ROCK SKIMMER

[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.