[AT] Pulling a sheepsfoot with a Ford 8n

[Chuck Saunders]

Hi Warren,
I think you and Cecil in OK are on to something with the smaller 
lifts.When  I read about the method of testing the soil for adequate 
clay content, I thought to myself 'Here I am in NW Missouri, I can take 
a shovelful of dirt an dump it on a potters wheel and make my own flower 
pots. The moisture content I have a pretty good feel for.

I guess I do owe some explanation of what I am doing. I have decided to 
enter the nursery business focusing primarily on hardy native MO 
landscaping plants. In analyzing my resources I determined that even 
with drip irrigation I could not go very far on county water. Luckily 
the lay of the land is conducive to a pond site. Since this nursery 
business is desired to be a low capital endeavor I have more time than 
money. The pond will not be that large I am shooting for around a 
million gallons ~3 acre-feet if I understand that term. I will be 
excavating some of the upland to increase capacity wiothout increasing 
height. I talk to to anybody and everybody that has something to offer 
besides "You can't do that, Hire someone". 

I value everyones thoughts on the matter and appreciate the time 
invested in my questions.
Thanks
Chuck Saunders
Kansas City, MO


Warren F. Smith wrote:

>
>The problem there is that if the soil is so moist that the tires are rutting
>I'd suggest that the soil is too wet to be trying to compact it. In that
>case it's best to lay it down loose and let the sun/wind dry it then compact
>it. A 4000lb roller is probably not heavy enough for a 6" lift either.
>Grading contractors usually only place 6" lifts with a huge vibratory sheeps
>foot compactor. You may want to try 3-4" to start out. We have mostly a
>sandy red clay in our region (Upstate SC). A good field test for moisture
>content is to grab a small handful and roll it in between your palms. If it
>makes a "rat turd" w/out completely crumbling or sticking to your hand the
>moisture is just right. I know other soils work differently but I think you
>could get good advice by eating lunch at the greasy spoon closest to a big
>earthmoving jobsite. Sheepsfoot compactors have a tendency to bring moisture
>to the surface but the soil won't dry as fast that way as it will if its
>"fluffed up".
>
>I'm not a gloom and doom guy but a dam is a serious undertaking. A dam
>failure can affect many people downstream/downhill so it's well worth the
>time you're spending to do some research and do it right the first time. You
>didn't say how many cubic yards of dirt you were packing or how big the pond
>is so maybe you're just building a small livestock watering pond. In any
>event, I think you should have no problem pulling or stopping the roller
>with your tractor, just make it worth your time!
>
>
>  
>