One Big Scoop (Thks to Harv and others)

[Carl_NH]

Here are several shots of the big scoop I made thanks to Harv's post One Large Scoop Please, and other comments and feedback from that post.

Essentially this is 2" angle iron with 3/4" plywood base. The 1/2" pins with quick clips go through the angle iron and bucket sides. The 5/8" plywood sides slip in the slot on the deck and into the back of the bucket with a slight pressure fit.
Then the back sheet slides in and over the back edge of the bucket locking the sides tight to the bucket and holding the side from slipping off.

I made this for leaves and wood, but tried it on wet compost, and the trick is to fill up the front, tilt it back then go in for another scoop. I have loaded this more than 1/2 full with compost and no problem with flexing etc..

I had hinges but wanted this to be "no tools" so decided for the slip fit approach. BTW the holes in the back allow one to see the bucket edge w/o standing up..

This is 4' deep, 4' 6" W x 22" High front and 34" high in the rear. I calculate about 50 Cu Ft total.

Carl

 

[Carl_NH]

Here's a shot with the sides and back removed. Good for limbs, and other big stuff. Also makes a good workbench when resting the bucket on a sawhorse or stump etc..

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Wow! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[B7500]

Great idea and a nice job!
I'll order one in Kubota orange please.
-T

 

[Carl_NH]

T,

This was a low budget project as there was no leftover orange at the local HD so I got a quart of premixed on the leftover shelf with some more black added.

Rusted Angle Iron - Free from a local shop
3/4 Plywood Blem HD $.91
5/8 Plywood Blem HD $.91
1 Qt Paint Leftover HD $1.66
Labor $.02
Total Cost $3.50
Cost of researching TBN archives not included /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[dourobob]

Looked at the picture and just repeated WOWWOWWOW.

Great job.

Bob

 

[Mosey]

Carl_NH - "3/4 Plywood Blem HD $.91"

I assume "Blem" is blemished. What exactly is the condition of this type of plywood? What is "HD"? How hard is this to find?

 

[B7500]

Gee, expensive huh??
Really nice work. I wish I were so talented.

 

[Carl_NH]

HD = Home Depot - they have these blems usually with a corner nicked or edges mangled by the fork truck. They mark them cull and they have 4 grades of cull from $2 to $.31

You will find it at any lumber yard if you look around. You can also check the stacks of material and "find" a damaged one and they will mark it cull usually.

Carl

 

[Harv]

EXCELLENT!!! OUTSTANDING!!! WAY TO GO, CARL!!!

This was the year I was gong to replace my <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/5-63500-HarvScoop1.jpg>wimpy prototype</A> with the "real thing", but life just got in the way of any such projects. Glad to see you followed through, and in great style I might add.

What really burnt my cookies this year was that I couldn't even use the ol' prototype <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/5-63503-HarvScoop2.jpg>as I did last year</A>. My (now former) caretaker needed a piece of plywood to patch the dog fence, so she ripped one of the sides off of my scoop. "Didn't think it was anything important."

My new caretaker is much more savvy about such things.

Can't wait to see some action shots with your mondo scoop all filled up with brush, weeds, compost, $20 bills, etc.