Grading and Rock Removal Tips.
- jpete
- Member
- Posts: 10829
- Joined: Thu. Nov. 22, 2007 9:52 am
- Location: Warwick, RI
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Mk II
- Coal Size/Type: Stove, Nut, Pea
- Other Heating: Dino juice
I'm new to this whole farming thing so I hope someone can point me in a good direction.
I am having a house build and the rough grading is done but I have to spread all the top soil they scraped to do the foundation.
The word most often used to describe the soil here is "bony". Rocks the size of lemons on up to bowling balls. Some larger.
I have a Kubota BX 23 and am spreading things out but it isn't what anyone would call "graded".
The question is, what would be better, a box grader or a York rake?
I am having a house build and the rough grading is done but I have to spread all the top soil they scraped to do the foundation.
The word most often used to describe the soil here is "bony". Rocks the size of lemons on up to bowling balls. Some larger.
I have a Kubota BX 23 and am spreading things out but it isn't what anyone would call "graded".
The question is, what would be better, a box grader or a York rake?
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30293
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Definitely a York Rake Jeff.
- johnjoseph
- Member
- Posts: 9299
- Joined: Mon. Sep. 15, 2014 6:05 pm
- Location: Aroostook County, Maine
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Other Heating: pellet stove, oil boiler
Box blades are great to move large amount of earth evenly...Your rake is great to get the finished look one desires via rock removal. Utilizing your bucket to back drag works well to gain a smooth look after all rocks are removed. Good luck with your project...there is satisfaction in the finished product.
-
- Member
- Posts: 5791
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 17, 2008 1:08 pm
- Location: Harrison, Tenn
- Other Heating: Wishing it was cold enough for coal here....not really
You just keep pushing it back and forth until you wear the rocks down to dirt...but never fear, more will migrate in! That is the way of "bony" soil....
Kevin
Kevin
- jpete
- Member
- Posts: 10829
- Joined: Thu. Nov. 22, 2007 9:52 am
- Location: Warwick, RI
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Mk II
- Coal Size/Type: Stove, Nut, Pea
- Other Heating: Dino juice
Been doing the drag back thing but I think the short wheel base of the tractor promotes bumps. I keep going perpendicular trying to smooth things out.
- VigIIPeaBurner
- Member
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Pequest River Valley, Warren Co NJ
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker(down)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Casting Vigilant II 2310
- Other Heating: #2 Oil Furnace
Got the some boney soil here plus it just poor. Farming this half of the hill was stopped over 70 years ago. The other half has the good soil. I have a GC 2310, similar to your BX23. I sued the bucket to spread soil I blend with compost, lightly back drag it and work the hydraulics to move it close to smooth. On my later attempts to smooth it out, I move the stick to the float position and make several more overlapping passes. Final grade is done with a 4' York rake.
These pictures show an area behind my house that would grow nothing but moss. I tilled, raked and reseeded 3 times and each time grass failed to stay. This last time, I brought in 30 yards of compost (the pictures below) and spread it all out. So far, the grass looks good after 3 years and 2 over-seedings.
These pictures show an area behind my house that would grow nothing but moss. I tilled, raked and reseeded 3 times and each time grass failed to stay. This last time, I brought in 30 yards of compost (the pictures below) and spread it all out. So far, the grass looks good after 3 years and 2 over-seedings.
Attachments
- jpete
- Member
- Posts: 10829
- Joined: Thu. Nov. 22, 2007 9:52 am
- Location: Warwick, RI
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Mk II
- Coal Size/Type: Stove, Nut, Pea
- Other Heating: Dino juice
Looks good. Guess I'll keep at it. After a little lay off. Right after I took the first picture, I stepped of a log and rolled my ankle pretty hard.
I'm on crutches for a bit. Going to the orthopedist tomorrow. The ER says nothing is broken. Let's hope they are right.
I'm on crutches for a bit. Going to the orthopedist tomorrow. The ER says nothing is broken. Let's hope they are right.
Last edited by jpete on Tue. Jun. 13, 2017 1:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- coaledsweat
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 13763
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
You can rent one of those rotary rock removers (forget what they are called) for a day, they do a nice job and will help even it out too. Just need a 3 point and PTO on your tractor.
- mntbugy
- Member
- Posts: 2043
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 23, 2016 2:36 pm
- Location: clearfield,pa
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: D S 1500, Warm Moring 400
- Baseburners & Antiques: Art Garland 145,GW114 ,Clarion 115, Vestal 20 Globe,New Royal22 Globe, Red Cross Oak 56,Acme Ventiduct 38,Radiant Airblast 626,Home Airblast 62,Moores #7,Moores 3way
- Coal Size/Type: stove and nut and some bit
- Other Heating: Propain
Think it's called a rock hound
- coaledsweat
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 13763
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
BINGO!mntbugy wrote:Think it's called a rock hound
-
- Member
- Posts: 705
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 08, 2014 11:47 am
- Location: Quakertown, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker '81 KA4 (online 1/16/17)
- Coal Size/Type: WAS Lehigh Rice (TBD)
- Other Heating: EFM SPK600
Hand pick the bowling balls and rent either a Harley Rake or RockHound. You will be there for days with a Yorkrake. Both the HR and RH will prep soil for seed as well.
-
- Member
- Posts: 2344
- Joined: Wed. Feb. 04, 2009 7:13 am
- Location: Fair Haven, VT
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Hybrid Axeman Anderson 130
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sparkle #12
- Coal Size/Type: Pea, Buckwheat, Nut
- Other Heating: LP Hot air. WA TX for coal use.
What those guys above me said for sure Jeff. From experience using a Harley rake I can tell you this, someone that knows how to operate one may very well be worth the little extra expense than trying to figure it out on your own. Time is money and I would rather pay someone than screw around getting an education with the darned thing.
In other words, I made some awful messes the one time I tried to use one without anyone's helpful instructions. They dig a really quick hole
In other words, I made some awful messes the one time I tried to use one without anyone's helpful instructions. They dig a really quick hole