chamber c has obtained a suitable degree of compaction adequate compaction is determined through the use of a limit switch timer and pressure sensor i provide a switch 220 attached to side wall 222 or wall 223 in order to determine when the piston 20 has reached maximum extension the control system 224 for the hydraulic drives has a timer and pressure sensor so that a compacted bale may be detected should five 5 seconds and a pressure of 2 300 p s i be required to trip limit switch 220 then i know that adequate compaction has occurred and that the bale is ready to be tied and ejected once the material within the compaction chamber c has attained the desired degree of compaction then the ties or straps 46 are manually inserted through the slots 126 and then through the slots 44 and 166 and into the guides 168 where they are turned so as to exit on the opposite side in order to move through the slots 160 the ties then extend through the slots 126 in the door 90 and are manually tied as illustrated in fig3 after all straps 46 have been thus inserted and tied then the ram 40 is partially retracted and the turnbuckle 192 is operated in order to permit the door 90 to be.