[TheForge] building a hard cab for a tractor

[dann at wctatel.net]

Terry,

In the 1950s and early 1960s it was common to use a steel frame with
canvas sides and Plexiglas windows called a "heat houser" for cold season
warmth.

Then in the later 1960s, it became common for farmers to buy after- market
metal tractor cabs. By the 1970s, most major companies built their own
cabs.

My father-in-law, was a part time farmer, full time machinist, who built
his own tractor cab, basically using angle iron and painted plywood, and
Plexiglas windows.   I think my brother-in-law still uses both the tractor
and the home made cab,  more than 30 years later.

Thinking of tempered glass windows, I think of all the old tractor cabs
and harvester combine cabs in farm machinery "bone yards".

I bought a full commercial ( older ) aftermarket tractor cab for $300 
last fall. It has all good  tempered glass, and side windows that open.

Dann

> hello;
>
> the kubota tractor does not have a cab . there are aftermarket third
> party cabs available for the bx2360 but they are all in my opinion over
> priced. it does not appear that difficult to fabricate a nice cab for
> the tractor in a reasonable amount of time and money. the one part of
> the fabrication process that i could not perform would be the
> painting/powder coating of the cab.
>
> nearly everything else can be purchased off-the-shelf.
> a plasma cutter or water jet would cut out the frame easy enough.
> acrylic or temper autoglass could be used for the windshield, back
> window, and door windows. i would prefer tempered glass. acrylic will
> scratch and graze for time.
>
> should be able to fabricate a hard cab for under $3,000.00 usd.
>
> comments suggestions hints all welcomed.
>
> --
> terry l. ridder ><>
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