Rock-o-dile Hunter

jinman · Sep 19, 2005

(
Business tips: Charge by the pound. Charge 50% extra for the key hiding compartment. )

Great idea, Bob. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif You wanna be my marketing consultant? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

curt1 · Sep 19, 2005

If you can find a roll of seat belt strapping, it works great for strapping rocks. Should be fairly cheap too.

Curt

Farwell · Sep 19, 2005

Jim,
Give pallets a thought. As you dig them out put them on a pallet. Don't recall if you have pallet forks, if you do, once you get the rocks on the pallet they would be much easier to handle. Not sure how you would strap the rocks to the pallet. In many areas pallets are free for the asking.
Farwell

hobbyfarm · Sep 19, 2005

( Not sure how you would strap the rocks to the pallet. )

Steel bands like they pack lumber or other bulk products. The pallets are a great idea though.

SkogenMe · Sep 19, 2005

Jinman
Living next to the Granite State with the Old Man of the Mountain (past tense) in the side of granite face, I was sure I knew what was hiding ....Rocko....sunning himself (see attached)...ah well guess I wouldn't be very good looking for hidden treasure.

gotrocks · Sep 19, 2005

Jim, those are beautiful rocks.
I love big rocks and trees.
My son helped me make a "industrial strength" brick tong appartus. We used some 2" channel and drilled a series of holes for a bolt to adjust the length to match the size of rock. Just slip over the rock hook the chain to a bucket tooth and lift. The contact arms are covered with a couple pieces of old tire tread.
Works great unless the rocks have a lot of mud, then it does have tendacy to slip.

Be carefull making the final adjustment when placing, I just got a hernia repaired on my birthday. (Maybe that's not so bad for 73 years)

Like others have stated they get big bucks around here for rocks as good looking as yours.

Slamfire · Sep 19, 2005

If you find another like that, I need a foundation for a carport! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I could even use the hidden compartment for a sump pump. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jinman · Sep 20, 2005

( Jinman
Living next to the Granite State with the Old Man of the Mountain (past tense) in the side of granite face, I was sure I knew what was hiding ....Rocko....sunning himself (see attached)...ah well guess I wouldn't be very good looking for hidden treasure.
)

How funny you should post here. My wife was just up in Boothbay Harbor for a wedding this past weekend. She was telling me about all the rocks she saw while driving. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

If my rock reminded you of "Rocko," then the attached picture might be more appropriate. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

jinman · Sep 20, 2005

( My son helped me make a "industrial strength" brick tong appartus. We used some 2" channel and drilled a series of holes for a bolt to adjust the length to match the size of rock. )

Norris, I think I know what you are describing and I need to make something similar. Ideally it would be something that one person could easily handle. I like the idea of using nylon straps like Curt1 suggested and strapping the rocks to pallets like Farwell and Hobbyfarm described. There is a local guy who sells rocks on pallets out in front of his antique shop. Somebody stopped about a year ago and paid him $1000 for a big rock on a pallet and then went away and never came back to get the rock. Go figure. . . /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Anyhow, I was thinking of something like a cargo net that I could wrap around the rock and then attach links under the sides and bottom of the rock to hold the net together so the rock wouldn't slip out. I tried making a crisscrossed chain saddle like the attachment, but the chain chipped the rock where it made contact. These rocks are heavy, but pretty fragile.

BigDogues · Sep 20, 2005

Do a "google" search for "Basket Strap" I think that's just what your looking for.

kozak · Sep 20, 2005

BigDogues,

Interesting site on those basket straps. Not sure if they would work as they are mainly intended for tires. May be able to modify them somehow to stretch them out to ensure the middle straps are providing support. Chains may also have to be replaced with something bigger. Promising though.

What do you think jinman ?? Was looking at the basket strap with chain.

Basket Straps

SkogenMe · Sep 21, 2005

( My wife was just up in Boothbay Harbor for a wedding this past weekend. She was telling me about all the rocks she saw while driving. )
Yup ...we've got rocks! Hope she missed getting wet on Saturday. We have had a string of nice weekends but that really didn't count.

jinman · Sep 21, 2005

( Do a "google" search for "Basket Strap" I think that's just what your looking for. )

BigDogues and Kozak, I looked at the basket straps and they could be modified to work, but I think a cargo net might be the best. I could split a 7000 lb, 10" weave cargo net down the middle. I'd place 1/2 under each side of the rock and then put a couple of rachet ties between the sides to keep the net sections from slipping off. Then when I lifted the rock and got it located where I want to place it, I wouldn't have anything trapped under the bottom of the rock. I could just remove the ratchet tie stays and take the net sections off the rock.

What do you think? I might even make my own net sections out of heavy line. Ron Hall (ronjhall) "donated" a spool of line to me last spring that I bet would work just fine. I've more experimenting to do... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

jinman · Sep 21, 2005

( Yup ...we've got rocks! Hope she missed getting wet on Saturday. We have had a string of nice weekends but that really didn't count. )

The wedding guests were supposed to take a ferry boat across the bay to the little church where the wedding was scheduled. But due to rain, they had to travel by car instead. As it turned out, by the time the wedding started the rain stopped and it was a very nice wedding with a reception afterwards at the Boothbay Yacht Club. The groom is an airline pilot and the bride is a flight attendant for American Airlines. The wedding was in Maine where his family is, but they are going to live in Florida. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

kozak · Sep 21, 2005

( 

Then when I lifted the rock and got it located where I want to place it, I wouldn't have anything trapped under the bottom of the rock. )

Ok....your thinking....& I am obvioulsy not !! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Very good point & thank-you. Keep us informed on what you finally rig up.

ArchieBunker · Sep 22, 2005

How much do you charge by the pound ???

Taylortractornut · Sep 24, 2005

Jinman a thing to move the logs a bit safer would be and arch like you log with on 2 wheels. We had one grandpa made way back in the fities that they used to transport big drag type discs and other large loads. THis was made out of old car frames and pire. I rember them using it and moving big motors and also a few stones. I dont like to swing heavy items from the loader because of the grill.