FEL uses

[farmerpsv]

ok
this is going to probably earn me points for being a real dumb question...but here goes.
i use my FEL for moving piles of this and that and moving hay around, which i assume is it's primary function. am looking at new tractors and am trying to justify the cost and am wondering if i can use a FEL to dig a pond? is this nutty? anyway, there it is. thanks

 

[Inspector507]

I doubt that you'd want to attempt a pond with a FEL, but I'm sure others have done it........takes a LONG time.
There are a million uses for a FEL. I have even hauled water to the garden in my bucket........... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> am wondering if i can use a FEL to dig a pond? is this nutty? anyway, there it is. thanks </font>

Completely! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just kidding. I suppose it depends on how long you have, how big the pond, soil types, costs, how fast you want it done, etc... It would probably be much faster and cheaper to have it dug by a professional. But If you have the time to put in a few hours every so often, are in no hurry, and don't mind putting some hours on the machine and buying the fuel, why not? Could be a fun project. I think a few people here have dug their own. Try a search of TBN and see.

 

[Eagle1]

Size makes a big difference but I dug an ornamental clay bottomed pond with a BX2200. It's about 12 by 20 with a some smaller arms of the corners. and up to 3+ foot deep. Took about a week working a couple of hours a day. Then rock lined spillway and "creek" bed leading the the overflow away. It's really just getting started but the plants and fish are doing well and we had a couple of spawns all ready. It was filled only about 2 months ago... I only plan on having goldfish, rosy reds (fatheads) and some tropicals during the summer.

SO yes it can be done but I would not want to dig a "real" pond with just the FEL. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[herbenus]

You can do it. I've been working on mine for 3 years...

I've used it as a sandpit for dirt fill that I need occassionally. I intend to get a bulldozer someday and finish it right.

 

[tdenny]

farmerpsv,

I wouldn't try it without a toothbar on your FEL. I'm sure it could still be done but man that would take a while.

 

[Docsknotinn]

It depends on how old you are and how many years you want to invest /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

How big of a pond?

 

[Hambone]

Pictures Eagle??!!
Sounds nice. I have been thinking of trying that for the dogs to swim in when hot. They get pretty warm.

 

[farmerpsv]

how big?
good question. as big as i can make it. i do have a natural creek/low lying area that would accommodate up to an acre by berming up one end and digging some. it's always good to see if someone else is a crazy as me, i'll try anything it seems.

 

[Eagle1]

Hambone rather than use the forum bandwidth I went out took some pics and threw a montage together on my space at Eagles' Nest

I do need to add that the grass is not back in yet and all the plantings around the pond are just getting started. I spend more time getting the eco-system going in the water than around it for now. Over time I should ge tall the other landscaping around straight again.

 

[farmerpsv]

wow hambone,
very nice indeed. that's a beautiful property

 

[CountryBoy]

Get a 4 in 1 loader and you will have about 2 million uses for your loader.

 

[Hambone]

Farmerpsv, That is eagle's property. I wished mine was that nice!
You did a good job Eagle! You did all that with the BX2200?
I live in flat old farm ground, I think I will start one this weekend. It is clay based soil too. 12x20 is just the size I was thinking. It will get some runoff from the field. The gutters and field tile all tie in right where I was wanting to put it, so should be able to stay full. I have another tile going to county road I can raise for overflow.
About a week eh? Did you use mostly BB to move everything?

Sorry about long post. Getting excited. I have been wondering if I could do that or not. Or how long it would take.

 

[Eagle1]

Now I wish I would have taken some construction pics but.... never did. Anyway I did all the digging and dirt removal with FEL (without toothbar, I'm sure one would have helped). The pond went in a low spot in my yard where the culvert from across the street drains. It had an existing ditch but it always flooded the entire area when it rained hard at all. I happend to catch the ground the one week this year when it did not rain, so it was soft but not muddy on the top. I could dig about a 1 foot or 2 before it would mud up real bad. Then it would dry down enough the next day to allow another foot or so the next evening. You don't know how I glad I was it did not rain... Then I used the removed dirt to raise the grade around the pond. I did use the box blade to drag a 4 ditch for the overflow and help spread the dirt around the pond. The night after I had it all dug we got a huge T-Storm and it's be full ever since. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I just worked my way from the long in slope that I could backup with load. I tried the box blade but the Turf tires could not get the traction on the moist clay to pull it effectively. Once I was down about 3+ on the far I came in from the side/ends and worked another slope down. Then just backdragged around the edges to make it bit steeper near the top. I also added some "sod" (lumps of grass scooped with the FEL) around the edges to raise it bit more. Now I'm building up the surrounding area up to level the edges and letting the grass come in. Lot's of bermuda around here so it spreads fast.

I did learn that the run off I receive is a LOT more than I thought, during a good storm it will flow over a 10" deep creek over my 4 foot wide spillway. That was reason for raising edges a bit more. The first time it really rained the pond overflowed in all direction including some I did not want. I think I have pretty much under control now. We do loose a fish or 2 now and then over spillway but the Goldfish and most of the other seem to find a quiet spot during rain and stay put, and we have had enough rain this summer to test this almost daily.

It was/is a fun project just take your time and be careful... I got it a bit tippy and "mostly" stuck in the hole several times. It ammazed me how quick the tractor would dig a wheel into a soft spot once loaded and lift the rears. Taught me real quick to slow down and watch where the wheels where going. I'm still playing with the overall layout but as long as you can to the edges you can always dig or drag the dirt around to tweak things into shape unless you wind up having to install a liner. SO far it's staying pretty full. I loose about 4-8" in week but after that it seems to slow down. I'll see how it really does when we get a dry spell.