Pond Scoop

[stryped]

I bought a used pond scoop to move dirt, gravel, and snow. (We don't get a lot of snow, more ice than snow). It is old and kind of rough but I only gave 80 bucks for it. My question is, what is the best was to sharpen the blade on it and is there a certain angle to try to maintain? Any other things I need to do to this to make it work well?

Can I also dig with it and my 2n?

 

[BushogPapa]

You can have many fun hours with this scoop...!!

You may not get a lot done, but it will be interesting..

You only need a little angle ( IF the soil is soft enough for the scoop to get into the ground).

Looks like it has a decent shape to the cutting edge..

I wonder how much your 2N will lift before the front lifts off the ground...you may want a little front weight if you want to fill the scoop and carry it..

If you are planning to dig a pond, you may have a lot of digging to do with that and Mud does not just "fall out" of that scoop.

There may be times you will want to plow the area to loosen it up, so you can load the scoop easier..

 

[wellmax99]

str,
I have had 3 scoops over the years, the first two pulled from the front, you could not back into the dirt pile. They are good, but sometimes you need to back into a pile of dirt, gravel and drive off.

if you can not afford a front end loader a pond scoop is the next best thing. I have carried many a load of dirt/gravel with mine.

the last one I bought and I think it's one of the best for a small tractor,

Ford 706, it was blue color when I got it, but all my other equipment is red, so it had to be red too.

it works very good, digs well and the release lever works from the front or back depending if you are pulling or pushing into the load,

note to file: your tractor has much more traction power pulling, rather than backing, just my experience. also when loaded with dirt, if you are going over rough ground you need you use stabilizer bars and the load will swing back and forth, hard on your lower arms.

 

[JMOR]

Used one for hundreds of hours over the decades, but I will say that if you are thinking "ponds", just remember that using one of these is akin to ants moving sand, one grain at a time.

 

[gajack]

Has a lot more uses that just a scoop.
Sharpened mine with a 4" grinder. Have used it as mini dozer blade
to dig up privt hedge, 2" - 3" trees, push piles of brush around.
Have tilted lift higher on one side to create a digger edge to get under roots,
rocks, logs.
Really one of the best investments I have made for my tractor work.
good luck, jack

 

[BlackThumbHomesteader]

I have a Ford 706 scoop and spent time this passed summer digging my pond deeper. As said above; use a plow or subsoiler to loosen the dirt/clay or you'll be frustrated in no time. You'll be skimming not digging so prepare for that.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I also have a Ford 706.
Had a Dearborn one for several years but sold it when I got this one. The Dearborns aren't reversible. I mostly use mine set backwards for picking rocks out of the garden and deer plots. Have my wife drive while i pick the rocks. Then back to the pile and dump them. This is one of those implements where it helps a Lot to have a hydraulic top link.

 

[willisd1]

I bought one a few years ago to make a swale behind the barn to divert storm water. It worked like a charm. Just finish one for the neibor along his back property line.

 

[stryped]

Did you have dirt brought in and just used the scoop to pick up the loose dirt and deposite it or did you actually dig with the scoop?

 

[Caryc]

This guy got pretty ambitious with his pond scoop.

 

[Tall T]

Stryped,

Catch 22 time here.
If you wait for a naturally wet area where you want a pond to be
you have to wait till early summer so the tractor doesn't sink up to its brake drums like mine did. But then when that wet heavy clay soil of mine dries out so you don't spin and sink, it's too hard for scooping out a pond, without weighted rear tires
and once dug down a little deep it's back to the wet seeping in.

My pond solution . . . my friend with his new Extendahoe Backhoe/loader.

Yours will be better for actual digging than my reversible rear bucket but this one sure does a nice job of skimming surfaces and hauling dirt
.