Instant Pond

[bindian]

Finally back at it. The ducks have taken over my small pond. Here's a shot of one landing.

I took down the fence behind the dam. It was easy as I used steel posts. Guess I knew in the back of my head this fence was temporary.

I then built up a ramp on the back of the dam. It is only temporary for dump truck access. It just has 6 inch PVC pipe for drainage.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Friday, I knocked down the top crown of the dam so the dump truck has a flat surface to load on. I then started taking out the end of the dam down to the water line.

This stake by Fritz is my full water line. This is where I'll take the CAT down into the pond's basin.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I finally got CAT down into the basin. I'm getting a lot of red clay here. I'll be saving it to line the pond where I'm finding water seeping into the pond.
I am piling dam spoils in the background here.
I'm building it up back there to match my neighbors property, where he raised it two feet. This will keep the overflowing gully away from the dam, when I move it. Yes, I will be moving half of the dam to take in all water running behind the dam now.

I made mud mats out of treated 10 foot 2x10s. I nailed two 2x6s to each 2x10. So far they are doing the job keeping the CAT out of the wet sand that silted in. But they are HEAVY. I really need a thumb on the CAT if nothing else than to position and remove the mud mats.
hugs, Brandi

 

[EddieWalker]

You sure are getting a lot of hours in on that excavator. It sure makes me wish I had one!!!

 

[Gary Fowler]

Great job so far. If I had that excavator, I am afraid that my whole 11 acres would be a big hole. I love working the dirt to make a pond but having to clean out one of the ponds got expensive when hiring out a big excavator with dump truck to haul the spoils. At least we got the dam raised about 2 feet all the way around by using the spoils PLUS decrease the slope on the downhill side of the dams so they can be mowed easily now.

 

[bindian]

You sure are getting a lot of hours in on that excavator. It sure makes me wish I had one!!!

Eddie,
I am getting close to 100 hours on it. No engine oil added during this time. I do know it has lots of time idling, while I go dump spoils or clean the loading area with the tractor. Even taking water breaks.

Now I see how excavators run up high hours faster than anything else. I run it wide open while working it. Which I feel is less than 2500 rpm. So it drinks more diesel than the Mahindra, even with a handful of less horsepower.

Nothing leaking but a little seepage from the boom and stick cylinder. I love it.

I do wish more glass in the cab opened up. I am gonna replace the back glass and make it where it will open somehow. With the door open, the windshield pushed up overhead, and the right sliding window half way open, it still gets warm in there.

I still need to replace the glass below the windshield. It is acrylic and glazed over. I have felt like kicking it out once. Since it angles back and down, I think rain won't get in. Won't know until I take it out.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Great job so far. If I had that excavator, I am afraid that my whole 11 acres would be a big hole. I love working the dirt to make a pond but having to clean out one of the ponds got expensive when hiring out a big excavator with dump truck to haul the spoils. At least we got the dam raised about 2 feet all the way around by using the spoils PLUS decrease the slope on the downhill side of the dams so they can be mowed easily now.

Thanks Gary! One thing I am shooting for is slopes low enough to mow with my zero turn mower. I love digging. It's just everything else that wears me out. Lots of wear and tear climbing in and out of machines to do everything. Eddie knows!

The bigger the Excavator, the more everything costs. Just another reason I bought a midi ex. Just small enough to haul with my one ton and trailer. Even stuff on my CAT is massive. I hear you about putting all acreage in ponds. It can be addictive. That's one of the reasons I'll be buying more property near retirement. More ponds!

I truly enjoy watching the ducks fly between the two ponds. I have one goofy drake, that flies into the fence by the driveway.:shocked: He has even flown into my friend.:thumbsup: Hit him in the head! If you haven't, enlarge the pond photo in post post #321. It has a good shot of a duck just flaring out for a water landing.

hugs, Brandi

 

[Redlands Okie]

Been watching your post for some time. Mighty nice

 

[bindian]

Been watching your post for some time. Mighty nice

RL Okie,
Thanks! Are you north or south of OK City?
hugs, Brandi

 

[mark02tj]

You sure are getting a lot of hours in on that excavator. It sure makes me wish I had one!!!

Willis, TX is only about 150 miles from Tyler, TX, right? I'm sure that Brandi wouldn't mind putting a few highway miles on that excavator! :laughing:

Brandi - you NEVER cease to amaze me with your projects!! You have a great place and just keep making it better! :thumbsup: :us-texas: