Implement for raking stones?

[Brad_bb]

I have a bunch of limestones about 2"x2"x1" or so in a small portion of my field that were dumped there at one time. They are partially mixed in from tilling, but many on the surface. Is there an implement that would go on my 3pt hitch of my tractor (55 Ford) that would rake these stones out of the soil?

 

[satsop]

Brad

Do a search for rock rake 350 to 500$.

Jim

 

[Arnie]

Have seen an implement at a rental store that will suck this size stone up and dump in a wagon and either haul out or put back down. Used for cleaning stuff out of the stone and then reaply

 

[msb]

York rake (landscape rake)

 

[RodinNS]

Probably a landscape rake if you're that fussy. When we get them down to that size with the Degelman rake it's time to move to another field...

Rod

 

[WA-Hal]

I live on property that has been in the family for over 50 years. It has lots of rocks, especially in some areas. So whenever I plow, disk, or use a harrow on my place, I always unearth new rocks. The small ones, I don't worry much about, but anything over softball size, I pick up and pile. My favorite way of picking rocks is to use a 6 tine manure fork to toss the rocks into the front loader on one of my tractors. Larger rocks have to be lifted or rolled into the bucket, and the largest rocks I have rolled out of the fields by pushing them with the loader.

I hate to think how many hundreds of tons of rocks I have picked in my lifetime! But it is something that needs to be done every time I disturb the ground--there are ALWAYS new ones.

Really, just running a harrow over the ground will dislodge many of the rocks. And then it isn't that hard to pick up the loose rocks with the manure fork and collect them in the loader bucket. It sure makes the field look a lot better. Good luck!

 

[Jim in Ma.]

I have an old beatup landscape rake with every other tooth taken out.
My Dad used his JD 420 with just the manure bucket "forks".
Both ways work fair.

 

[Brad_bb]

FYI, these stones were dumped in the field years ago. They are in an area that is about 40X100? There is a high concentration, severely limiting the growth of the crop, which is why I want to clean them out/gather them up. Thanks for all the responses. I'm now looking for a used 72" landscape rake.

 

[Brian in MA]

Good luck. I looked hard and realized that a new one is really no more money than a used one.

 

[Crem]

I have a King Kutter 7' landscape rake and I really like it for the price. Our local Farm Fleet sells them. My son bought one of the cheaper ones and he pulled it apart right away.
Farm Fleet link

 

[Brad_bb]

I don't really want to buy one as I just have this one time use in mind. I don't need another thing to take care of. I'm in the process of buying a forklift now, and when it arrives I'll be able to load and unload stuff easier. Then perhaps I'll run an ad to find someone local who would rent one to me.

 

[Hotflashjr]

What about a used rock picker? I saw one just sell for $8,500 in good shape. Or see if you can borrow or rent one. Works much like a potato digger. Try looking up Schulte. A rock bucket also works good and you could even make one up with an old junky bucket. New they are not cheap.

 

[Farmallhal]

The guy who put in our lawn had a Bobcat with some type of attachment on the front which did an excellent job of taking the rocks out of the top several inches of our lawn. It would collect them behind the implement and he would dump them into his dump truck. He took out several trucks loads in a few hours and there are none to be seen anymore where he removed them. Don't know what the device was called but it was one of those special Bobcat type devices which worked very well. The rocks which he removed were concentrated in the area where the drain field was placed and the backhoe brought them to the surface. Might check with someone in your area who is very familar with Bobcats and their special implements, Hal.

 

[onjack]

Haybuster makes a stone picker with a side delivery rake into a large tumbling drum, works real good but very expensive. Sod farmers use them and pipeline construction companies use them. Frequently they are hired from site contractors. Call around and hire one for the job you don"t want to own one, unless you want to be a contractor.