A "Shovel Ready" project!

[Milton Burro]

Physics 101
X amount of force is applied to x amount of area. If you increase area x, you decrease force x. Widen the plates that bear the load on the bucket lip and you will lessen the force per sq. in. on the plates and on the bucket lip. That may not fit into your design plans, but in theory it's a truth. I'd hate to bend my bucket lip. If the welds hold, it's a good weld. Old rods can cause ugly and or weak weld not providing a good shield for the arc. I might make one of those myself, when you get the bugs out.

 

[k0ua]

Well it may be spring before I get to use it again. Supposed to be 4 degrees tonite, I think the ground will freeze. From my last test on Friday, I think the bugs are worked out, except I would not use that piece of pipe as a fulcrum. It is still working, but I dont think it is long term. The whole thing was designed as a shovel to plant flowers and little trees, and I think It will work for that fine. I busted some pretty big roots and dug up some fair size rocks with it. and no bending or cracking of any welds. But I cannot imagine what it would be good for this winter:laughing: I will post some more after using it in the spring.
James K0UA

 

[IslandTractor]

If you are worried about crushing the pipe that serves as a fulcrum, fill it with fine sand and cap the ends. That will reinforce it pretty well. I'd imagine cement would be another approach or even just putting a smaller diameter pipe or rod inside.

 

[k0ua]

hey that is an idea, I might try that sand thing.. weld one end shut, and fill it with sand then weld the other end shut. that might work.. thanks.
James K0UA

 

[jmc]

K0ua,

I'm with the guys who are worried about bending your bucket. The design is a giant bottle opener, upside down, and your bucket is the bottle cap. A highly evolved design for bending things. At a minimum, extend your bottom-of-the-bucket component back to the bend in the bucket's sheetmetal. This will lower the load on bucket lip as well as at the bend, where it is stronger than that mid-span section. I don't know if that will be enough to withstand whatever you encounter but it will be much stronger than now, for only a little modification.

Good work on getting out there and experimenting!

John

 

[k0ua]

Many hours of using the shovel now, and no bucket damage yet I dug up many rocks and busted many roots, with it. In my avatar is a stump I dug up with it. and finally got enough of the roots and rocks broken to pull it over. It was not easy or fast but it is a memory now.. The little shovel is a good tool, the only thing I would change would be instead of the pipe it should have been a 1 inch solid rod. When it finally eggs out enough I will chop it out and put in the rod.. None of my weld's have cracked or shown the slightests sign of letting go. Other things noted. You are limited of course to depth that you can dig. by the rest of you bucket starting to dig into the ground. So the fork shovel giving you more depth is maybe more viable. But originally I built it thinking planting flowers. not digging up big azzed stumps. but I havent planted a single bush or flower with it and used it to dig up lots of rocks and maybe 1/2 dozen stumps ranging from 3 inchers to the big thing in the bucket. (2 foot). overall I am pleased with it, and you are free to go ahead and make one now.

James K0UA

 

[k0ua]

Still working well on my more powerful Kioti bucket. I use it to dig ditches and it has dug graves for two pets in the time I have owned it. No more bending, and no bucket damage. It is a handy tool.

 

[DAD1220]

I need some help.

I've built a Stump Bucket / Trencher / Spade and I'm 700 miles from my tractor, a Kubota L3901.



I had a piece of 1/2" thick 8" x 8" "H" beam...and my cutting ability is better than my welding ability. So, it is the beam, pointed and slotted for the front end loader. I like that the piece under the loader is long as I think it will protect the bucket. The square slot on the left end is for a chain to attach to tractor.

If this works, it will have cost me the electric for the plasma cutter, the hair I caught fire and some paint.

Buddy looks at it and says the slot for the FL isn't wide enough...my slot is 5/8". anyone know how thick the cutting edge on a kubota FL model L525 is?

It's done, except maybe the slot. Sorry I don't have a pic, but promise to post one.

Thanks
DAD

 

[k0ua]

I need some help.

I've built a Stump Bucket / Trencher / Spade and I'm 700 miles from my tractor, a Kubota L3901.

View attachment 443014

I had a piece of 1/2" thick 8" x 8" "H" beam...and my cutting ability is better than my welding ability. So, it is the beam, pointed and slotted for the front end loader. I like that the piece under the loader is long as I think it will protect the bucket. The square slot on the left end is for a chain to attach to tractor.

If this works, it will have cost me the electric for the plasma cutter, the hair I caught fire and some paint.

Buddy looks at it and says the slot for the FL isn't wide enough...my slot is 5/8". anyone know how thick the cutting edge on a kubota FL model L525 is?

It's done, except maybe the slot. Sorry I don't have a pic, but promise to post one.

Thanks
DAD

You need someone that has one to actually measure their Kubota La 525 loader for you. I could guess, and I am a little concerned by the 5/8 too. Maybe OK.. not sure. I don't have one to measure.. but there is a thick reinforcing rib in a couple of places I think... So it might depend on where you put it.

 

[IslandTractor]

I need some help.

I've built a Stump Bucket / Trencher / Spade and I'm 700 miles from my tractor, a Kubota L3901.

View attachment 443014

I had a piece of 1/2" thick 8" x 8" "H" beam...and my cutting ability is better than my welding ability. So, it is the beam, pointed and slotted for the front end loader. I like that the piece under the loader is long as I think it will protect the bucket. The square slot on the left end is for a chain to attach to tractor.

If this works, it will have cost me the electric for the plasma cutter, the hair I caught fire and some paint.

Buddy looks at it and says the slot for the FL isn't wide enough...my slot is 5/8". anyone know how thick the cutting edge on a kubota FL model L525 is?

It's done, except maybe the slot. Sorry I don't have a pic, but promise to post one.

Thanks
DAD

Cannot help you with the Kubota model you have but my similarly sized Kioti DK40se has a cutting edge that is 1/2" so a 5/8" slit would be perfect. If it doesn't fit your tractor, UPS it to me.:thumbsup:

 

[DAD1220]

Thanks, I feel better...pic to follow.

IslandTractor, if it doesn't fit, I'll write for your address...ha...

 

[k0ua]

Hard to believe that is has been almost 6 years since I started this project. I use the shovel just a few days ago to help a 80+ year old neighbor dig out a driveway entrance. He was up there trying to do it with a shovel. The kind with a wooden handle. :shocked:

It took me minutes to do it with this little bucket shovel, that would have taken him hours. My little bucket spade thingy, is still going strong. I still have never painted it.

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't use my Quickspade more than a couple of times a year but it sure is handy. I was asked by a neighbor to help planting a tree by digging a five foot diameter two foot deep hole and lifting a 20ft tree and rootball into the hole. It turned out that the day of the project was when we got the tail end of Hurricane Matthew and I wasn't thrilled with the idea of switching out my flail mower for the backhoe (always takes half an hour outside). Instead I put on the forks and quickspade. Only took three or four minutes to dig the hole and another ten to place the tree. I probably should have planned to use the spade from the beginning rather than backhoe. Great addition if you have a set of forks.

 

[k0ua]

I don't use my Quickspade more than a couple of times a year but it sure is handy. I was asked by a neighbor to help planting a tree by digging a five foot diameter two foot deep hole and lifting a 20ft tree and rootball into the hole. It turned out that the day of the project was when we got the tail end of Hurricane Matthew and I wasn't thrilled with the idea of switching out my flail mower for the backhoe (always takes half an hour outside). Instead I put on the forks and quickspade. Only took three or four minutes to dig the hole and another ten to place the tree. I probably should have planned to use the spade from the beginning rather than backhoe. Great addition if you have a set of forks.

Yeah, mine won't dig as deep as your quick spade on a set of forks, but around here we hit shelf rock sometimes before I bottom out anyway. Just depends on how much real dirt has accumulated over the rock over the centuries. Lots of places in my yard the bare rock is shining thru. Some places I can dig the full 18 inches though.

It is not something I use every day, either, but is sure has come in handy. It did my heart good to help that older fella and save his back. Another neighbor, the highway patrolman came and helped clean up the edges with a shovel, and between us we had the job done in minutes.

Looking back in this old thread, several had commented it wouldn't hold up, or it would tear up the bucket, but none of those things have happened. My welds may not always be pretty, but so far what I have stuck together with the "stick" has remained stuck.

 

[IslandTractor]

I wish I had the Quickspade version that attaches to either forks or bucket. They came out with the dual function version later and I have the original forks only type. Many projects would be even easier with the bucket version. Very simple and useful tool.

 

[Catoosa]

Just ran across this thread, great project and just exactly what I was looking for. A shovel handle just doesn't fit my 72 year old hands

Hoping I can build something from what I can find in my scrap pile. Whatever it ends up being won't be exactly like yours. Thinking before I actually look... Pretty sure I have a 5 foot piece of 7/16 inch about 11 inches wide, should be a good start.

 

[k0ua]

Just ran across this thread, great project and just exactly what I was looking for. A shovel handle just doesn't fit my 72 year old hands

Hoping I can build something from what I can find in my scrap pile. Whatever it ends up being won't be exactly like yours. Thinking before I actually look... Pretty sure I have a 5 foot piece of 7/16 inch about 11 inches wide, should be a good start.

Yep, build it up, and it will save some backbreaking work. I don't use mine every day, but when I have needed it, the thing has been really handy.

 

[IslandTractor]

Yep, build it up, and it will save some backbreaking work. I don't use mine every day, but when I have needed it, the thing has been really handy.

Times 2

 

[Catoosa]

Brain is going to work, maybe I should start another thread?

Thinking if I could figure out a way to bend the sides of that 11 inch piece of steel I have I could form somewhat of a shovel shape Hummm....

 

[IslandTractor]

Brain is going to work, maybe I should start another thread? Thinking if I could figure out a way to bend the sides of that 11 inch piece of steel I have I could form somewhat of a shovel shape Hummm....

Cheap way, if you don't have access to a good sized press would be to simply weld some angle iron to the side edges of the 11" steel and then weld additional steel to that to raise the sides. No rule that a bucket shovel needs to win a beauty contest. The angle iron would reenforce the steel too.