Getting more use out of your rock bucket

KentT · Mar 25, 2006

Since I now have a grapple bucket, I've found that I haven't used the rock bucket since. In addition, I still want to get the larger, light material bucket (or convince someone to build me a great big red one /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif ) since I'll be moving a lot of mulch and fill dirt.

Meanwhile, the rock bucket sits there, has really no resale value, and I'm looking for other attachments and QA plates... So, what creative uses have you made of your rock bucket?

Some of the things I've thought of are:

1. Cutting it down to make it narrower and making a "grubbing bucket" out of it, since PT apparently isn't interested in making one.... How much modification do you think would be needed??

2. Using it with a pair of clamp-on or bolt-on forks that would normally stay mounted on it...

3. Welding on or clamping on a 2" receiver...

I want to get some usage out of this QA plate that's basically just sitting there...

Any suggestions? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BAGTIC · Mar 26, 2006

I have been considering getting a light materials bucket and retiring the rock bucket. Buying it instead of the LMB was one mistake I made when buying attachments.

I have thought about getting a Kimball Roto-Kut Ultra hole cutting saw and converting the rock bucket into a 'screening' bucket for sifting some on the rock from my garden spot and flower beds.

I was thinking about one inch holes but that would mean I would probably have to do the screening when the dirt was dry and rototilled otherwise I would be removing balls of clay as well as rock?

Does anyone think it will work?

Griff · Apr 28, 2006

I haven't been around the forum for quit a while and was just catching up on the many threads. Some random jumping led me to the following: The Thumb . I also have a rock bucket that doesn't get much use. This might be a way to make a small grapple bucket without requiring too many $$$. Didn't know if you had seen these before or not.

Here is the forum I happened to see it in. Those who have used it seem to like it. Forum Thread . It appears the bigest issue is with aux PTO to drive it. Since PT already has that for the QA, it should be an easy setup.

Not sure how this would compare with the PT Grapple bucket.

DWG

Spiffy · Apr 28, 2006

It'd take a little work and an extra cylinder, but a tilting bucket would be handy. I think that was discussed in another thread before too.

Could extend it in all three directions and use it as a manlift.

A couple bearings, some aerating spoons and a lot of fabrication would make a neat core aerator.

Make it narrower and make the cutting edge a single point (tapered about 20 degrees) for a hard soil bucket.

Tilt it back and fill it with dirt for a portable flower planter. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif