moving sand

[Thomas]

PaulB,
A rake I'm sure would do the job,and maybe a rake with a grader blade plus the boots on the end would be a tad better.






Thomas..NH

 

[PaulB]

So the overall concensus is a york rake. Damn. I was hoping to able to say, "Yes dear I know it is expensive, but all the guys on tracorbynet say I HAVE to have a box blade so I can do your riding arena. Not that I really want one, but for you I would get one anyway". Rakes just don't have the same Tim Allen appeal as a scarified equipped 400 pound piece of cold steel.
DJWalker - yes I know the single load won't stretch that far, but I have a 3 inch base now so I only need to get to a total of 4 inches or so, so sounds like the 30 tons should do it. Thanks for doing the calculations.
Mark - doesn't pack at all - real silty stuff. Should be able to drive over it no problem.
Thanks again to all.
PaulB

 

[MChalkley]

PaulB - Well... I don't know what my endorsement is worth to your wife, but it would be handy to have the box scraper to pull the sand away from the pile with.

The rake would be nice for the fine grading, but I don't think it would be all that great for moving the stuff to begin with. I've moved masonry sand before and the stuff is so fine, a rake just pulls through it without moving much of it.

Mark

 

[jyoutz]

All of the ideas sound like they would work. I just want to say that if you use a rear grader blade, I've had good luck spreading fine gravel by backblading so that it floats. Also I've done this with skidshoes set 2" below the blade. That kind of meters out the material as you go, and also prevents any digging in. Skidshoes only cost me $100 for my Landpride blade.

 

[Billc]

PaulB, we helped a friend of ours out about 6 weeks ago doing the same thing you are about to do. He has a covered arena we team rope in. He was just adding to the base. We had 4 tractors in the arena doing the spreading, but after several near misses we cut back to two tractors. The other two fellas sat on the rail and did a fine job of telling us what we were doing wrong and demonstrating the best way to drink a beer....actually several beers.

Our method was basic. Used the front loader to distribute to smaller piles and back bladed with the loader. This spread the sand out. Next, and you will like this, we used box blades-----again, We Used Box Blades----again, WE USED BOX BLADES!!! to level the sand out.

We set the box blade with a slight cut angel and about 1" above the ground. Lowered the box blade on a pile and started dragging.

I've learned the best way to use a box blade, and any other piece of equipment for that matter, is slowly. It does a great job, and you won't tear up your tractor or implements.

May I be one of the first to say congratulations on getting your new box blade, Paul?!

 

[TomG]

Box scrapers are useful in dragging gravel out of piles and spreading it. However, I found that I have to ride the 3ph level quite a bit to get decent spreading, especially if the ground has bumps and dips. Position control is required, because the gravel doesn't spread very well if the scraper is left floating. I believe that MarkC has gauge wheels, and they sound very useful for spreading material.

I found that I get better smoothing with the scraper than with the loader bucket by fully extending the top link so the scrapper rides on the back of its rear cutter. A rake probably would work even better for smoothing, but I don't have one.

I think it was Cowboy who said that loader buckets can be used for compacting material. With a flat bucket, put down-pressure on the bucket to the point where there is little steering, and then back-drag. I will use that idea when I need to compact as well as smooth it.

Somebody mentioned that side-plates are available for blades, and also aren't very expensive. With side-plates, a blade will carry more material since it can't come off the blade ends. Side-plates should make a blade work more like a box scraper, and they could be useful when using a blade to spread material. The main advantage of a box scraper over a blade with side plates is that the scraper cuts better due to its greater weight. However, cutting isn't a requirement when spreading gravel. A blade with side-plates should work well.

 

[MChalkley]

TomG - You're right; if I were doing it, after distribuiting it the way I mentioned, I'd put on the rake with gauge wheels. It's also got the drop down blade with end plates, which I think would be the idea thing to use to fine grade it, but since Paul didn't have that I didn't mention it at first. Also, I don't think it's as useful as a box scraper, unless fine grading is primarily what you do.

Mark

 

[roysallis]

Do you know of a source for side plates for a grader blade?

 

[MChalkley]

Landpride sells side plates for all their blades. If you don't have a Landpride unit, they might still fit. If you could see them at a local dealer, it would help.

Mark

 

[PaulB]

Mark - I have a Woods blade - will look into availability of side plates even though what I really WANT is a box blade. Just got the estimate on a new roof for the house, so right now spending a hundred on side plates is much more likely to pass the House Ways and Means Committee (wife) than $500 on a box blade