Do I Need A Box Blade and Landscape Rake For My Use

[Code54]

Is there any rental places around you that has 3pt stuff. Maybe rent something now (even a Harley rake) then get your ratchet rake if you find it will help you in the future.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

. . .

To move, level and smooth dirt, the box scraper will beat a box blade 7 days / week 24hrs. / day. It's a shame not too many are available for smaller tractors.

. . . .

Amen. I've looked for one of those for a long time in a size that would work for my 50hp tractor. But all the ones I see are 10' or 12'. I saw an 8' one recently that would work, but apparently it was made of solid gold . . . or at least the seller thought it was.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

How did the pallet work out? I have a few of those laying around, did you put weight on them? I don't have any rocks to worry about that has been taken care of when we did the initial clearing and grading, wasn't a lot to begin with. Really all if have are small twigs and stuff. I put in an order for a ratchet rake so hopefully I get it this week. I can see it being useful in some weedy areas too.

I was the one that recommended a chain link fence gate, but I used a long 8' pallet to level my yard before the sod was laid. It took probably 6 - 8 hours of dragging it around behind the garden tractor I had back then, but it worked great (with patience). The sod installers commented on how well prepared the yard was. It made their job easier and made the yard nice and smooth.

An easier solution would be to buy a chain harrow. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641649_200641649

Do the rough grading with the ratchet rake, then use the chain harrow to really smooth it out. You can use the chain harrow with the tines down or flip it over and use it with the tines up to get a smooth finish. The chain harrow also works well to collect all the sticks and trash, but it's somewhat of a pain to lift it so you can collect all the trash.

I saw someone use one with a boom pole once, which was a neat idea. Attach the chain harrow to the boom pole with a length of chain, and then raise the boom pole to lift the chain harrow to collect the trash or position the chain harrow where you want it.

King Kutter Boom Pole, Model# BP | Category 1 Scoops Carry Alls| Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[jeff9366]

CHAIN HARROW + BOOM POLE LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...c-countyline-tarter-boom-pole.html?highlight=

 

[blb078]

I was the one that recommended a chain link fence gate, but I used a long 8' pallet to level my yard before the sod was laid. It took probably 6 - 8 hours of dragging it around behind the garden tractor I had back then, but it worked great (with patience). The sod installers commented on how well prepared the yard was. It made their job easier and made the yard nice and smooth.

An easier solution would be to buy a chain harrow. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641649_200641649

Do the rough grading with the ratchet rake, then use the chain harrow to really smooth it out. You can use the chain harrow with the tines down or flip it over and use it with the tines up to get a smooth finish. The chain harrow also works well to collect all the sticks and trash, but it's somewhat of a pain to lift it so you can collect all the trash.

I saw someone use one with a boom pole once, which was a neat idea. Attach the chain harrow to the boom pole with a length of chain, and then raise the boom pole to lift the chain harrow to collect the trash or position the chain harrow where you want it.

King Kutter Boom Pole, Model# BP | Category 1 Scoops Carry Alls| Northern Tool + Equipment

Thanks. I don't mind it taking a while. I may just use one of the pallets I have laying around the house for construction. Will save me $150-$200 from buying a chain harrow I'll never use after this. I have a ratchet rake on order. So I'll use that and then the pallet or fence gate. When using the ratchet rake to break up stuff and do a little leveling should I put the FEL in float and do it all backwards or am I better off just keeping it at a set level?

 

[jeff9366]

About 70% pull, operating the tractor in reverse, 30% pushing with the tractor operating forward. Sometimes with both sets of teeth in ground contact, sometimes with only the lower, vertically oriented teeth in ground contact.

I never operate the FEL/RR combination in float. I continually make small adjustments with the FEL joystick to maintain Ratchet Rake contact with the ground or debris.

 

[jeff9366]

I do not know if you have calculated your expense to operate your tractor. I calculate tractor operation as a retired small business owner on a cost/benefit basis.

I calculate tractor depreciation at $10 per hour, implement expense/depreciation at $6 per hour (I own multiple implements.) Kubota dealer service at $10 per hour, Kubota insurance at $2 per hour, diesel fuel, various lubricants, including expense of transporting diesel fuel from gas station at $3 per hour = $31 per hour, and that is probably low.

(I grease my tractor. Kubota dealer performs all other service. Implement expense/depreciation includes welding repairs and occasional replacement parts. I buy implements new. )

Everyone calculates differently, but I value my labor at "0" in this formula, as my tractor is recreation.

I used a long 8' pallet to level my yard before the sod was laid. It took 6 - 8 hours of dragging it behind the garden tractor, but it worked great (with patience). The sod installers commented on how well prepared the yard was.

An easier solution would be to buy a chain harrow.

PDP used his lawn tractor to pull the pallet. Had I used my tractor to pull a pallet my tractor expense would have been around $200.

However, you see no future use for a Chain Harrow. But consider $31/per hour as you consider future implement purchases, such as a 48"/54"/60" roto-tiller, Three Point Hitch Garden Cultivator and a Three Point Hitch Lawn Dethatcher.

When you have repeating tasks, I consider dedicated equipment the cheapest way to proceed.

 

[TurtleCreekFarm]

I put in an order for a ratchet rake so hopefully I get it this week. I can see it being useful in some weedy areas too.

How did you like the ratchet rake? Any after photos? I just ordered one yesterday.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

here's some clearing I did.

 

[blb078]

How did you like the ratchet rake? Any after photos? I just ordered one yesterday.

I just got it a couple days ago, haven't had a chance to use it yet.

 

[Ford850]

You're on the right track. You can use a couple pallets side by side, with a couple 2x4's screwed on top to hold them together. Add some logs, blocks, tires, etc to the top for more weight if needed. Some pallets are heavy enough as is. I've used logs or posts cabled together, chain link fence with or without weight added, cattle panels (from TSC etc), and they all work well. Each has it's own pros and cons but you get good results from them all. A benefit from dragging for hours is that it fills and compacts the low spots better.

 

[doall]

I recently bought a 7 ft. land plane that I love. But it won't do much if there is any vegetation. But it is amazing in loose dirt and gravel.
Not nearly the learning curve of a traditional box blade.

 

[Creamer]

I borrowed a land plane once for my driveway`when I added a lot of stone. It worked very well to level out the stone and but i also decided i would probably never buy one because it seemed to me to have very specific uses. for leveling it does a great job but it has to be loose dirt or gravel and it needs to have a little space to work nicely.