Pictures of TopSoil Screener

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Folks,
I thought I would just start a new thread with the pictures rather than put them at the end of a thread dedicated to the motor issue.

The motor I am currently using is the largest Air vibratory motor I could drive (VIBCO 55-2). This was just the easiest thing to do quickly since I got it from Grainger.

I have a series of pictures here. In short it works pretty well. I dont even know if I need the motor at all. I am dropping the load from 10 feet onto the screen does most of the work. The Vibco does do a bit (and is loud as heck).

Picture #1 the screen

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Picture #2 - closeup of the screen (approx dimension 6' x 8')

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Screen mounted in frame: Built out of 6x6s 8 feet high. You can see the leavin's as well.

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Picture of the output end

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

A side view of the results of a couple of loads. To give you a sense the 2x6 crossmember is 3.5 feet off the ground

The screen is made from 9 gauge mini mesh chain link fencing. Ran about $80.

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Here is the loading end. You can see the Vibco motor at the top of the screen. You can see the beginnings of my quick-tach plate so that I can move it more easily. The cross member is a 6x6. I also welded up 15" L brackets at either end out of 1/2 inch steel and lag bolted everything.

In addition to finishing the quick-tach plate, I need to mount the winch on the output end. I picked up a cheap 2,000 lb utility winch from Harbor freight that runs off DC. I am going to mount a battery box and then mount the winch controls on the side to raise the low end of the screen to get to the topsoil. It is wide enough that I can drive in and get the goodies.

The screen as it is built and suspended has no problem with me dropping as large a load as I can get over the 8' high entrance. (17LA loader).

Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions. I still might go with some type of motor device.

The other idea I had was to replace the chains that suspend it with heavy springs and let the weight of the load as I drop it bounce it a bit more.
Larry

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Larry, I spent the last week or so digging, and then refilling an area behind a retaining wall, and the soil I have has a high clay content. Unfortunately as I was working we had a lot of rain. When the rain stopped I ended up with clumps and chunks that were hard as rocks and ranged in size from baseballs to basketball size. I've been out each night with a box blade on one tractor and a tiller on another going back and forth time after time to get the soil broken down enough to let it settle into place. Your soil screener would have probably taken me as long, but certainly would have done a better job! Nice work.

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Bob,
I am also in the process of building a retaining wall and have the same clay issue you do. My wall is about 70 feet long, and 6-8 feet high. I am building it from 6x6 posts (seems to be my favorite these days), and 2x10s. I have put in 5 posts so far. I intend to tack the 2x10s in behind the posts, and then ..... just because I dont ever want the thing going over (given the height), I am running rebar through the top of the post (1 foot down from the top) and then running it to a deadman I am anchoring 12 feet behind the post. Do you have similar issues?
Clay is a bear and slippery when wet! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[theonlybull]

we have a small screener that we use with our skid steer, and to viberate, we simply "bump" it with the bucket a few times, and it seems to work.... not a high production rig, but great for the odd half ton truck load of top soil.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Larry, fortunately for me, my retaining wall was only about 4' high and runs about 50' to 60' long. My swimming pool is dug into the side of a hill near the hills base and when it was put in (1998) a retaining wall was inproperly built along one side of the pool about 6 out from the pool wall so there would be an access tunnel along the side of the pool to get to the hoses that run under the solar collector decking that completely encircles the pool. All the mechanicals are also underground. It is an unusual set up to say the least. Anyway, the retaining wall was improperly installed the hill was eroding and filling the access tunnel where the wall had gaps. I ended up renting a track hoe 2 weekends ago and digging out a 4' deep, 4' to 6' wide and 40' foot long trench on the uphill side of the original retaining wall. I then built a new retaining wall using p.t. lumber on the outside of the old wall, so the old wall is still in place, under the solar collectors, the new wall is parallel to the original wall, but is actually built properly. (by the way, I did not build the original wall).

Now my job is to level off and compact the fill that I dug out. A new patio will be placed between the pool and the limestone staircase that we have coming down the hill. I'm still unsure what the patio material will be. I'd like concrete for ease of use, but I don't much like the looks of it. Stamped concrete is also possible. My wife would like flagstone but I don't like that fact that it is often a little to rough for my tender and delicate feet /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Actually I was thinking about how much work it would be to PROPERLY put in a flagstone patio, which would need a crushed rock base topped with sand then topped with the flagstones. But I will admit, it sure would look nice to have the flagstone patio in place. I guess I'll be going calling for a load of sand and crush limestone to be delivered /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif The lovely Mrs_Bob is still visiting the in-laws for another 10 days, I suppose I would have time to build it out of flagstone.