Land clearing progress and next step advise

[BlackstoneFarmSouth]

So no luck finding the old two bottom plow this weekend but I did throw the disk on to see what I could accomplish with just that. I was surprised how well it actually did. I found that after a couple passes it loosened the ground up enough that the grapple could tear out the thick patches it couldn稚 before disking. It痴 going to be a long process but I enjoy the time I spend on the tractor anyways so I知 looking forward to it.

If anyone is interested I started a youtube channel a couple months back to document the process. Just search Blackstone Farm South and you should see it.

 

[airbiscuit]

Chisel Plow

 

[deezler]

Yeah why use a conventional moldboard plow, when all you actually need is to get rippers into the ground? No need to turn all the topsoil over, IMO. A stronger box blade would have rippers that don't bend....

 

[Ortimber]

I'd also stay away from a conventional plow. I think you'd hang that thing up on roots and get really frustrated.

 

[jeff9366]

Yeah why use a conventional moldboard plow, when all you actually need is to get rippers into the ground? No need to turn all the topsoil over, IMO. A stronger box blade would have rippers that don't bend....

Box Blade rippers are never very strong. Replaceable rippers are engingeered as individual fail-safe points before too much force can be applied to the Three Point Hitch tower on the Box Blade.

The Field Cultivator in Post #12 is much better for removing roots. However as a leveling rake, the OP's primary objective, a Field Cultivator is not much. A Field Cultivator will drag out roots to 12" deep, 14" under ideal conditions. A Box Blade behind a compact tractor will drag out roots to 5", 6" depth under ideal conditions.

So my father-in-law gave my wife and I about 8 acres as a future house site and this past august I bought a Kubota MX5400 to start clearing it with hopes to build a house. It actually has a natural slope to a Ditch so I don't need to shape/contour the land as much as just smooth it out.

I own both a Field Cultivator and a heavy duty Rollover Box Blade weighing 620 pounds in 60" width. I have broken rippers on the Box Blade.
I have never broken a coil spring protected shank on the Field Cultivator.

 

[Egon]

It all kinda depends on the size of the tractor. Rippers will work but they also require more HP and will have a tendency to clog up with roots. They use brute force to pull out roots and stumps. The plow cuts out a strip and turns it over. Follow up with a disk to break it all up and cut the roots into smaller chunks.

If enough HP is available a breaking disk would be the best choice.

A few pictures of breaking equipment.


A couple of plow’s for standard field cultivation.

 

[airbiscuit]

There's a big difference between a field cultivator and a CHISEL PLOW.

 

[airbiscuit]

A heavy Bog Disc would also do the trick.

 

[mark02tj]

If anyone is interested I started a youtube channel a couple months back to document the process. Just search Blackstone Farm South and you should see it.

Several great videos on your site! Definitely worth the trip.

Blackstone Farm South - YouTube