Field stone removal- Austin TX

[bcarwell]

I've seen plenty of posts on York rakes with and without wheels, scarifiers, tooth bars and on and on. But I STILL don't know what the best approach is to my particular problem, what to buy, and would appreciate advice.

I have about 20 acres north of Austin and a Kubota 23HP 7500 with FEL and boxblade with adjustable teeth. I want to make pasture out of alot of the land. Currently its got LOTS of what I've heard described as "field stone"- limestone probably or Austin chalk, scattered on the surface- some places very densely, others not so bad. The stones range in size from 2-3 inches to 1 foot or so. There are bigger ones, some 2 feet or more with just the surface exposed, and those I KNOW I will be digging out one at a time with my FEL and loading onto a trailer. Its the rest of them I want to efficiently get out of the soil so I can plow that are the problem.

I can dig into the dirt with little problem, having made post holes with my posthole digger (unless I hit the rock) and a 1 ft. trench with a subsoiler with relative ease.

The problem though is how do I collect all those 2 inch to 1 foot rocks- mostly on the surface, though I'm sure more will turn up just under the surface if I ran my box blade with teeth over it ?

I have a neighbor with similar rocks who has a small CAT1 landscape or "York" type rake next door that would fit on my Kubota, but he says it doesn't work so hot, though I haven't determined why yet or what he means. I was going to buy one but with his bigger tractor if he says it doesn't work so hot, then I'd expect with my 23HP Kubota I may be disappointed too. He could possibly not be using it right though or in the right sequence with other things. I hope to find out.

There are so many rocks that even if I can dislodge them with the boxblade and teeth and get them in a line maybe with an angled landscape rake, how do I pick them up ? Loading by hand is out of the question.

What are the steps needed and equipment ? Is it hopeless using just a 23HP tractor (I'm pretty patient if multiple passes are needed and can tackle small sections at a time over a year or two). Would just running down the line formed by a landscape rake with my FEL do it ? Or do I need some sort of grappler to push them into the FEL ? Should I first run over the whole area with my box blade with teeth to loosen everything up so a landscape rake works better ? Or should I get a high quality small York rake with scarifier ? Or should I get a teeth bar for my FEL ? Will just boxblading and landscape raking and loading with FEL remove too much soil ? Or perhaps should I take up crocheting ?

Thanks for any advice. I'll try to get some pictures so you can see what I'm talking about, especially in the worst areas where the stones are everywhere...

Bob

 

[BTDT]

The times I've been down through the area, it seems that just looking off the side of the road into the fields rocks appeared to be everywhere. The equipment co. I used to work for had an office/shop in Buda, just south of Austin. As you know, they have a lot of quarries around there, and that tells me that your topsoil is going to be pretty shallow. I would just start with a small area, get it cleaned up, and then expand from there. Maybe hire someone with a dozer and scarifiers to come in and rip it up good for you, then concentrate on removing the rocks. Might be cheaper to put up sign "clean fill dirt wanted", and start from there.

 

[weldingisfun]

My place is 60 miles north of Austin. The description of your place sounds much like mine, just add cedars and junipers.

The few areas I could use as pasture are relatively small (2-3 acres) but I did what you described. Angle the landscape rake and create rows of rocks then go back and pick them up with the FEL. I have lots of small depressions around and just deposit the rocks in them to cover later with fill dirt.

I don't plan on planting anything because my topsoil is only 1 to 2 inches. I tell folks that I grow the best rocks in Central Texas and every rain, when we get it, I get a new crop. After this week, I'll go out and inspect my new rock crop.

If the rocks on your place are flat on the top and bottom, you have a cash crop, contact the landscapers. Unfortunately, 90% of the rocks up here are rounded on the bottom. The tops are flat as a billiard table.

Good luck getting the big ones out. Be sure you have a stout steel bar. The FEL may or may not lift them. I've lifted a few that caused my 42 HP tractor to groan in protest. You better plan on just pushing that kind out of the way when you come across them.

 

[kossetx]

I can't tell you how to get rid of them but I'd sure like some 1' rocks. Any chance you'd let me pic some? I'm 40 miles east of WIF so probablt 100 miles north of Austin. Here in Falls county we about have no rocks. Petrified wood is more common than a decent size rock.

 

[AndyMA]

In my opinion, York rakes are not very effective at collecting rocks without also moving a large amount of soil. The most effective way I know to separate them out is to use a Harley rake.

Andy

 

[flINTLOCK]

How large a rock will the Harley handle?? They make rock buckets that are supposedly suited to your purpose. What about a rock-hound rental??

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

There are no easy answers. In the old days, folks would pick up flat rocks and stack them to make fences. There are many fences still standing north of Austin. Talk about sweat equity.... How many kids do you have? Pay em' by the wheelbarrow full?

I don't know how long you've lived around there (I just moved from Cedar Park after 10 years and hanging out on Lake Travis' north shore since the 70's) but here's how I've heard the locals phrase it. "Most pastures can handle 1 to 3 cows per 5 acres but around here its 1 to 3 goats per 5 acres." On average, the topsoil ranges from 0-6" there are exceptions.

I would say the absolute easiest way for sure would be to sell that land and buy some about 20 miles east or more.

(Land north of Austin is worth a fortune folks!)

 

[SnoFalls]

Sounds to me like you need a "rock skimmer"

I can;t find a pik of one so I'll describe best I can ...

Effectively its a 6' x 6' box where the box is filled with expanded metal. The front edge of the box has a lip attached to the expanded metal with scarifiers that penetrate into the soil about 2-4", the rear of the box has the expanded metal about 8" or so off the ground.

The entire box is then just drug across the surface (it's built to surface float), the scarifiers dig in to dislodge the stones, they then flow into the box where excess soil drops throug and the rocks stay on top of the expanded metal.

Could be a bit spendy to build (with the cost of steel and all), plus dunno how much you need to do.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Couldn't you do a similar thing with a box blade if you reverse the tines so that they ride on the ground rather than dig into it. Surface rocks would be collected in the box as you travel.

 

[JBX]

Hi bcarwell,
The "rock skimmer" idea sounds like it might work.

Might have to be no more than 4' wide, maybe less, to handle digging down into rocky soil.

My home is in Buda (S. Austin) and I know the kind of ground you have.

One option may be- don't sweat the small rocks.

Another idea is to use your box blade with the rippers down all the way and have at it. Loosen up the ground a little at a time, clean out the bigger rocks, level it and move on to the next portion.

Another idea is to fabricate a "bucket fork". Using long tines (24" or 36" X 2") of plate steel or just heavy rebar rod with the tines spaced a couple inches apart or as needed.
Weld the tines onto the bar at right angles so that it looks like a big straight salad fork.
Bolt that assembly to the lip of your bucket.
When the ground is loosened up, drive your tractor with the tines digging just under the loose surface, catching and pushing the bigger rocks into the bucket where they can be dumped elsewhere.
That's the theory anyway.

Might also check out the equipment used to clean beaches (Gulf Coast). They have machines that are self propelled or tractor pulled that use a similar method to sift through sand to get the trash out.

Good luck.

 

[DDT]

This is what I use for rock removeale. It does not hold the tiny ones but 3" and up are history.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/49128-root-rock-bucket.html

 

[bcarwell]

Thanks all. You guys are reading my mind (After pricing "real" rock buckets and realizing I'd have to take my FEL bucket off even to use it, I just appended elsewhere about whether anyone had seen a "rockbar" style toothbar to clamp on a FEL bucket wherein the teeth are longer and closer together.

DDT's masterfull efforts convinces me this is the way to go. (BTW, DDT, love your grapple bucket too. I will have to hear about more construction details or perhaps you have a thread on it). Also, DDT, what is the exact Model of your wire welder ? I am just finishing 220VAC to the shed, and next purchase is a welder big enough to do these kinds of fab projects. I had worried that wire welders (and MIG for that matter) give beautiful welds but might not give strong enough welds for steel of 1/4 in or bigger for these type fab projects without multiple passes.

Thanks again to all for your creativity and expertise. I'm takin' it to the bank...

I now know the origins of the song "Rocktop"...

Farmer Bob

 

[DDT]

I use a 250amp mig welder, very rare to use the arc. welds hold fine. I am happy to help.

 

[N80]

Couldn't you do a similar thing with a box blade if you reverse the tines so that they ride on the ground rather than dig into it. Surface rocks would be collected in the box as you travel.

In my experience, if the BB is heavy enough to keep the rocks in the box, it is also digging up a lot of soil, even with the teeth backwards or even off. If it is not heavy enough the rocks roll out underneath it.

DDT, nice work on the rock bucket! That is precisely what I need but can't afford it. Right now the free child labor is all I can afford. Of course, the rock bucket isn't going to want to go to college in a few years either.

 

[Donman]

Below is the advertising language for the Bobcat Landscape Rake. You can most likely rent one of these but I doubt if it will work on large rocks near the surface.



MED-RES QT


LANDSCAPE RAKE
Grade, level and scarify in close quarters. Break up lumpy soil and pick up rocks as small as 3/4 inch. Use it for ground preparation, for seeding, sodding, and lawn leveling-one pass coverage.



Picks up rocks down to 3/4 in. (19 mm) and larger, and most 1/2" rocks.

Hydraulic cylinder opens top cover - for easier dumping, and also allows the bucket and cutting edge to be used to push and scrape debris.

Rake bars provide better leveling by providing longer ground contact.

Hardened teeth for longer wear.

Side skis, which are adjustable, provide depth control and leave only a slight "knife-edge" mark in the finished surface.

 

[BTDT]

I posted this in a couple other threads, but you may be interested as well if you haven't seen it.

Iowa Farm Equipment

 

[rox]

Why is pickign them up by hand out of the question? 20 acres is not all that much. If you think of a 1 acres homesite, could you do that by hand? seems to me if you have some method to turn over the soil, the best probably is jsut pickign them out by hand. Think of it as a long term project instead of "I want to get this done in a month" I spend a lot of time picking rocks by hand and really it goes pretty fast. The worst is to start, like anything else the hardest step is the first step. Best to work with 2 people though, the work always goes faster/easier/more pleasent with 2. Basically if you work with two people, very slow on moist soil to turn it over in some way, hand picking rocks is not all that bad. I would rather pick rocks than pick weeds!

 

[N80]

That's what I've been doing for the last year. Rocks are football size or less. Its a pain, but it gets done. Kids help. Problem is that in my little fields there seems to be no end to the rocks. Every pass with the scarifiers brings up a new crop. so the job never really ends.

 

[czechsonofagun]

The problem though is how do I collect all those 2 inch to 1 foot rocks- mostly on the surface, though I'm sure more will turn up just under the surface if I ran my box blade with teeth over it ?
Bob

Did you ever see potato harvester? It pretty much does what you need, IMHO

Imageotato harvester 20041012 2605.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

I do not have the rock experience of ya'll but being the loftness man I am I have seen them advertise a rock bucket like most of you describe with a rotating gate on the front to flip the rocks into the bucket. It's on the Skid steer attachment manufacturer Minnesota, Loftness forestry products MN web site. Someone with a rock problem take a look and tell me what you think. It looks pretty handy on the web site. Anyway Robbie