reason: if they get jammed, they will break if made out of pine, otherwise they may be too strong and something else will break--something more costlier. My blocks are three layers thick; front and back are horizontal, middle is verticle. Cut the horizontal edges on a 45 degree so that when they are placed 1/4 apart, there is a dovetail for you to feed the wire or twine through.
 

[jbp]

Block thickness is 2 3/4 inches

Bottom wire groove is 4 1/4 inches from bottom of block

Second wire groove is 11 3/4 inches from bottom of block

Wire groove is 1/4 inch wide at top and 3/4 inch at bottom.
Joe