Anyone cut down an auto egg turner?

[Fred's Hens]

OK guys. Straight forward question. No sense re-inventing the wheel. I am going to build a couple of smaller incubators and want to put one the "standard fare" auto egg turners in them, but need to reduce the footprint size, just a bit. Cutting it down to about 32 eggs perhaps. So, has anyone done this? Care to share your experience, saving me some pitfalls and headaches?

I'm likely to be talking about a Little Giant, Farm Innovators, or Brinsea type 40 egg turner. Thoughts?

 

[rancher hicks]

Mine is like the bottom one. It came broken but I'd just gotten eggs from Speckled hen so no way did I have time to send it back.

Anyhow it's the middle row that is missing and it works just fine. I have replaced the motor. I take it apart for cleaning too.

The middle row missing allows me to add water for humidity with an eyedropper.

Plus that missing row keeps things in check with hatching more than I can handle.

I have the Genesis 1588 as recommended by Speckled hen.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yeah, what I'm looking for is to tap someone's experience in cutting a turner down. Taking off an outside row or two in order to decrease the footprint size.

 

[rancher hicks]

Yeah, what I'm looking for is to tap someone's experience in cutting a turner down. Taking off an outside row or two in order to decrease the footprint size.

I reckon if you took out two rows in from the non turner end and cut it so you could take a couple of nuts and bolts and put it back together that would work.

On the "turner" side put the "cut out" piece to the inside and on the other side put the "cut out" piece to the outside. You've already got extra "holes" so you might not have to drill any for the nuts and bolts. Does that make sense?

Use a small hack saw with a fine blade or a Coping saw to do the cutting.

Of course it won't reduce the width.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Those are pretty much my thoughts precisely, Tim.

Taking a brand new $50 item and hacking on it might be a bit nerve wracking, but hey. Isn't like we have done mods on stuff before and stuff even more expensive.

I do need to reduce the footprint. I need it to be 13 x As Long As Desired. The Hova Bator version starts life as 15x15. I figure the the row or two farthest from the motor. Yes, something very fine tooth, coping saw, hack saw and go slow and gentle.

 

[rancher hicks]

Those are pretty much my thoughts precisely, Tim.

Taking a brand new $50 item and hacking on it might be a bit nerve wracking, but hey. Isn't like we have done mods on stuff before and stuff even more expensive.

I do need to reduce the footprint. I need it to be 13 x As Long As Desired. The Hova Bator version starts life as 15x15. I figure the the row or two farthest from the motor. Yes, something very fine tooth, coping saw, hack saw and go slow and gentle.

Check CL maybe you can find a used one for cheap.