thank God i have met you twice in my garden ... or i would question your sanity!!!! ... ROTFLMBO

now.. the bent bar... does one buy that in that shape.. or is this a new use for a bar you bent??? .. and if in fact you did bend it.. do you have a cape with a big S on it, under that work outfit????

where is that quarry ... and how much would a rock like that cost.. if you dont mind telling???? .. in other words price delivered versus DIY .... and if you got that rock why .. what kind is it.. how does it look all cleaned up???

and... my yard is 500 feet across ... how long would it take to get one across???? .. a couple inches at a time

what a hoot ... have a great day ...

ken

Interesting,to say the least,Don! I already have one of those large 7 ft. bars you have in your first pics. I use it to pry up everything,including rocks I find just at the surface,on my property. It works well,and it doubles as a curling bar,for weight lifting! Lol! Good article. Phil

"thank God i have met you twice in my garden ... or i would question your sanity!!!!"

Yeah, sometimes I wonder myself...and everyone else says I have "rocks in my head"!

"now.. the bent bar... does one buy that in that shape... or is this a new use for a bar you bent???"

Nah, ya can't buy a bent bar...you've gotta do that yourself. Get a good one...and put two fat guys on the end of it to make it that way. Then once you've used it, you'll realize that's how it should have been in the first place.

"where is that quarry ... and how much would a rock like that cost.. if you don't mind telling????"

I was at a local gravel pit. The price for boulders varies somewhat from place to place...but generally, fieldstone boulders cost $60 to $100/ton. For the size and quantity of rocks I need, that's very expensive...which is why I try to get them for free from farmers and construction sites.

" .. in other words, price delivered versus DIY ..."

This particular gravel company won't load rocks or haul them, which means you've gotta load and haul 'em yourself. Many trucking and excavating companies won't haul them either because they're hard on their trucks. And if they do, it's quite expensive.

"my yard is 500 feet across ... how long would it take to get one across???? .. a couple inches at a time"

You've got a big yard! Five feet/minute = 100 minutes. Of course, you always want to unload a boulder as close to the desired location as possible. Actually, to move a rock 500 ft., I'd use one of the alternative methods I'm going to talk about in my next post titled Hauling Rocks on a Stone Boat, Sled, or Dolly.

"I already have one of those large 7 ft. bars...It works well, and it doubles as a curling bar, for weight lifting!"

Yeah, everything involving rocks takes a lot of energy and work! That's why having a boulder wall installed by a landscaper costs a fortune! For me, I'm a very determined individual, and enjoy the exercise and a good challenge. LOL

Our weenie crow bar is only about 4 feet long. Now I know what I want for Xmas!

...anxiously awaiting parts two and three...

-Babka

Don r,
Thanks for the tutorial.I'm getting my DW one of those bars and a pair of cletes for Christmas!

Denny

Okay. So, now, let's get a video of all you guys doing this in unison-synchronized shifting...my DH needs the inspiration---because I REALLY NEED some big boulders in the back yard on the hill and in the bottom part of the yard!

Once I have that video in hand, my biggest concern will be fitting those bars in his stocking.

Cynthia

Great instructional pix., Don!!! I'm impressed!

Can you believe I have a pry bar, too? It was one my FIL had & it's slightly bent--about 5 ft. long,
not 7'! It's come in handy in so many ways, and weighs at least 20-30#'s! I know this is a good one,
as it's about 2" across and probably at least 50 yrs. old!!

It looks like a giant screw, with a capped end and a chisel end!

Now, where's a boulder for me to practice on?

Great instructions, Don.
BTW I have accomplished a lot with my 25 hp Cub Cadet. Not for rocks but for moving larges bushes and trees, using a heavy duty chain, the kind you find on semi's
In case you like to take this to the next level, here is a link:

Bump to top.

Thanks for the info, Don. Luckily, I own a 60 hp skidloader (and a husband) so I can get alot done when the skidloader is around. I'll have to look for your post about loading them onto a trailer without a loader.
Peggy

I was looking at this old posting, one I have always enjoyed , thought you newbies would enjoy it as well.
cAROL

a joy to see someone else loves to move big rocks =)