Will a DISK do me what I need??
- Thread starter Sully2
- Start date
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( Sully, try a boxblade with the scarifiers all the way down. )</font>
I agree. I'm currently doing that myself in very hard clay soil. I considered a disk too, but eventually figured that it would not penetrate sufficiently even with weight and a 45hp tractor.
I've been very successful with the box blade. I'm guessing but I'd say I'm getting a good 4-5" of penetration and it turns the soil fairly well too. The nice thing about the box blade is that it has so many other uses as well. So, more bang for the buck.
Several observations:
1) It sounds like your tractor may be too small for the job you have set for it.
2) The moisture in the soil makes a big difference, at least where I am. When really dry it is very much like concrete. When too wet it is sticky and goo-y. When just right, the BB turns it over quite easily.
3) If you are really interested in a disc, get one. If it doesn't work, sell it. You can probably get most of your money back.
Finally, it is my understanding that a disc is primarily for breaking up soil that has been plowed or turned over and not for breaking up 'virigin' dirt. Is that correct? )</font></font>
1) Well..yes and no! Anything SMALLER I couldnt get rid of the trees ..etc..that I have even so far. Anything LARGER Id never get in between trees that will stay! If it was just all open ground..I have 1/2 dozen guys that could chisel plow and rototill it in less than 1/2 hour.....LOL..but the one guy's SMALLEST set of disks is about 20 feet wide!!!.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif..needless to say..he's never get turned around in the yard.
2)BINGO! Thats why "I" need the "right" piece of equipment HERE at "my" disposal. About the time the soil would be "easiest" to work over..the guys have planting to do..equipment maintaince to get done..etc..all that farm stuff...and just cant ( and I wouldnt ask them to) drop what they're doing.
3) Your right! If I buy it and it just flat dont work..and if people arent willing to give me a decent price for it used..I can afford to just park it under cover and let it sit..forever if need be. What Im trying to avoid is a BUNCH of "useless" impliments parked under cover...LOL
I agree. I'm currently doing that myself in very hard clay soil. I considered a disk too, but eventually figured that it would not penetrate sufficiently even with weight and a 45hp tractor.
I've been very successful with the box blade. I'm guessing but I'd say I'm getting a good 4-5" of penetration and it turns the soil fairly well too. The nice thing about the box blade is that it has so many other uses as well. So, more bang for the buck.
Several observations:
1) It sounds like your tractor may be too small for the job you have set for it.
2) The moisture in the soil makes a big difference, at least where I am. When really dry it is very much like concrete. When too wet it is sticky and goo-y. When just right, the BB turns it over quite easily.
3) If you are really interested in a disc, get one. If it doesn't work, sell it. You can probably get most of your money back.
Finally, it is my understanding that a disc is primarily for breaking up soil that has been plowed or turned over and not for breaking up 'virigin' dirt. Is that correct? )</font></font>
1) Well..yes and no! Anything SMALLER I couldnt get rid of the trees ..etc..that I have even so far. Anything LARGER Id never get in between trees that will stay! If it was just all open ground..I have 1/2 dozen guys that could chisel plow and rototill it in less than 1/2 hour.....LOL..but the one guy's SMALLEST set of disks is about 20 feet wide!!!.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif..needless to say..he's never get turned around in the yard.
2)BINGO! Thats why "I" need the "right" piece of equipment HERE at "my" disposal. About the time the soil would be "easiest" to work over..the guys have planting to do..equipment maintaince to get done..etc..all that farm stuff...and just cant ( and I wouldnt ask them to) drop what they're doing.
3) Your right! If I buy it and it just flat dont work..and if people arent willing to give me a decent price for it used..I can afford to just park it under cover and let it sit..forever if need be. What Im trying to avoid is a BUNCH of "useless" impliments parked under cover...LOL
Highbeam
Super Member
"try a boxblade with the scarifiers all the way down"
I did this for about 10 hours on Sunday in a clay lowland. It worked exceptionally well, even in the overly moist areas. I had a one year old growth of grass on it and the rippers sliced and tilled the vegetation evenly incorporating it 4-5" deep. I am now letting it dry before going back and finish grading it with the same bob blade and then seeding it, to be followed of course by a schmearing using the front of the rear blade on the BB.
A poor mans chisel plow indeed. Plus harrow, grader, leveler, etc.
I did this for about 10 hours on Sunday in a clay lowland. It worked exceptionally well, even in the overly moist areas. I had a one year old growth of grass on it and the rippers sliced and tilled the vegetation evenly incorporating it 4-5" deep. I am now letting it dry before going back and finish grading it with the same bob blade and then seeding it, to be followed of course by a schmearing using the front of the rear blade on the BB.
A poor mans chisel plow indeed. Plus harrow, grader, leveler, etc.
LOL..I thank all you guys for the help..but I think SOME never grasp my ..Im sure..poorly phrased question in the beginning. I wished to know about any sort of DIFFERENCE there MIGHT be about attempting to break up "hard"..??..soil bettwen a set of discs...OR...OR attempting to use a roto tiller right off the bat.
No "dynamite blasting"..or "Cat D9 " digging..etc..etc..etc... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif...but some of ya gave me some good pointers and items to ponder over.. Much appreciated.
Sully out!
No "dynamite blasting"..or "Cat D9 " digging..etc..etc..etc... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif...but some of ya gave me some good pointers and items to ponder over.. Much appreciated.
Sully out!
Wannafish
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
- Messages
- 369
- Tractor
- 4010 JD Cut, 4020 JD, shovels, rakes, and implements of destruction
"...I wished to know about any sort of DIFFERENCE there MIGHT be about attempting to break up "hard"..??..soil bettwen a set of discs..."
And as stated numerous times in reply - if a tiller won't break it up, neither will a disc - you need a subsoiler...therefore there is no difference between the tiller and the disc.
I have a 14' offset disc and a 21' Rock-Flex disc. Even with all their weight, all they will do is roll across that hard stuff.
And as stated numerous times in reply - if a tiller won't break it up, neither will a disc - you need a subsoiler...therefore there is no difference between the tiller and the disc.
I have a 14' offset disc and a 21' Rock-Flex disc. Even with all their weight, all they will do is roll across that hard stuff.
willywildes
Silver Member
I mow first. to keep the grass from plugging up the scarifiers on the box blade, making them ineffective. box blade with scarifiers down. then till works like a champ.
Good luck. WW
Good luck. WW
</font><font color="blueclass=small">( I mow first. to keep the grass from plugging up the scarifiers on the box blade, making them ineffective. box blade with scarifiers down. then till works like a champ.
Good luck. WW )</font>
Sounds like what would work BEST is a "small" chisel plow...but Ive never seen or even heard of one as small as I'd need...so a small box blade sounds like the plan then. SMALL..because I have to work about existing trees...SMALL because of TRACTION. I have the industrial tires on the B3030..( and NO fellas..Im NOT going to install AG tires for added traction..lol)...so if Id go TOO large ( whatever too large is?) Id lose traction...bummer!
Set it to go just a few inches deep..and make repeat passes in both directions...and THEN the box blade would always come in handy for the slight amount of dirt Id need to "re-locate" to make it "more level"..sort of thing.
I had one of my farmer buddies ( he and his family only farm about 7000 acres around here) come and look at the yard..and told him I had been advised to use the sub soiler on it..at about 4 inches deep. I had to get him a cold beer to shut up his laughing!! He told me I dont have enough $$ for diesel fuel to be making 6 inch passes back and forth to break it up next spring...lol I let him laugh though..after all I do use his 3point post hole auger for free... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Good luck. WW )</font>
Sounds like what would work BEST is a "small" chisel plow...but Ive never seen or even heard of one as small as I'd need...so a small box blade sounds like the plan then. SMALL..because I have to work about existing trees...SMALL because of TRACTION. I have the industrial tires on the B3030..( and NO fellas..Im NOT going to install AG tires for added traction..lol)...so if Id go TOO large ( whatever too large is?) Id lose traction...bummer!
Set it to go just a few inches deep..and make repeat passes in both directions...and THEN the box blade would always come in handy for the slight amount of dirt Id need to "re-locate" to make it "more level"..sort of thing.
I had one of my farmer buddies ( he and his family only farm about 7000 acres around here) come and look at the yard..and told him I had been advised to use the sub soiler on it..at about 4 inches deep. I had to get him a cold beer to shut up his laughing!! He told me I dont have enough $$ for diesel fuel to be making 6 inch passes back and forth to break it up next spring...lol I let him laugh though..after all I do use his 3point post hole auger for free... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Sully,
I'm gonna disagree with everybody here. My soil is red clay and can be very hard. I brought a John Deere 450G dozer out here and couldn't break through it to dig a hole. My neighbor hired a guy with a Cat D4 who has to use his rippers to break throught the surface.
I have a 35 hp Century tractor that I bought a used 5 foot disk for $300 out of the local classified ads. It has the cerated disks in front and the smooth ones in back.
Years ago a friend in California had a similar set up and we went through **** figuring out how to work it. Adding weight didn't really help that much, but what did work was to stick with it.
My setup isn't very big or heavy. Before I use the disk, I cut the grass and brush down real low. Then my first few passes accomplished almost nothing. Especially going through the thicker areas of grass.
I plan out a path to take that's a large circle and just keep driving around on the exact same tracks over and over again. It's like a huge waste of time until it happens. All of a sudden the ground gives and it turns to powder!!!
Once this happens, I just move my tires over half way to new soil and keep making my newly plowed area larger. This goes allot faster over the new areas than it did on the first area.
I don't add any weight to my disk, but can see where it could help and probably will the next time I use it. I have quite a few five galong buckets lying around that I'll fill with dirt and put on the disk to accomplish this.
I also have a 6ft boxblade with shanks and tried that too for breaking up the ground. It works to a degree, but all you get is chunks of dirt, not fine powder. The disk does an amazing job with time.
You said you had time, it will work and work well. Just realize it will take a very long time until happens, but the results are amazing!!!
Eddie
I'm gonna disagree with everybody here. My soil is red clay and can be very hard. I brought a John Deere 450G dozer out here and couldn't break through it to dig a hole. My neighbor hired a guy with a Cat D4 who has to use his rippers to break throught the surface.
I have a 35 hp Century tractor that I bought a used 5 foot disk for $300 out of the local classified ads. It has the cerated disks in front and the smooth ones in back.
Years ago a friend in California had a similar set up and we went through **** figuring out how to work it. Adding weight didn't really help that much, but what did work was to stick with it.
My setup isn't very big or heavy. Before I use the disk, I cut the grass and brush down real low. Then my first few passes accomplished almost nothing. Especially going through the thicker areas of grass.
I plan out a path to take that's a large circle and just keep driving around on the exact same tracks over and over again. It's like a huge waste of time until it happens. All of a sudden the ground gives and it turns to powder!!!
Once this happens, I just move my tires over half way to new soil and keep making my newly plowed area larger. This goes allot faster over the new areas than it did on the first area.
I don't add any weight to my disk, but can see where it could help and probably will the next time I use it. I have quite a few five galong buckets lying around that I'll fill with dirt and put on the disk to accomplish this.
I also have a 6ft boxblade with shanks and tried that too for breaking up the ground. It works to a degree, but all you get is chunks of dirt, not fine powder. The disk does an amazing job with time.
You said you had time, it will work and work well. Just realize it will take a very long time until happens, but the results are amazing!!!
Eddie
Eddie: That is EXACTLY what my farmer friends have told me..almost word for word.. With the possible exception of adding weight for the "curst cutting"...first go-round sort of thing. Because I have limited "impliments" and am too tight... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif..to go out and drop 2-3K on a variety of hardware that I MAY use only one time in my life...I have been searching for the "right tool".
They also told me that THEY dont do it "thatta way" because of TIME FACTOR. They dont want to spend all day "discing" a field..when one guy goes thru with a chisel plow and the next operator is "right behind him" ( dry conditions of course) with one of those "200 ft wide set of disks" breaking it up into fine "powder".
SIDE NOTE" I ask the farmer the other day if I could use his "seeder/planter" next year for sowing grass seed... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
He got the giggles because its so wide he cant even bring it down the road I live on..let alone in my drive and into the front yard...lol. He gave me the old.."I dont think so"..
I appreciate the input Eddie.
They also told me that THEY dont do it "thatta way" because of TIME FACTOR. They dont want to spend all day "discing" a field..when one guy goes thru with a chisel plow and the next operator is "right behind him" ( dry conditions of course) with one of those "200 ft wide set of disks" breaking it up into fine "powder".
SIDE NOTE" I ask the farmer the other day if I could use his "seeder/planter" next year for sowing grass seed... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
He got the giggles because its so wide he cant even bring it down the road I live on..let alone in my drive and into the front yard...lol. He gave me the old.."I dont think so"..
I appreciate the input Eddie.