Well, our old Scotts spreader has bit the dust. I used it more this year than all other year's combined. Frankly, I think the pellets were just too much for it.

I am looking for a new one. Preferably one I can get now (probably online). I still have a few applications to go this year. If possible I need it to be able to handle granular fertilizer/lime etc., but also bigger pellets for organics. I really don't want to have two spreaders in the garage.

I read the posts on the Earthway spreaders and would buy either but can they handle pellets and the granular applications?

Any suggestions? Thanks for the help.

Granular, yes. Pellets, no. I would avoid the 3-hole system of Earthway Spreaders if I was dropping anything larger than synthetic fertilizer. Even then, it's tough to find the balance between dropping nothing and too much when dropping more risky stuff like urea. If your desire to only have one spreader is larger than your adversity to spending a lot of money, I would consider Spyker spreaders. They have a nice big chute and can be calibrated to be very precise.

My 2150 is a little stingy when doling out alfalfa pellets, but those are pretty big pellets. Jiggling the lever a bit keeps it flowing. That's the biggest stuff I put through it. All other organics flow no problem.

I've never had a problem with accuracy when dropping urea at 2# per k.

0-0-50 is a bit of a pain to get to drop at 2# per k. It clogs pretty good.

If the 2150 ever dies, I would probably shop around to see if another brand would be better at handling the bigger stuff. Depending on the price difference it might be worth it. At around $150, I thought the 2150 was a good deal.

[ Post made via iPod ]

My experience mirrors Ohio's.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Thanks for the input everyone. I appreciate it.

Barley, if I wanted to go with a Spyker, is the 20 series good enough or would you recommend the pro series?

BK_PA wrote:Barley, if I wanted to go with a Spyker, is the 20 series good enough or would you recommend the pro series?

Well, I'm not the best person to ask since I don't have a Spyker, I have the Earthway 2150 like many others. I'm not sure anyone on here has a Spyker. I guess it comes down to the type of materials you want (powder coated vs stainless steel), Hopper size, wheel size, and amount you are willing to pay.

Don't let me dissuade you though. The Earthway is a fine product (especially the 2170 with the bigger hopper), but horse bedding pellets will not spread that well with the 3 hole system. For the price of one Spyker you can get a 2170 and a cheaper brand with a big chute for pellets. Some people on the forum think the Scott's does just fine.

fwiw the 2170 is still 153 online which is few dollars more then the 2150 which im still planning on buying the 2170 but it never fails, my heat pump fan motor just burned up so thats another expense taking away from my spreader fund lol everytime I go to buy it something comes up. I'm trying to keep it light on the wifes mind so she dosnt flip out on a 150 spreader.

i bought this Earthway 2030PP back when it was $43. i've spread SBM, synthetic, urea, corn without problem. still getting used to the number system. can't complain about $43, but at $75 there are probably better.

BK_PA wrote:Barley, if I wanted to go with a Spyker, is the 20 series good enough or would you recommend the pro series?

I have the Spyker P20-500BH. I bought it this past August after my Scotts Edgeguard spit the bit after only a couple of times out of the shed.

The Spyker is great so far. It has taken me a couple of times to get used to how it spreads, but besides that I really like it. Seems to be well build, spreads evenly once I figure out what to set it to, and is comfortable to walk behind.

I am also in the market for a new spreader - I also happen to be retiring a Scott's Edgeguard Delux. I've done a LOT of reading (which has probably caused me more harm than good). I found some interesting info on LSU's website. There's a nice paper written on different spreader designs and their inherent spreading characteristics:
Click here for more information
Plus there's a lot of info on their testing of spreaders:
Click here for more information
...be sure to look at other spreader topics on the right-hand side bar.
Very interesting that they are contracted by all the "big boys" in the spreader industry to conduct testing. Being that it's all academic, they don't come out and say who's who. But if you're like me, and have looked at every spreader out there, you can infer who's design their talking about.

I'm at a stand still with my decision process. The high-end Scott's/Anderson's seem to truly have the best spread patterns - but those aren't in my budget. That leaves me looking at the Earthway 2170Pro due to the Ev-N-Spred dual port adjust system. BUT, I will mostly be spreading SBM and Milo (with a single app per year of urea), so some of the folks' comments on here about the 3-hole not working well with organics has me concerned. I've also looked at Spykers due to their single large opening, but wondering if I should be concerned about pattern skewing (left/right) and the lack of adjustability (at least in "my" price-range). (I did a tray-test on my cheap Scott's and can tell you it skews hard left!) Anybody with a Spyker experience issues with skewing?

All-in-all, I only have experience with my Scott's Edgeguard Delux, so I don't really know what to expect. All my research started just because I wanted pneumatic tires. Now that I've educated myself, my wants outweigh my budget. (I have that problem with cars too )

Well my old Ortho rotary (30 some years old) is still going strong. That is a good thing since there is no room in the budget for a new spreader. While I would like a spreader with the edgeguard feature, the better ones are pricey.

Thanks for linking the LSU reports on spreader patterns. I having been using the half width method because of heavier left side distribution of the Ortho. The heavy over light/light over heavy idea came to me after lots of use. I never trusted myself using the right angle method. lol

LSU half width distribution

Hammbone wrote:I am also in the market for a new spreader - I also happen to be retiring a Scott's Edgeguard Delux. I've done a LOT of reading (which has probably caused me more harm than good). I found some interesting info on LSU's website. There's a nice paper written on different spreader designs and their inherent spreading characteristics:
Click here for more information
Plus there's a lot of info on their testing of spreaders:
Click here for more information
...be sure to look at other spreader topics on the right-hand side bar.
Very interesting that they are contracted by all the "big boys" in the spreader industry to conduct testing. Being that it's all academic, they don't come out and say who's who. But if you're like me, and have looked at every spreader out there, you can infer who's design their talking about.

I'm at a stand still with my decision process. The high-end Scott's/Anderson's seem to truly have the best spread patterns - but those aren't in my budget. That leaves me looking at the Earthway 2170Pro due to the Ev-N-Spred dual port adjust system. BUT, I will mostly be spreading SBM and Milo (with a single app per year of urea), so some of the folks' comments on here about the 3-hole not working well with organics has me concerned. I've also looked at Spykers due to their single large opening, but wondering if I should be concerned about pattern skewing (left/right) and the lack of adjustability (at least in "my" price-range). (I did a tray-test on my cheap Scott's and can tell you it skews hard left!) Anybody with a Spyker experience issues with skewing?

All-in-all, I only have experience with my Scott's Edgeguard Delux, so I don't really know what to expect. All my research started just because I wanted pneumatic tires. Now that I've educated myself, my wants outweigh my budget. (I have that problem with cars too )

Hey Hammbone, I love your posts. You always try to break things down so mathematically that I'm always left scratching my head. That first article you posted was some of the driest reading I've done in a long time. Honestly, I couldn't finish it. And the second one was great. Someone actually got paid to basically say, "Your sh!t out of luck. Try it for yourself and figure it out." That's awesome, I want that job.

My advice is this, take it for what it's worth. Buy a quality spreader in terms of longevity, something that will handle your product easily and then some. Then worry about spread patterns and calibration charts afterward...only b/c I know you'll do both. Old habits are hard to break. I promise though, you'll figure out your settings for each product after a few times out using it, call it field testing if that helps.

Smolenski7 wrote:Hey Hammbone, I love your posts. You always try to break things down so mathematically that I'm always left scratching my head.

...sorry, I can't help it. I'm an EngiNERD. I spend most of my day working with custom built automated manufacturing equipment....before that I designed industrial generators.

Smolenski7 wrote:My advice is this, take it for what it's worth. Buy a quality spreader in terms of longevity, something that will handle your product easily and then some. Then worry about spread patterns and calibration charts afterward...only b/c I know you'll do both.

Darn skippy! I will test and analyze the crap out of whatever I buy...just because that's what I do. In fact, I wouldn't put it past my self to modify or hot-rod my spreader in order to get it to do what I want. Which has me leaning towards spending a little less for something without all the bells and whistles, but still buy a robust spreader, and just fabricate deflectors, shut-offs, diverters, etc just to make it work right. It drives my wife nuts when I morph into this mode.

As of now, I'm heavily leaning towards the Spyker P40-5020. I don't think I'll need to go with the extra expense of stainless frame because I don't intend to put a lot of corrosive materials through it. Just urea in late fall, but I own a garden hose. I'm thinking Spyker because of the single large opening. The P40-5020 comes with the Accu-Way system - which I could probably figure out how to build something like it and graft it to the P20-5010 (lower cost), but I like the idea of the bigger tires and more robust handle on the P40-5020. I like the concept of the Accu-Way system over Earthway's dual-port adjustable Ev-N-Spred because Earthway's system cuts down on total material flow rate if you engage one of the port "dual-port" doors...which leaves you chasing your tail on the main door setting.
If you step up a notch and look at Spykers P60 series, they have a spinner with alternating straight and arced fins (more even distribution) - looks like that spinner will "bolt" right into the P40 series, so I may buy that as a service part and put it in the P40, or machine a billet aluminum one for it (although aluminum won't be as corrosion resistant).

Hammbone wrote:s of now, I'm heavily leaning towards the Spyker P40-5020. I don't think I'll need to go with the extra expense of stainless frame because I don't intend to put a lot of corrosive materials through it. Just urea in late fall, but I own a garden hose. I'm thinking Spyker because of the single large opening. The P40-5020 comes with the Accu-Way system - which I could probably figure out how to build something like it and graft it to the P20-5010 (lower cost), but I like the idea of the bigger tires and more robust handle on the P40-5020. I like the concept of the Accu-Way system over Earthway's dual-port adjustable Ev-N-Spred because Earthway's system cuts down on total material flow rate if you engage one of the port "dual-port" doors...which leaves you chasing your tail on the main door setting.

Personally, I would go with the less expensive P20-5010. Unless you really need the beefier tires, I don't see the point in spending 2x the money. I know you are impressed with the Accu-Way system, but I really don't think it's worth the extra $$ for a homeowner. You will get used to the spread pattern of whatever you buy and adjust accordingly. There are plenty of guys on here that use a Home Depot Scotts special and have beautiful lawns with no striping or negative effects from their spreader.

Save the money. Buy your wife a nice present or yourself some more fertilizer. Better yet, go get some wings and beer with your fellow EngiNerd friends. I have several and know that they never turn me down for Hooters.

Smolenski7 wrote:Personally, I would go with the less expensive P20-5010. Unless you really need the beefier tires, I don't see the point in spending 2x the money. I know you are impressed with the Accu-Way system, but I really don't think it's worth the extra $$ for a homeowner. You will get used to the spread pattern of whatever you buy and adjust accordingly. There are plenty of guys on here that use a Home Depot Scotts special and have beautiful lawns with no striping or negative effects from their spreader.

Grrrr...Smolenski, that's enough of this common sense stuff! I'll have none of it! Translation is, you're absolutely right! You've convinced me. I'll keep it simple. P20-5010 it is.

Smolenski7 wrote:Save the money. Buy your wife a nice present or yourself some more fertilizer. Better yet, go get some wings and beer with your fellow EngiNerd friends. I have several and know that they never turn me down for Hooters.

You hit the nail on the head here!

Hammbone wrote:

Smolenski7 wrote:Save the money. Buy your wife a nice present or yourself some more fertilizer. Better yet, go get some wings and beer with your fellow EngiNerd friends. I have several and know that they never turn me down for Hooters.

You hit the nail on the head here!

Better yet, I'll meet you in Ohio and split the Hot Wings and beer with you!

Smolenski7 wrote:Better yet, I'll meet you in Ohio and split the Hot Wings and beer with you!

Actually...I travel to Ohio for business occasionally. (Once or twice a year).
Anyway, I did it. I finally bit the bullet and ordered a spreader. I ordered the Spyker P20-5010. I also looked into ordering the optional side-deflector accessory but about fell off my chair when I saw it cost as much as my entire old Scott's spreader. I will be "engineering" my own deflector.

If anyone has a deflector on their Spyker, I'd be interested in seeing pictures of how it works. The deflector itself is going to be the easy part, it's cutting off flow to that side of the spreader (in conjunction with the deflector being in the down position) that may prove to be the challenge.

Good luck. I'm sure you won't be sorry. I like my Spyker. I just need to calibrate it properly for each of the different products I use.