Clean old bottle dump

[jhb]

I have a bottle dump on my property. It has been there quite awhile and is mixed with soil. I want to level it and create a lawn, but I do not want glass working up over time, so i think I need to sift it. about 10 to 20 yards to clean.

Where can I rent a soil sifter, or can I build an effective one easily. Any ideas?

 

[frank_f15]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have a bottle dump on my property. It has been there quite awhile and is mixed with soil. )</font>
How long is " QUITE AWHILE" DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE TIME OR THE INCLINATION but you might want to be careful, some of those old bottles and glass cna really be worth some serious $$$$$ so you might want to take your time and go easy.

 

[notamustang]

Over excavate and replace soil, shouldn't be too expensive, ya right /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Wow, thats a good question on the sifter, only thing I can think of is the old school hand sifting. But I can be rather old school at times.
Maybe removing the top 24" and then using clean fill ?????

 

[jhb]

Not sure how far back it goes. Probably back to the 20's maybe? We were hand digging and are still finding bottles with plastic caps, looks to be in the 50's - 60s so far. We anticpate going back in time as we get closer to the house.

I may take some 1/2x1/2 screen (like chicken screen, but smaller), nail on some 2x6 lumber "runners". Then get another layer of screen and place over. Then just slide the two over each other to sift the soil.

Commercial ones will be to big for my BX to get buckets in.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I would just remove all the dirt from the area and bring in clean fill. Unless you want to play around sifting for treasure that is because it will take a long time and to be honest to use the screen like you want it would be easier to use a shovel then a tractor. What I do is just dig a big hole and push everything in it and bury it under 3 feet of material. I do not expect it to work its way up anytime soon.

 

[johnday]

jhb; A while back, someone on this site built a motorized sifter for rocks and other debris. From what I recall, it should work for what :you may want to do. Do a search for it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[AndyM]

Here is Larry Van Horn's thread on his topsoil screener...

Pictures of TopSoil Screener

Speaking of Larry, it's a shame he hasn't posted here for a while. He was always into something interesting, and I enjoyed following his projects.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I would be worried that the bottles would break when you dump them on a screen and you would have small pieces of glass that will fall thru and be spread back out into what he wants to use as a yard. If there are kids near by then it is a hazard.

 

[johnday]

Andy; Very good. That's the one I was thinking of.

Yeah, I wonder what happened to Larry myself. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Henro]

Jhb,

If you are going to be working in dirt mixed with glass, you might want to consider getting your front tires foam filled.

I had a similar spot on my property and got a front flat on my B2910 within hours of delivery...no more problems after the foam went in the tires.

On my BX last summer I had the fronts foam filled. Cost $38 per tire...I'm happy with the result. Now I am not sure how easy the rears on a BX would puncture...never had a problelm with my larger tractor...and most of the glass is gone now so I guess I may never put them to the test...

Just a thought. Worst case you might ask around and see who foam fills tractor tires in your area, and use them after you get your first front flat... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif