Features of the Honeysuckle Popper

   The critical design goals of The Honeysuckle Popper were to make a tool that would not bend, but still be light enough to carry in the field.  If it bends, its useless.  I have accomplished this by using special alloy square steel tube with a square solid steel bar that extends into the tube. The tube and bar work in unison to prevent bending.

Specifications

This is a commercial grade tool designed for hard use and abuse. Every feature was designed with that in mind.

The Popper is large and stronger than it looks in the pictures, so here's what you're getting:

• Weight - 28 pounds
• 6'5" total length
• Pivot point is 5" above bottom of platform
• A 180 pound person can create around 1,800 pounds of upward force at the tip.  Large 10x12 platform with cleat resists sinking into the ground, maintaining the pivot point as high as possible above ground level

Why The Honeysuckle Popper has a wood platform instead of metal:

IT WORKS BETTER. (notice the period)
  I sell the popper in the way it works the best, not what might look the best.
The wood platform will not split apart, break, or wear out for 2 main reasons.
  1. By design, it is bolted through in 4 places , not screwed, to 2 thick steel brackets that are almost the full width of the wood, making it almost impossible to break.
  2.  We're working in dirt.  Dirt is soft.  There is nothing in dirt that can wear this thing out, and you won't be leveraging against rocks that often to matter.

Sorry, I might sound like I'm yelling, I guess I am, but I'm getting tired of handymen saying things like: "That should have a metal platform", like I didn't think about that or something.

I tested both, and the answer is- "Wood works better."  Here’s why;

1. The metal is slippery and tends to slide sideways under pressure, especially if the platform is not level or you’re on a rock.. Wood is not slippery and did not have the same tendency to slide.

2. Because of the huge amount of leverage The Popper provides, the platform will sink into the ground an inch or two. The thin metal platform tended to get large amounts of dirt on top of it, making the tool more difficult to handle. The 1 5/8 thick wood prevents this from happening most of the time. The thick wood edges also help stabilize the platform against sideways movement.  You will often be working on unlevel ground and the edges are critical in stabilizing the tool.

3. The platform contacts the tube when you are inserting the tip, The metal platform caused the paint to chip off, and made an annoying clanging sound whenever it struck the tube.

4. Its lighter.  I chose to put the weight where its needed, the tube and tip.  If the tool was much heavier, it would be too much for the normal guy.

5. Making the same shape out of metal would add at least $30 to the price

Cost, though, was not the deciding factor. The wood works better.  It will not split in two because the brackets are bolted through securely with galvanized carriage bolts.
It will last for many years- I guarantee it!  If it breaks, I replace it.

  With that said, I am experimenting with the new 'wood-plastic' composites that are coming on the market.  These composites may be better than using wood.  When I'm done with my testing, if I decide the composite is better, I will start making the platforms out of that material.

Mister Honeysuckle

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