Dirt Scoop

[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.