ROCK SKIMMER

[flINTLOCK]

I have innumerable 4-8 inch rocks on the surface of the ground where I'm establishing foodplots for deer. I have a TC40 DA recently purchased, but no implements yet. Trying to develop strategy for rock harvest. I plan on buying Milonzi rock bucket. I plan to buy York rake, but I'm told that won't be effective for the larger rocks and may risk damaging the LR. I was wondering whether a box scraper on float with the tines turned backward would skim the surface without digging in too much. That would allow me to herd the rocks into piles for the stone bucket to deal with. Any advice would be appreciated since this job of rock collecting is going to be my biggest headache.

 

[tawilson]

I have the landscape rake and rock bucket combo and it is a handy setup. Why not make a sweep around with the bucket first, then come back and rake?

 

[flINTLOCK]

Can you readily skim the rocks from the surface as you move forward with the rock bucket?? I thought you might just push them ahead without being able to actually pick them up with the bucket. I initially thought that was the way to do it and then had second thoughts about whether they could be sifted off the surface that way.

 

[pekabu]

I believe Houle has a rototiller type rock rake that moves rocks into windrows, then you can use the rock bucket to pick them up. Check out this picture of a 10' model.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/data/556/7341P8250300_edited-med.JPG

 

[jinman]

Can you readily skim the rocks from the surface as you move forward with the rock bucket?? I thought you might just push them ahead without being able to actually pick them up with the bucket. I initially thought that was the way to do it and then had second thoughts about whether they could be sifted off the surface that way.

For rocks that are football to basketball size on the surface, you can use a boxblade to round them up into a pile. If they are in loose soil, you can sift them out with the rock bucket. It's not like going straight until the bucket fills up, you have to work the angle of the bucket and sometimes flip the rocks from the tines back into the basket portion of the bucket. The only time you will fill the bucket with rocks is if you have a pile of them and can dig into it like it was a pile of gravel or dirt. Here is a piture of my rock bucket full of rocks. I was able to get about 2/3 of these by pushing up a pile with the boxblade and then the rest I got off the tractor and pitched into the bucket. I was hauling each load almost 1/2 mile and could not afford to make the trip with a partially filled bucket. If you are just clearing an area and making a rock pile close by, you will probably find it is more efficient to work with loads 1/3 to 1/2 the capacity of the bucket.

 

[BTDT]

I believe Houle has a rototiller type rock rake that moves rocks into windrows, then you can use the rock bucket to pick them up. Check out this picture of a 10' model.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/data/556/7341P8250300_edited-med.JPG

That's an interesting piece of equipment. Pricey too, I bet.

 

[BTDT]

I believe Houle has a rototiller type rock rake that moves rocks into windrows, then you can use the rock bucket to pick them up. Check out this picture of a 10' model.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/data/556/7341P8250300_edited-med.JPG

That's an interesting piece of equipment. Pricey too, I bet.

 

[saselker]

rent one of these
Skid Steer Attachments - Bobcat Skidsteer Loader Equipment & Accessories - John Deere Case Mustang Gehl

I have one, it works extremely well. Makes the ground look like a ski slope after the groomer has gone by. It shouldn't be too hard to find one to rent.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Rock buckets by Millonzi similar to Jim's are about $1080 + shipping for 4.5 foot model. Jim, how do you set your BB to herd the rocks?? I don't own a BB yet, but am trying to figure out best approach.

 

[BTDT]

This site has some rock equipment.

Iowa Farm Equipment

 

[jinman]

Rock buckets by Millonzi similar to Jim's are about $1080 + shipping for 4.5 foot model. Jim, how do you set your BB to herd the rocks?? I don't own a BB yet, but am trying to figure out best approach.

If you have enough rocks on top of the ground or in the first few inches, you can set your scarifiers really shallow and pop the rocks up by pulling forward. I find I have the best luck rounding up rocks into a pile by going in reverse with the boxblade. Going forward leads to the box lifting and loss of the box full of rocks. I also have lots of small scrub oak trees to dodge, so it's always a combination of dragging forward and backwards until I get a good pile of rocks built. If you build your pile against an imbankment it will help to load them into the basket, but it's not necessary. Once they are in the basket, just bump the ground a few times to shed most of the loose soil.

Like using a loader, your technique has to depend on the soil, how clear the area is of obstructions, and the size of rocks you are loading. There's just not one good answer for all circumstances. If you look at the marketing videos with a tractor running through loose soil and picking up rocks, you will have a false impression of how these things work. It takes time and learned technique just like almost every other tractor job. The nice thing is you can pop a rock out of the ground that is 3/4 buried and then pick it up without getting off the tractor. With a little practice and using the shape of the rock bucket basket, you can add to your load without losing the ones you've already got in the basket. Expect some frustration until you get the best technique mastered.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Thanks Jim. You've helped me develop a plan of attack. I'm sure it is an acquired skill.