Home-made Sheep's Foot Roller Ideas?

[RanchMan]

Re: Home-made Sheep\'s Foot Roller Ideas?

Thanks for the .02!

<font color=blue>Your roads look fairly riddled with medium and large rocks</font color=blue>

Yea, some sections are ALL rock (some of the pictures above really show the rocky sections). The pictures don't really do it justice because it looks a lot smoother than it really is. Of course, there are the other sections (e.g. the "hilly" areas) that are more of a clay soil. I'll try to take some more pictures (if I can remember) and show the variety of road surfaces.

I like the idea of putting down a "prime" or tar, but the major issue I'd have is that the drainage of my main problem hill/roadway goes straight into my tank. I've never been an environmentalist per se (I like the slogan DuPont developed - "Better life through chemistry"), but I'd be a little worried if the runoff got concentrated into my tank. Maybe I'm just being paranoid...

As far as the wood chips mentioned above, that may be a pretty good alternative. I have a lot of trash-trees to clear. Perhaps I could rent a chipper once I get them down and "roll my own" roadway, so to speak. (Ok, that was bad - but I couldn't resist.../w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif)

Let me ask, is there some type of "soil test" I could do to determine how things would compact on my different road surfaces? (Trying to pull on that Engineering degree again!!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif)

 

[Soundguy]

Re: Home-made Sheep\'s Foot Roller Ideas?

A couple options here. I'm guessing that you are using some sort of spring box, cistern, or collection unit for your drinking water? Anyway. Not a concern.. just wondering.
For direct large area ground contact, I would not reccomend tar. Tar is fine for patches, etc. For large areas.. a bituminous asphalt emulsion ( mixed with water ) we call 'prime'... also called special ms. It hits the ground hot, and eventually becomes more or less environmentally inert. We use it on all of our highways etc... Much less voc's and such than oil, etc.
There are other asphalt paints and sealers that may work.. and they are probably just as safe... ( read your labels to be sure ). Keep in mind that these products are designed to be applied to the earth , and or parking lots, etc.

A culvert pipe under the road at the heaviest area of washover will help this problem. A metal 'squashed' pipe under the road will give the water a diversion that also keeps the water off the roadway, and reduces any contamination that may occour.
Not being a chemical engineer, i can't tell you the exact effects of new asphalt/tar/prime to a water system, but I have done extensive work and study on water distribution systems, and waste and stormwater handling. The best bet is good filtration... and the ground is a great filter. Of course I'm spoiled here in florida... we have 20-40 foot of sand and limerock 'filter' then an aquifer.
By the way, our county classifies asphalt, stone, iron, and asphalt as 'clean fill' and it is okay to bury, and add to a c&d landfill ( construction and demolition ).
Your rules will vary in other counties/states.

Almost forgot to add... your local county agricultural extension office can provide a soil test kit for you.. price is nominal. They will grade / define your soil types, and tell you also what fertalizers you may need, and some even identify the presence of harmfull insect larva etc.

Let me know if I can help more.

Chris

"" like the idea of putting down a "prime" or tar, but the major issue I'd have is that the drainage of my main problem hill/roadway goes straight into my tank. I've never been an environmentalist per se (I like the slogan DuPont developed - "Better life through chemistry"), but I'd be a little worried if the runoff got concentrated into my tank. Maybe I'm just being paranoid...""

As far as the wood chips mentioned above, that may be a pretty good alternative. I have a lot of trash-trees to clear. Perhaps I could rent a chipper once I get them down and "roll my own" roadway, so to speak. (Ok, that was bad - but I couldn't resist...)

Let me ask, is there some type of "soil test" I could do to determine how things would compact on my different road surfaces? (Trying to pull on that Engineering degree again!!! )

 

[RanchMan]

Re: Home-made Sheep\'s Foot Roller Ideas?

Thanks for the info.

Oh, regarding the "tank" -- Here in Texas, a lot of folks generally refer to a "pond" as a "tank" - short for "stock tank", so water for human consumption isn't really the issue. I was just a little concerned about the fishies...

I'll give my extension agent a buzz...

 

[MarkV]

Re: Home-made Sheep\'s Foot Roller Ideas?

Soundguy,
Knowing you are and engineer with a lot of road experience brings a question to mind that you may have the answer to. We have had many discussions about building and maintaining drives and farm roads and they often lead to different types of gravel. It seems that every part of the country has different names for varies sizes of gravel. As an example, you mentioned “57”, which we also use here in Georgia, but from past discussions I know numbers of our friends in other parts of the country have never heard of it. Do you have a source or web site that list the types, sizes and names of gravel?

MarkV

 

[Soundguy]

Re: Home-made Sheep\'s Foot Roller Ideas?

Ah. Down here, we do have a few people that pull off of ponds for water, and also I've seen a few spring box's in the mountains in the georgia area.
I would 'think' that the aquatic life will have more to fear from pesticide runnoff, or fertalizer runnoff. ( as opposed to a comercial grade asphalt patch, or a bituminous emulsion mix )
However deisel fuel or other oil spills would be a concern.

Chris

"Oh, regarding the "tank" -- Here in Texas, a lot of folks generally refer to a "pond" as a "tank" - short for "stock tank", so water for human consumption isn't really the issue. I was just a little concerned about the fishies...
"

 

[Soundguy]

Re: Home-made Sheep\'s Foot Roller Ideas?

Let me take a look in my DOT manual. Also, keep in mind that many stone sizes are ranges, and mixes.. such as 5's and 7's ( 57 stone ).
Pea gravel is also a common monnicker for small homogenous crushed gravel.
I'll get back with you after i look over my DOT manual.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

Re: Home-made Sheep\'s Foot Roller Ideas?

Ok, here are some links... I hope I can get them pasted over correctly.

First, her is the link to the florida dept. ot transportation, there will be a list of manuals to buy.. but some have 'blue' links to free download PDF files. There are some material specification manuals, etc.. may be of some interest to you.. but most of it is good reading material if you have insomnia...

http://ww11.myflorida.com/mapsandpublications/manuals/pub-list.htm

You may also want to try the website for your state's dept. of transportation.... Possibly even your ag. extension agent may be able to help you.

Ok, here are three web sites that have clickable info on gravel sizes. NES&L product, is by far the best, as they have info on 57's, 56's, 8's and 10's, as well as some asphalt materials mix, etc.

http://www.nesl.com/calculator.htm

http://www.orst.edu/instruct/st571/urquhart/phab/tsld010.htm

http://copelandpaving.com/products.html

I appologize.. but I havn't figured out how to post a link yet...

Chris

 

[rdln]

Re: Home-made Sheep\'s Foot Roller Ideas?

MarkV, ErnieB sold materials like that in Texas, he has not posted for 4 months but you might drop him an email and ask what he has been doing. I wonder and sometimes am afraid of the reason why a person would reach 700 posts and then drop of the face of the virtual earth. I can't imagine anybody being bored with TBN/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

 

[MarkV]

Re: Home-made Sheep\'s Foot Roller Ideas?

Chris,
Thanks for the information. One of the nice things here on TBN is you can find an expert on most subjects.

MarkV

 

[MarkV]

Re: Home-made Sheep\'s Foot Roller Ideas?

Steve,
I know what you mean. Several of the people who were here all the time just disappear and it also worries me at times. I like to think they decided using their tractors rather than reading about tractors became a priority. I don’t know what that says about me./w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

I also miss Ernie being around. He always had good information.

MarkV