DIY Rock Rake

2025 - Volume #49, Issue #2, Page #11

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DIY Rock Rake

After having two rock rakes custom-built for use on his 230 Excavator, Dale Gunn spent a fraction of the cost building his own. His goal was a similar rake at a lower price for his one-ton digger.
“The custom-built ones were impressive with every other horizontal bar removable,” says Gunn. “I added extra vertical bars secured via sleeves over the extra horizontal bars. When I removed them, it allowed larger material through. Because the removable bars rattle around, they tend to let jammed rocks break free and fall through.”
The two commercially built rock rakes cost about $8,500 NZD, just under $5,000 USD. He estimates making his own ran about $1,000.
“I built it for sifting river run gravel, and it does a pretty good job with topsoil as well,” says Gunn. “I’ve used many different types over the years, and this combines all the better features.”
He started by cutting out cardboard templates and outlining them on 10 mm mild, flat steel. Complete, the bucket measures 900 mm (360 in.) wide, 400 mm (16 in.) high and 600 mm (24 in.) deep. The 10 by 100 mm toolbar is slightly wider at 920 mm, as is the 50 by 75 mm frame box. The ears and ears base plate plus caps at pin holes were fabricated from 15 mm steel.
Gunn used 20 mm rounded bar for the 920 mm long horizontal rods, which he mounted at 100 mm intervals. The 10 mm ribs and rib plates were spaced 110 mm apart. The steel plate ribs with rods penetrating them alternate with 10 mm solid box steel welded to the horizontal rods.
“It would’ve been nice to have removables in the bucket, but then I would’ve had to go to a much higher grade of steel to retain strength,” says Gunn. “That would have added considerably more cost. With this spacing, I can easily screen concrete gravel.”
He used high-tensile steel for the teeth set at the ends of the ribs and rib plates. “The teeth are not likely to wear down any time soon,” says Gunn. “They can easily be refurbished with a grouser-type bar if required.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dale S. Gunn, 30 Gunn St., Te Anau 9600, Southland, New Zealand (dale.s.gunn@gmail.com).

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DIY Rock Rake After having two rock rakes custom-built for use on his 230 Excavator Dale Gunn spent a fraction of the cost building his own His goal was a similar rake at a lower price for his one-ton digger “The custom-built ones were impressive with every other horizontal bar removable ” says Gunn “I added extra vertical bars secured via sleeves over the extra horizontal bars When I removed them it allowed larger material through Because the removable bars rattle around they tend to let jammed rocks break free and fall through ” The two commercially built rock rakes cost about $8 500 NZD just under $5 000 USD He estimates making his own ran about $1 000 “I built it for sifting river run gravel and it does a pretty good job with topsoil as well ” says Gunn “I’ve used many different types over the years and this combines all the better features ” He started by cutting out cardboard templates and outlining them on 10 mm mild flat steel Complete the bucket measures 900 mm 360 in wide 400 mm 16 in high and 600 mm 24 in deep The 10 by 100 mm toolbar is slightly wider at 920 mm as is the 50 by 75 mm frame box The ears and ears base plate plus caps at pin holes were fabricated from 15 mm steel Gunn used 20 mm rounded bar for the 920 mm long horizontal rods which he mounted at 100 mm intervals The 10 mm ribs and rib plates were spaced 110 mm apart The steel plate ribs with rods penetrating them alternate with 10 mm solid box steel welded to the horizontal rods “It would’ve been nice to have removables in the bucket but then I would’ve had to go to a much higher grade of steel to retain strength ” says Gunn “That would have added considerably more cost With this spacing I can easily screen concrete gravel ” He used high-tensile steel for the teeth set at the ends of the ribs and rib plates “The teeth are not likely to wear down any time soon ” says Gunn “They can easily be refurbished with a grouser-type bar if required ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dale S Gunn 30 Gunn St Te Anau 9600 Southland New Zealand dale s gunn@gmail com

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