Atlas 1500 disc

Anyone have an Atlas 1500 disc and if so what do you think about it? Based on weight and cost I can probably get over the booger welds as long as it cuts good. I'm not seeing any other 3 point disc in the 2k lbs. range that is cost effective.

Darrell Harp makes these... mash here

GK, I have an old one that is a little smaller than that model. Mine is a 16x20 and I think it was made in the 90s. I had a lot of trouble with the bearings going out and the blades breaking, and it was always hard work to fix it. I decided to replace it 6 years ago and looked at every brand I could.

A dealer just a few miles from my house had an Atlas available, but the blades on it were really thin. I probably would have bought it if he would have changed the blades out, but he wouldn't do it. I decided that either Brown or Tuffline would be the best way to go, and went with Tuffline because I was able to get a great deal from RareBreed and he even delivered it. It had been a much better disc than the Atlas. It has a different type bearing and the frame seems stronger. I did get them to change it at the factory to heavier blades than what was standard; it seems they all try to get by with lighter blades than they could. I have had one blade to break since I've had it, and I broke 2 or 3 every year with the Atlas.

Here is the model I bought:

https://monroetufline.com/shop/agriculture/tl43-series-tandem-disc/

This is a lighter disc than what you are wanting, so not an apples to apples comparison. However, I was comparing similar discs when I was looking at them in 2012, and I didn't think the Atlas equipment measured up to Brown or Tuffline. My info could be out of date by now, but maybe it helps you a little. Good luck deciding.

BTW, the 16x20 Tuffline that I have with the heavier blades weighs a little over 1200 lbs. It is ALL that my 5075 will pull in sandy soil. Never had any trouble pulling the similar sized Atlas.

Thanks for the insight PCP. Appreciated. I like Brown I have a 417 cutter I think is probably the best I have ever owned. I didn't think about someone using thin china man blades. I'll be doing firebreaks with it so that's something I need to look at a lot harder.

I know Lowery in Boaz will make a 3x3 square tube disk I need to look into those as well. What's got my attention on the Atlas is the weight per blade. 90-100lbs per blade is hydraulic disc territory. Without the cost of having to go up to a Terra-Riser or something as heavy duty as that.

The weight of the Atlas in your link is definitely impressive. I guess the Tuffline disc that would be comparable to that one would be the line made from 4"x4"tubing, while the Atlas is 5" angle iron. That is similar to the lines that I compared. My Tuffline is 4x3, and my Atlas is angle iron, though I don't remember the size. It seemed to me that the tubing makes for a stronger disc, but part of that perception may just come from the fact that my Atlas is worn out.

I think you definitely need to compare the thickness of the blades. The Atlas must use heavy ones if those listed weights are genuine. I found that info hard to get; I had to call them and ask in a couple cases. One thing I do remember is that the Brown had the thickest blades of any of them. Of course, it was also the most expensive.

Check out the Frontier DH series.
I've got the 1376 (6.5') that weighs 1400# and built like a tank.
The sealed bearings haven't given a bit of trouble in 10 years.
https://www.smithsimp.com/new-equip...ents/frontier-tillage-equipment/-/DH1376

How much does that one cost? The angle iron would not be ideal. We got a big disc made by Lowery MFG out of Boaz that was made with tubing. We then added two barrels on top to add 600-700 lbs.

I think the pictures are deceiving the angle iron is 5x5 1/2 inch. That's not the same as what you are thinking based on what you mind's eye has seen in other disks. I'm not going to tell you that is as strong as tube but that's heavy duty on that short a run with any bracing whatsoever. I mean.... you can tear up a bulldozer too. It's all relative.