Swale digger

Paddy · Mar 18, 2006

I'm in the process of welding up a swale digger. Because our terminology might vary, I'll 'slpain. I need to cut swales, drain paths. In my world, a swale is a gently sloping ditch. I'm shooting for 5ft wide with a 6" depth. Something that you can mow without shaving the grass too much but drain a bunch of water in a heavy rain. So basicly a grader blade with a deeper center. By now most of you are thinking, does't this Paddy guy know you can tilt the standard grader blad/Box blade and cut one side at a time! Well, my issues are trees and house. The cut one side at a time method takes two tractor widthes of space. I'm shooting for 'where I drive, I have a gental swale under the tractor.

I have 5/16" plate steel, welder and the desire. Last fall I built a ditch digger that attached to my grader blade frame. It made ditches about 12" deep and 18" wide. Works real well. Beefy beast, she cut through 2" roots and pull out good size rocks. Never bent. My friends use my tractor/ditch tool to help their drive way drainage. I'm just wanting to widen up this ditch concept for yard stuff.

Yes, I did have to use about 600lb of weight to get her to cut.

What do you think?

Patrick

Investorguy · Mar 18, 2006

*pops into thread*

I just want to see a picture of that ditch digger...

Paddy · Mar 19, 2006

IvesterGuy,

I posted pics a few months back, search ditch digger. Some have commented the ditch digger I made is just a wide Middle buster. Because I mount it on my grader blade frame, I can swivel the head to throw the spoils. I'll take photos of the building of the swale cutter. I hope it will be robust enough for my 45hp KAMA. Not much stops her so somethings gota give

What's the *pops into thread*? Wrong forum?

Patrick

Investorguy · Mar 20, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( IvesterGuy,

I posted pics a few months back, search ditch digger. Some have commented the ditch digger I made is just a wide Middle buster. Because I mount it on my grader blade frame, I can swivel the head to throw the spoils. I'll take photos of the building of the swale cutter. I hope it will be robust enough for my 45hp KAMA. Not much stops her so somethings gota give

What's the *pops into thread*? Wrong forum?

Patrick )</font>

Thanks, I'll search for the thread.

I just "popped in" to make a comment, rather than have anything good to offer you. Kind of like saying "pardon me" or something.

drm · Mar 20, 2006

Paddy,

Your Swale Digger sounds like a great idea for your situation. I also could use an implement like that.

About 950 feet of my drive is gravel and needs swales on each side to drain the water but I hate to loose 10'+ to cut a normal swale. On one side I am close to the property line and I would like to one day line the drive with trees. A narrower swale will dramatically help.

Also, since the swale is the width of the tractor, you do not have to drive in the bottom of the swale to cut the grass. I am concerned with mine since 250’+ is almost dead flat and clay. In the spring you can not get near it without sinking.

When it is constructed, would you consider renting it? Although, delivery charges would be cost prohibitive.

…Derek

Paddy · Mar 20, 2006

DRM,

I just about have it welded up. It will basicly be a V shaped grader blade. I have used alot of steel to make to capable to dig.

I supose I could have bought an old grader blade and cut the swale profile and added alot steel