homemade rock picker

[ericlb]

i need to fab up a small rock picker for my jubilee, it will be used to remove the small stones [1 to 3 inches] that alsays seem to pop up in my roping arena and excersise track, my idea is to use a old 3 point dirt scoup that i picked out of the junk pile at the gravel pit i haul for, i dont need it as i have a larger tractor with a loader on it,so im think of cutting out the floor and partialy up the back of the scoup, leaving the cutting edge and about 3 or 4 inches of material on the front for strength, then welding in a section of 3/4 inch screen out of the rock crusher at the pit, this stuff is stong, have any of you tried this? or what are you using to remove rocks and leave the dirt behind, the idea to use the dirt scoup i hope will allow me to pull it through the dirt about a inch or so deep and let the dirt sift out, then i will be able to use the dump feature on the scoup to dump the rocks collected in a pile somewhere outside the horse areas, input would be appreciated
 

[GRAY WHISKERS]

York rake works great
 

[Jimmyjack]

They really arent very wide and 3/4 seems awful fine to me. Might work, I agree the rakes are used by people on lawns all the time.
 

[heybusdriver]

Sounds like a great idea, I have so many rocks I would only go probably 5 to 6 feet and have to dump.
Thanks for the idea , I'm going to keep my eye open for a old scoop or box blade.
Stan
8N179555
8N362039
Vancouver Canada, home of the 2010 winter Olympics
every-one welcome.
 

[ericlb]

i tried the rake first i have a new one of those as well as a 12 foot harrow, which is made out of 90 lb railroad track with a 6 inch spike welded on it every inch and a half in 2 alternating rows, but both wont catch the rocks they winrow it out the sides or just roll them under then they pop up again when the horses get going, they really pound on the horses when they rope cattle and also when they run barrels in there we had 1 lame up last year from a small rock hit to its frog on its forleg, im hoping to fab up something that will 'catch' the rocks now, will let you know how it does
 

[JMOR]

[jon]

[GRAY WHISKERS]

Thats what the rake is suppose to do. Windrow them then you scoop them up with your bucket. You have to spend half a day to get most of them. Good luck.