Wavy Concave Coulter Blades

Every blade type offers a different set of advantages. When it comes to cutting through crop residue with the greatest efficiency while preparing the soil for seeding, few tools match the unique abilities offered through the use of wavy concave coulter blades.

Wavy Coulter Blades

When it comes to creating the perfect seedbed, choosing the right coulters will help to ensure a good outcome. Plain, notched and ripple coulters all cut aggressively, and bubble coulters can be a good alternative for working sandy soil. However, nothing beats the wavy coulter for cutting through heavy crop residue with the maximum degree of soil disturbance.

Wavy disc coulters come in three basic varieties, and the number of waves on any particular blade will determine the degree to which it will pulverize the soil.

• 8-Wave: A blade consisting of only eight waves is best for working lighter soils where it will accomplish a greater amount of soil fracturing with a lesser degree of soil disturbance.

• 13-Wave Coulter Blade: At a slower rate of travel, the 13-wave coulter will contribute to a more vigorous disruption of the earth and generate a finer tillage. It also throws a smaller amount of soil than the 8-wave does, even when run at higher speeds.

• 25-Wave Coulter Blade: Neither the ripple nor the bubble coulter can work the soil as completely as the 25-wave. Its sharp, narrow edges slice through residue while generating a large quantity of friable soil. While this particular blade will succeed under widely varying conditions, it performs especially well when the earth is wet and yielding.

Wave Count and Harrow Speed
In general, the number of waves on the coulter blade will dictate the speed at which the harrow should run. Wavy coulters do have a tendency to throw the soil, and to prevent this from occurring to an excessive degree, it is best to run higher-wave-count blades at a slower pace.

Width of Wavy Coulter Blades
The width of a wavy blade represents not its thickness, but the distance from the outside of one wave to the outside of another. It is a measurement of wave depth, and the different widths tend to behave as follows:

• Two-inch-wide wavy coulters will generate a broader tilled zone. Although the achievement of soil penetration will require a greater weight, the 2-inch-wide blade will also bury more residue and disturb the soil to a greater degree.

• One-inch-wide wavy coulters will propagate a narrower, finer seedbed. While requiring a lesser amount of weight to pierce the soil, they cut crop residue efficiently and perform better in wet and heavy conditions.

Setting Up Wavy Coulter Blades

In systems that employ two coulters, many agriculturists recommend using a combination of one- and two-inch-wide wavy blades. In a three-coulter setup, on the other hand, it can be best to lead with a two-inch-wide blade in front. This will cut and throw crop residue while creating the least disturbance to the soil. The positioning of two one-inch-wide wavy coulters behind it will accomplish the finer pulverization.

Wavy Concave vs. Conventional Concave

Many people believe that all discs, regardless of appearance, perform in an essentially similar manner. In fact, when it comes to the wavy concave disc, nothing could be further than the truth. While this blade may resemble a coulter on steroids, its differences in curvature and size serve a specific purpose.

The main function of the concave disc is to break up the soil and turn it over while redirecting it toward the concave side. In addition to cutting easily through compacted earth, a disc with the optimal concavity will help to hold the harrow out in loose and loamy soils.

In challenging conditions, a wavy concave disc can outperform the plain concave variety, making short work of cutting into the soil while simultaneously crumbling and incorporating debris. The largest of these will not only cut the deepest, but also bury the greatest amount of crop residue. To add to their abilities, wavy concave discs assist in furrow conservation by provoking less loss of soil. Their use will also impose less stress on the harrow.

There are many options when it comes to purchasing the right disc blades, coulters, and other tillage tools. At Wearparts LLC, we offer the widest selection of coulters, from smooth to wavy concave; and the largest selection of disc blades to provide you with the parts you need for tillage success.