Another addition

NJBill · Jun 11, 2004

My thoughts flew to MR quite a few times as I was uprooting unwanted trees and bushes, I am still doing more.
Even though the NJ sand [sorry, soil] is light and loose, when I did the planting, I didn't know any better so I covered everything with landscape fabric. Have you tried pushing a spade into the stuff, which is loaded with roots. Anyway, I started thing of a pointed spade, because the forks kept missing the roots. The one I designed still needs sharpening, and machine shops don't seem to do dat no more. I do a little each day on my bench grinder it will take a little while but I'll get there. It did work OK but 1/4 inch p[late doesn't cut roots all that well. Wish me luckl
Bill

NJBill · Jun 11, 2004

also in the addition category is the storage area , still under construction. 48 inch Mower at the bottom, on the 24 inch shelf is the 10 cu ft Bucket, and on the 36 inch shelf, fits the Forks, and the fantastic Mini-Hoe. I t works for me.
[ Once I got the height correct for the top shelf ]
Bill

FOURTEEN · Jun 12, 2004

Have you tried the PT Potato Digger??

A custom blade could be easily mounted to it. A smaller blade would have more cutting power.

For cutting and sharpening, a 4" Side Grinder works well, and only cost $10~$20.

pajoube · Jun 12, 2004

NJBILL
Very nice job on the shelving. Keep us posted on how this works out and any additions you come up with. I will be doing this myself when the tractor shed is completed.
PJ

MossRoad · Jun 12, 2004

Nice spade. I have landscape fabric in my flower beds. Tough stuff, indeed! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

As for the storage shelves, I tried the same thing with wood and promptly boke it with an accidental power down of the joysitck. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

So I made them out of metal... and bent them too! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Didn't use heavy enough stuff. So now I just nest the forks and soil slicer in the small bucket and nest the small bucket in the big bucket. In summer, the plow is up against the back wall, the brush hog against that. The 60 inch mower front wheels sit on the deck of the brush hog. The buckets get stored on the ground next. I disconnect the quick attach and pull forward with the arms over the buckets. The whole thing only takes up about 14 feet in depth.

But I wish I had some thicker steel and I would make shelves just like yours. It really saves space and is cool to just drive in and pick your weapon, ah, err, attachment off of a shelf and go.

Nice job on both projects. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Dakar · Jun 13, 2004

I have a few small stumps and rocks that I would like to eventually pop out of the ground and have been considering the potato digger. I know a lot of people use their forks for this purpose, but it looks like the potato digger might do a better job (and be less likely to bend). Would it be useful as a light duty trenching tool as well? Not to actually bury anything, but just to dig a slight ditch to divert rainwater?

Great shelves, NJBill. Almost exactly what I had in mind to build. But if MossRoad damaged his, I am sure that I would have to make mine out of reinforced concrete or something to make them stand up to the damage I am likely to inflict.

Trojan6 · Jun 13, 2004

I have the potato digger and it works pretty well in my rocky soil. The biggest problem I've encountered is trying to make the trench in a straight line while driving backwards. It will dig in pretty deep and pull medium sized rocks out of the ground. I was planning on using it today to plow for a food plot, and if I can get around to it I'll post some pics.

Stefan

ernemats · Jun 13, 2004

I made a wood shelf to store my roto tiller on with the 48 inch mower underneath. I used 2 inch rough cut oak boards with 2 by 6 inch legs for support. I don't think they will break or bend even if i put down pressure from the power trac on them.

FOURTEEN · Jun 13, 2004

I have the Forks, the Potato Digger, and the MiniHoe.

The Forks are best used for fork lifting! The MiniHoe is best for large deep digging!

The Potato Digger is quick, easy, and digs best small and shallow. It digs a nice hole for planting shrubs. It pulls up roots, and plucks out rocks, (the Forks will too, but while one fork is digging up what I want dug up, the other fork is digging up something I don't!!). It will dig like a V plow. I've used it to turn over the garden. Also good for lifting with a sling.
The answer to getting a straight ditch is to dig a shallow trench going forward, then deepen and enlarge it going in reverse!!

pajoube · Jun 13, 2004

I use my potato digger for two jobs. First is to loosen hard pack soil which works very well. Then put the bucket on and away you go. The second is to use the potato digger to bring up rocks. As mentioned, go shallow and pull back.
Most of my work with the potato digger is to loosen hard pack soil.
PJ