Green Power
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2013
- Messages
- 1,078
- Location
- Nebraska
- Tractor
- LS R4047H, Kubota L33400 JD: 5075E 6150M 9230 and 8520
Wow! It sounds like you will be busy!
RDrancher's Photo Thread
- Thread starter RDrancher
- Start date
madmax12
Veteran Member
It was raining yesterday and this morning, so I took the opportunity to get some quotes out . I picked up two permanent culvert installs, two weeks worth of pond work and grading and an indoor arena. Not to mention two final grading jobs coming up and 150 acres of burnt oaks to clear. Our family is blessed, that's for sure. Now if I could just clone myself using the stamp tool on Adobe Photoshop...I'd get things done quicker!
Speaking of the arena...I became involved in this fiasco at the first of the year. And now, the REST of the story...
Mrs. Customer hired "Mr. Arena" (yeah, I guess he really calls himself that) to re-do an outdoor jumping arena and a new indoor training arena. I get a call from Mrs. C for consultation initially. Mr. A graded the outdoor arena with the flowline heading away from the existing drainage system. Kinda lumpy in the middle too. On the indoor arena, Mr. A graded the sub base, then puts down 6" of chat as a base and attempts to compact it (it doesn't compact...EVER). So...he spreads bags of Portland cement over the top, wets it down and compacts it!Of course, the hard top-layer chips off even under human traffic. NOT something you want to jump $100k horses on, that's for sure! So Mr. Arena is booted off the job and I come up with a plan and pricing to fix both arenas. The outdoor arena is an easy fix. The indoor?...not so much. First off, the chat has to be removed...good news is that I can save her a little cash, since I have a buyer. I'll then compact in select fill and install mason sand for a topping. Good plan, but as with all equine related endeavors, it's not over yet.
It'd been a while since I heard from Mrs. Customer, and I actually thought that she'd found someone else to do the job. Kinda did I guess. Sometime during the building of the arena enclosure, Mr. Arena (who hasn't been paid yet) and Mrs. Customer have a long talk. Mrs. C relays my plan to take all of the chat out and replace it with select fill, and Mr. A says he wants a chance to "make it right." Says he will remove the chat for free (no kidding) and bring in select fill. He doesn't have the money for all of the select fill though and needs $3k for a total of 300 yards...(I figured 180.) For some reason (which is WAY above my pay grade) Mrs. C feels sorry for the guy and agrees to be screwed out of some money once again! :confused2:
A few days ago my lovely wife is driving by the property and sees some familiar looking equipment parked outside of the new building and a "tall transit thingy" (laser) sitting in the doorway. Figured that I for sure lost it. Oh well, not a big deal.
So two days ago I get a call from Mrs. C asking if I can come out and look at something and she even offers to pay me for my time. I'm thinking...what now? I get out there yesterday and see that Mr frickin' Arena has now sold her and installed 300 yards (really 180) of pond dig out material! Clay of all different varieties...gray, black, tan, with some shale thrown in for good measure. None if this junk is good for anything. The base has been compacted and graded (kinda). Some of the material is scraped black from the blade...numerous areas torn out and chunky, and more holes and elevation changed than I could count. As soon as I saw Mr A's pan and laser grading blade, I knew what had happened. He overfilled the arena with the pan, compacted it, and then attempted to grade it flat with the blade. That method doesn't work with this junk material. He still has the guts to tell her that he can fix it! :laughing:
Mrs. C is furious. She asks me if I can fix it. Well...of course I can!
It turns out that Mr. Arena is actually the owner of a company located just down the road from me. Never met the man myself, but my material supplier just laughed when I told him who it was. Seems they've been screwing things up since 1986. Hmmm...maybe they could use that as a tag line on their business card...? :laughing:
It's hard to see in the photos, but the dark areas are "hard and high" and the lighter ones "loose and low."
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=367554"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=367555"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=367556"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=367557"/>
I will add that I am in no way tooting my own horn. I admit to some serious flaws when it comes to operating on equipment I run all the time. That said...Mr. Arena couldn't hit grade on a granite counter top!
That was a funny post. Sorry it has been at your expense.
Hope you are well rewarded for your attitude and effort.
LJH
Platinum Member
1. You don't have to toot, we've all seen your work and will do that for you!
2. Grade - granite counter top - SPIT COFFEE :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
3. Can't the chitty clay combo be stockpiled & used for a dam keyway or something?
OP
RDrancher
Veteran Member
Most excellent idea!!! :thumbsup:
OP
RDrancher
Veteran Member
If you're interested in my latest 4n1 bucket escapades, read about it here http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/302592-my-new-4in1-bucket-came-7.html.
OP
RDrancher
Veteran Member
Checked out the 150 acres of burnt oaks yesterday. A lot of trees to shear and stack, but it was great to see signs of life here and there. Some trees survived the burn and suckers abound. I have a thread going in the Land Clearing section, but I'll post all of pics here as the job progresses.
The home and surrounding trees were saved. Here on the property just next door, life goes on as usual.
The home and surrounding trees were saved. Here on the property just next door, life goes on as usual.
OP
RDrancher
Veteran Member
Ditch Be Gone
Knocked out a little project today. The owner was tired of his guests having to cross the ditch if they parked on the street, so I filled it. Set 50' of 15" culvert pipe and then scrounged up grass and soil to get it graded out. Cleaned up the remaining ditch a bit too. Note the stack of roots sitting next to the tree. The owner was chomping at the bit all day to help out, so when it came time to cleanup, he asked if he could do it. :thumbsup:
Knocked out a little project today. The owner was tired of his guests having to cross the ditch if they parked on the street, so I filled it. Set 50' of 15" culvert pipe and then scrounged up grass and soil to get it graded out. Cleaned up the remaining ditch a bit too. Note the stack of roots sitting next to the tree. The owner was chomping at the bit all day to help out, so when it came time to cleanup, he asked if he could do it. :thumbsup:
OP
RDrancher
Veteran Member
Thanks! I really do appreciate all of the compliments. I do the best I can on every job I do.
If you are referring to the gravel re-grades, I pick them out by hand.
Funny that you referred to that particular job. I would have had to look back to see which one it was, but I made a wrong turn heading out to look at another job a few days ago and drove by that one. It still looks great.
If you are referring to the gravel re-grades, I pick them out by hand.
Funny that you referred to that particular job. I would have had to look back to see which one it was, but I made a wrong turn heading out to look at another job a few days ago and drove by that one. It still looks great.
dave1949
Super Star Member
John, Did the fire pass through the neighbors land too? I was wondering if the amount of brush and undergrowth allowed the fire to get hot enough to kill the oaks, but that wasn't the case where the cattle keep it cleared out?
150 acres will keep you busy for a spell.
150 acres will keep you busy for a spell.