Will a tiller pull rocks up out of soil?

[jim_wilson]

Could you rent a power rake that would fit your tractor? I think there is a large rental outfit in your area that I know rents out PTO versions. I contacted them a couple hrs ago to rent one but I ended up buying instead.

i would think that would be your best bet, and on top of that, you'd have a perfectly prepped seedbed for grass. Not to mention not having to go around and pick up the rocks, since they all be windowed or piled for you to scoop up with your bucket.

Hmmm- that's an option too. I've always wanted to use one of those things. Any idea which place has the rentals? I haven't seen too many places around here renting tractor implements.

 

[countrybumpkin]

I wasn't sure if you already had the soil in question laid in place or still waiting to spread it, you may check into renting a sifter, maybe check with a local quarry if you have any near you. You could build a cheap and quick grizzly bar set up out of 2x4s on edge or some old pipe or such. You don't have to have a high end set up if your just doing a smaller one time job. The other thing would maybe check on renting or hiring a skid steer with a power rake to dress the soil once in place to Rome the rocks and prep for seed.

 

[Piston]

Hmmm- that's an option too. I've always wanted to use one of those things. Any idea which place has the rentals? I haven't seen too many places around here renting tractor implements.

It was Grand Rental Station Search Grand Rental Station's NH Equipment Rental Catalog

...and, I guess I was mistaken, I looked back in my email correspondence with them and they quoted me for a skidsteer with power rake, I thought it was a PTO version but obviously not. For reference, it was $310 per day for the skidsteer and power rake, still not that bad considering how much you can get done with it. I believe they also have half day rentals as well.

The walk behind (or ride along style, whatever it's called) skidsteer with mini power rake is only 150 for a half day, so that could be a good option since your probably pretty close to their Hudson NH location.


(Edit: If you think your tractor would be enough hp for my 6' power rake, your welcome to give it a shot, I don't live too far from you I'm sure...However, it would be a few weeks before I will have it in MA again as it's up on my NH land right now.)

 

[jim_wilson]

It was Grand Rental Station Search Grand Rental Station's NH Equipment Rental Catalog

...and, I guess I was mistaken, I looked back in my email correspondence with them and they quoted me for a skidsteer with power rake, I thought it was a PTO version but obviously not. For reference, it was $310 per day for the skidsteer and power rake, still not that bad considering how much you can get done with it. I believe they also have half day rentals as well.

The walk behind (or ride along style, whatever it's called) skidsteer with mini power rake is only 150 for a half day, so that could be a good option since your probably pretty close to their Hudson NH location.


(Edit: If you think your tractor would be enough hp for my 6' power rake, your welcome to give it a shot, I don't live too far from you I'm sure...However, it would be a few weeks before I will have it in MA again as it's up on my NH land right now.)

Thanks - I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the offer of using your power rake too - I'm not sure if my tractor would run it though, I have a Kubota 3200 - 32 tractor HP - and 23 (claimed) PTO HP.

Landpride says their 72" power rake needs 25-40 tractor HP. So it might work.

It's going to be at least few weeks before I'm ready to do this anyway. I was just trying to plan ahead. Right now what's seeming like the best option for me - is to pickup a cheap skidsteer bucket - cut the bottom off of it - and weld in a heavy metal screen and just use to sift the dirt as place it. I found a place the next town over that has the heavy metal screen in their product catalog - so I'll try calling them tomorrow when they're open.

 

[jenkinsph]

Thanks - I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the offer of using your power rake too - I'm not sure if my tractor would run it though, I have a Kubota 3200 - 32 tractor HP - and 23 (claimed) PTO HP.

Landpride says their 72" power rake needs 25-40 tractor HP. So it might work.

It's going to be at least few weeks before I'm ready to do this anyway. I was just trying to plan ahead. Right now what's seeming like the best option for me - is to pickup a cheap skidsteer bucket - cut the bottom off of it - and weld in a heavy metal screen and just use to sift the dirt as place it. I found a place the next town over that has the heavy metal screen in their product catalog - so I'll try calling them tomorrow when they're open.

Make sure this "screen" has large enough spacing to get the dirt out. I have a rock bucket wth 3" spacing and even in dry sandy loam soil it can be difficult to get the dirt and rock separated. A tilted screen that you can rent works better. One with a vibratory shaker would be the best way to go.

The Harley rake works well for the surface rocks but don't expect it to get the deep rocks out.

 

[jim_wilson]

Make sure this "screen" has large enough spacing to get the dirt out. I have a rock bucket wth 3" spacing and even in dry sandy loam soil it can be difficult to get the dirt and rock separated. A tilted screen that you can rent works better. One with a vibratory shaker would be the best way to go.

The Harley rake works well for the surface rocks but don't expect it to get the deep rocks out.

Yes - I've noticed that effect when I use the Virnig rock bucket - which has it's tines spaced every 3 inches or so.

A vibrating screen is probably the best option - I just don't know if I want to go that route.

I've been contemplating building a vibrating screen, I found a place that sells heavy duty woven screen - the steel place I use has a scrap pile that I could probably pull enough stuff from to build a frame cheaply - but the component I can't seem to find is some sort of vibrator head I could bolt up to the screen to have it shake the soil.

 

[jenkinsph]

Yes - I've noticed that effect when I use the Virnig rock bucket - which has it's tines spaced every 3 inches or so.

A vibrating screen is probably the best option - I just don't know if I want to go that route.

I've been contemplating building a vibrating screen, I found a place that sells heavy duty woven screen - the steel place I use has a scrap pile that I could probably pull enough stuff from to build a frame cheaply - but the component I can't seem to find is some sort of vibrator head I could bolt up to the screen to have it shake the soil.

All you need for the shaker is a heavy duty shaft with an offset weight that you can spin fast enough to get it to shake properly.

I had considered building one with a hydraulic motor to turn it, the shaft would be enclosed in a tube so no moving parts to hurt someone. I wanted to mount this to the rock bucket across the top to shake it. This way I could use my third hydraulic circuit to run it. I haven't worked out a suspension mounting yet to reduce the vibration passing to the rest of the fel yet. The idea of picking up dirt and rocks with the rock bucket, then give it a shake to drop the fines seems like a good way to go though.

 

[davrow]

Here (in town) landscapers hire day laborers to throw shovelfuls of soil against a slanted screen (if the homeowner is willing to pay for a rock free top layer). No vibrator, but very inefficient.

 

[crazyal]

I feel your pain. I've often thought a potato harvester would be a great thing for getting those smaller but still too big stones out of the top soil. But I haven't found a cheap one or anyone that rents them.

 

[jim_wilson]

I've been looking around to see if any rental agencies have a small screener for rent - something like one of the smaller Desite models:

But nobody appears to have them.

I just noticed that Desite makes an even smaller screener than the SLG-78 which is cheaper and would be more manageable with the size tractor I have - and it's cheaper than a tiller - and probably more useful to me in the long run. I may look into one of those. A small screener is something I might be able to rent out on occasion and make my money back on.