Dirt Scoop

[Dargo]

If you choose to think that anyone who does something you couldn't is lying, I can't stop you. But, sure seems like an awful closed minded way to view the world.

Nope. Just been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Technically, a million men with a million spades could dig the Grand Canyon; just not in this millennium. Nothing but little ole water dug all that. It just took a long time. I also don't consider a low spot that dries up in the summer a "multi-acre pond" either.

 

[wvpolekat]

At the end of the day YOU couldn't get the scoop to function to your satisfaction. Therefore, you now claim that it is impossible for it to have worked for anyone else and they are making up tall tales about digging with them. Seems to be an ego issue to me that you had trouble with it.

I could easily and did dig a ditch with mine, the only real slowdown coming in the amount of dirt the scoop could hold and how long it took me to get to where I wanted to dump it. They actually work great for this, you straddle where you want it, drop the scoop and drive till it's full.

I have no reason to believe that given a few months and good weather, that I could not dig a respectable pond with one. Will it be fast? No. Would it be a reasonable way to do it on a budget? I think so, if you have the free time to commit to it. It isn't an ideal way, but it certainly would work, even if you don't think it will.

 

[wolc123]

A pond scoop is a very handy tool. Back when I didnt have a front loader on a 4wd tractor, I used mine a lot. I think a pond scoop is handier than a front loader on a 2wd tractor because it dont have the traction issue. You actually gain traction as you fill that rear scoop rather than loose it like you do with a front loader on a 2wd. I dug a pond about 50 x 50 x 6 ft deep with one, useing my 8n, takeing about a week. I also used the pond scoop to load manure spreaders, trucks and trailers by hooking a 3-point boom up to the top link position and making some extensions to hook the lower links. You need a tractor with some weight forward and considerable hydraulic power to do this however. My 8n could barely lift the empty scoop out on the boom, but my Ford 2000, with some front suitcase weights, could easily lift a heaping scoop. When using the pond scoop in the reverse position, you need a low gear and stabilizers on your lower links to keep them from bending. Again, the 8n was no good for this with reverse = 3rd gear, but the 2000 in low range reverse was perfect. The pond scoop also worked good for transplanting trees, just dig a hole with it, then go scoop the tree, wrapping a chain around the trunk as you lift, and move it to the hole.

 

[TigerfaninAR]

Went and talked to the gentleman who had it and brought it home.

Looking forward to trying it out, that's when it dries out a little.

My wife gave me a look when I pulled up with it. Told her I only needed a brush cutter when I bought the tractor. Now have a box blade, the cutter, a finish mower, and now a dirt scoop.

 

[600rider]

about 20 years ago I was barrowing my neighbors rear scoop quite a bit so I decided I needed one and built on my self. I never used it pulling it so mine is sbuilt to push into a pile and drive away. I have used it for a lonng time now and still do use it on ocassion. I didnt have the $$$$ for a fell when I built it and still don't so as someone else said it is a "poor mans loader" and for all I have invested it is well worth the money! It has out lived 2 tractors and is being used with the 3rd when I built it I painted it blue to match the tractor I had have had 2 blue ones and now I use it on an Orange one......I need to get that thing repainted!

 

[Taylortractornut]

Go to the Miskin scraper website and look at the first one they made building the levee at Shreeveport lol. My father said they used to get 2 tractors with scoops to build smller ponds for live stock. The man that builds our dumpsters has a 3020 JD. He built a pondscoop about 36 inches wide and 12 inches tal land about 36 long. When working in the shop if he got tired or bored he would get on the tractor and dig. He built about a 1/2 acre pond pretty deep.

 

[Dargo]

At the end of the day YOU couldn't get the scoop to function to your satisfaction. Therefore, you now claim that it is impossible for it to have worked for anyone else and they are making up tall tales about digging with them. Seems to be an ego issue to me that you had trouble with it.

Apparently the difference is that my time is worth money. I'm not retired, bored and looking for something to do with my time. My time is worth far more than wasting it scratching a little dirt with a little scoop. The only "ego" issue is tall tales of digging "multi-acre" ponds with the wrong tool.

 

[wolc123]

A dirt scoop is a good choice for folks who are not fortunate enough to afford a 4wd tractor with a front loader, and would serve them better, in many cases, than a front loader on a 2wd, non-power steering tractor. There is no doubt that a 4wd, power steeing front loader is a far more effective tool, but not everyone can swing one of those these days. To belittle those that cant is kind of sad.

 

[6011Artist]

Dargo, I am going to have to join the rest of these guys and say it is not a lie that many ponds were dug with them. I have a 1957 Ferguson and scoop that built a pond way back in the 50's, have fished in that pond many times, it is plenty deep and about 2 acres.

Years ago the farmers would dig ponds in the off season. Labor was cheap and their help needed to make 40 hrs. Yes it was slow, not as productive as more modern equipment, but it did happen.

I used it to bury a horse 2 months ago. Yes, a front end loader or backhoe would have been faster. But the scoop was free years ago and it got the job done. Took 4 hrs total to dig and cover back up. And I dug it 6 ft deep. Had to dig a lot bigger hole than needed, but it worked, didn't cost me 200.00 for a backhoe either. So, 200.00 divided by 4 hrs, I figure I was making 50.00 an hour to do it the old timey way. After 4 hrs of degrading poor mans loader operating, I still had my 200.00 in my back pocket and a horse 6' under. Used a scrape blade to fill in the hole and a boxblade to landscape it smooth.

My first attemp to really dig anything was not as fast. I figured if the old guys could dig a pond with it, I could dig a hole to push in an old burnpile on a piece of property I bought next door. It took some trial and error but I figured it out.

I try to keep a load of sand, a load of sandclay and several loads of topsoil in the back of my property to use when and where needed. I use the scoop to move it wherever I need to fill in a low spot or build up a place before building a shelter or such. Works great AFTER you get the hang of it. Like anything else, you got to learn the tool and how to use it.

 

[crusty 1]

I must add that I've seen ponds[not large] dug with a slip scoop and they do work.If they didn't work I suspect the many companies that make them wouldn't continue to make a product that didn,t sell because they don't workDave

 

[J_J]

A pond 208 x 208, or 1 acre, at 6 ft deep, contains about 259584 cu ft of dirt, or 9614.22 cu yds. Using a 1 yd scoop, at 1 scoop every 15 min, 4 yds per hour, 8 hr day, = 32yds per day. This operation will take about 300 days to complete.

 

[3gun]

A pond 208 x 208, or 1 acre, at 6 ft deep, contains about 259584 cu ft of dirt, or 9614.22 cu yds. Using a 1 yd scoop, at 1 scoop every 15 min, 4 yds per hour, 8 hr day, = 32yds per day. This operation will take about 300 days to complete.

4 scoops an hour? I can scoop about once every five minutes, but I have near ideal soil and dumped the dirt close by.

Keeping in mind the type of dirt you have will play a big part in how fast you can dig.

I am in central Florida, black sandy soil with no rocks or clay that is always a little damp.
I can fill my scoop with out even slowing down, in third or fourth gear low. To dump I stop, tap the front edge on the ground and drive forward dumping as I go.

I dug a 100 foot round pond about 5 foot deep, a few hours after work, in a few weeks, spread out the dirt on about a half acre around the pond.

 

[J_J]

Those were some figures for thought. Not written in stone, but 12 scoops per hour, and 96 scoops per 8 hr day, It will take about 100 days. Those scoops will not hold a cu yd. So all this is for reference only. I agree that a large pond can be dug, but it is not going to be done in a few days.

298 ft X 208 ft X 6 ft - 259584 cu ft, or 9,614 cu yds

 

[3gun]

The other two ponds were dug with a old drag line and are about 20 feet deep.

 

[3gun]

I agree that a large pond can be dug, but it is not going to be done in a few days.

I agree J. J.; a one acre pond would be big, long very ambitious project with a pond scoop.

But if you have more time then money the scoop can dig a small pond in a reasonable amount of time. About 1/4-1/2 acre, 8 foot at its deepest point with gently sloping sides is about all I would be willing to tackle, working part time it would take a few months at most.

 

[Dargo]

I agree J. J.; a one acre pond would be big, long very ambitious project with a pond scoop.

But if you have more time then money the scoop can dig a small pond in a reasonable amount of time. About 1/4-1/2 acre, 8 foot at its deepest point with gently sloping sides is about all I would be willing to tackle, working part time it would take a few months at most.

An ideal place for a reasonable sized pond (> acre) would be on heavy clay soil with a lot of run off and a reasonable water table. Once you're deeper than about 5', you spend about 10X the time getting in and out with your scoop. As I said, been there, done that. Your time frame is not linear. Even with a pump, pumping out ground water, you'd get stuck plenty of times with a 2wd tractor. Again, more time and trouble.

As I said, I have more things in life to do than spending years of what little time I have on this earth digging a hole that will be relatively small and shallow. Here is my idea of equipment needed to build a decent pond.

 

[Vitster]

Anyone use one? I don't have a FEL and thought this might be handy in moving some firewood and obviously moving some dirt.

I wouldn't go buy one new but saw one for sale just up the road for me and sure I can get it for a good price, just wonder what other things it can be used for if any? I had some topsoil delivered and sure it could help in placing some of it but if doesn't have much use after that I don't want another implement sitting there that will hardly be used.

I have one that I used with my B7100 because I did not have a FEL to move dirt. I now have a B2920 with FEL, and I am debating if I really want to sell that scoop. Although I have a 4' box blade too the scoop works great as a floating leveler for dirt. Just back into your dirt pile, lift and go. I can drop loads of dirt in low spots and just drag the scoop around with the butt end working as a floating grader. Also because of it's rounded sides you can turn as much as you want with it dragging and it swings easily without any hanging up or drag. It also can work as an additional materials carrier as others pointed out. I didn't pay a lot for it about 8 years ago at TSC, and I'm inclined to keep it. It works pretty neat when you have it set up properly with a trip lever to dump. To reset the trip just bump the bucket back down on the ground, it latches, and it's ready to scoop again. Really handy 3 pt. tool.

 

[TigerfaninAR]

Just back into your dirt pile, lift and go. I can drop loads of dirt in low spots and just drag the scoop around with the butt end working as a floating grader. Also because of it's rounded sides you can turn as much as you want with it dragging and it swings easily without any hanging up or drag. It also can work as an additional materials carrier as others pointed out. I

Had 2 12 yard dump truck loads of topsoil delivered and the scoop made quick work of it. Thought I would make a bunch of small piles and then come back with the boxblade but I was pleasantly surprised I got most of the dirt spread beforehand. Did put the boxblade on for the final grade but I was impessed with the scoop. With no FEL, this should have been my first purchase. Did have a few times where I wished I had more weight on the front..

 

[djradz]

Those were some figures for thought. Not written in stone, but 12 scoops per hour, and 96 scoops per 8 hr day, It will take about 100 days. Those scoops will not hold a cu yd. So all this is for reference only. I agree that a large pond can be dug, but it is not going to be done in a few days.

298 ft X 208 ft X 6 ft - 259584 cu ft, or 9,614 cu yds

This assumes the whole pond is dug to a level of 6 feet (straight shear-cliff sides), or that 6 feet is the average. I doubt either is correct. Typical deepest part might be 10 to 12 feet, but even at that the average is only something much less. The smaller the pond, the more likely the average is closer to 1/3 of what you've calculated above.

 

[J_J]

Again, those figures were used to show the volume. You could do the math to dig the center to 15 ft or whatever, and taper to the sides. There is a certain number that will come up to equal the same volume. After looking at a lot of scoops, my observations are, that the scoop could only remove about a 1/3 ed yd of dirt in every operation, that is with a scoop of 36 in wide, and sides of 12 in. So the time to remove the dirt would be longer.