Unbreakable Reel Bats

Unbreakable Reel Bats COMBINES Accessories 17-3-29 "I got the idea while swathing a field where cows had grazed the year before and the dried turds bent the bats on my Dad's new swather. I figured there had to be a way to make a reel bat that would last," says Monte Leidenix, S. Dak., who set out to design a first-of-its-kind plastic bat designed to fit any combine or swather reel. Made out of 1/4-in. high-impact black plastic, the bats are reinforced by a 11/64 by 5/8-in. fiberglass rod. "They're almost bomb-proof. We've hammered on them, driven over them, and abused them every way we can think of and they still look like new. Because they're not painted but made out of solid black plastic, they al-ways look new, unlike conventional metal bats that are painted and look used after the first time you use them in the field," says Leidenix. He has set up a company, Rigaflex, Inc., to market the new reel bats. "Response has been tremendous. Every fanner we've told about them wants to order them and we're hearing from all over the U.S. and Canada from farmers who've heard about them by word of mouth. We've also been in contact with Deere, Case-IH and other manufacturers who want to put them on their machines," says Leidenix. The "one size fits all" bats are just over 7 in. wide. Some reels have bats slightly wider and some slightly smaller, but Leidenitsays you can adjust his 7-in. bat to fit any reel. Longest length available is 35 ft. They sell for $4.50 a ft. and can be simply cut off to any length. "That's less than Deere's price for replacement metal bats and slightly more than what you'll pay wholesalers for metal replacements," notes Leidenix. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Monte Leidenix, Rigaflex, Inc., 311 First St. W, McLaughlin, S. Dak. 57642 (ph605 823-4728).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.