Well got up Saturday Morning and got started! Filled the Gradall up with $150 worth of diesel and started digging the small pond. The pond is going to be about ½ acre in size and 12 ft deep I have dug on it for 2 days and I am about half done. It’s probably going slow compared to some of you guy’s ponds, but I am a 1-man show! If the rain will hold off until next Sunday I will have it dug!!!

Before:

After Started:

Tim,

I'd wait until you have some water in it!

Keep us posted! Welcome to the fraternity of pond meisters!

I always like seeing the progress of a new pond in pictures

Tim,

Nice place! Don't be concerned about how long it takes....just how it turns out. Great job! Show us a picture of your equipment, if you don't mind. You can be an inspiration to other DIY pond people.

Meadowlark, My equipment is Old but all in good shape. The Gradall is a 1994 model that I bought from the City of Beaumont for $7000 at their auction. It has a 5-foot wide bucket and a 25-foot reach, the bucket hold 7/8 of yard of dirt. By buying it from a Municipality I was able to obtain all the service records since it was purchased new, plus all the manuals.

My dump truck is another story; it is old (1974 model) and rusted out but mechanical in decent shape. Drives and hauls dirt, I cant ask for anything else as it was free. My father gave me the old truck as he has a dump truck service down in Liberty County. He has 3 other newer Kenworth 16 yard trucks that he transports River rock and sand from the Dolen / Rye Texas area mainly to Beaumont area.

My tractor is a 1994 model Mahindria 575 DI with a 5 ft FEL and a 6-foot box blade and brush hog.I bought it from a friend for $4500.The tractor has about 600 hours on it and it is in good shape. The only gripe I have about the tractor is the its India made based on the old International tractor pattens. Which would have been great if the would have stuck stricky to the original pattens, but they put metric sized hydraulic lines on it with British fittings on all the FEL and power steering hoses. Which makes the very difficult to find locally here in east Texas. Parts availability is my only issue with it.

So as you can see from above hauling dirt runs deep in my blood for several years. It is not something I practically like to do, but when you want something bad enough that you can do. You just do it! I started hauling dirt straight out of High school for a couple of years and before. I have chosen a totally different way to make my living, as I am lead tech for Global Voice Operation for the second largest bank in the US. I got as far away from the dirt business as I could. So I am not your typical DIY guy.

As you have read from many other peoples postings here (Eddie Walker’s story comes to mind) to own and operate equipment. You have to be 5/8 mechanic which is probably the least thing I like to do. I was fortunate to have parents that believed with encouragement, and will power, I could do anything I set my mind on doing.

Tim,

I'm exactly the same way...the equipment is a means to an end. Although I do enjoy turning brush and raw land into a beautiful pond and homeplace, keeping everything running is a chore. Man, gotta love that dump truck! Wish it were mine. It would fit right in with my old dozer!

Equipment is fun to have. My biggest chore is keeping everything maintained and useable. Various equipment that I own has 38 tires and 12 batteries.

Having limited time, I'm at the point of wanting something to work with, not to work on. Of course, I can rarely afford the good stuff that doesn't break down.

In the 25 years that I've owned land, I've had dozer work done 8 or 10 times. All but two of them has had breakdowns of one kind or another. $$$$$$$$$$$$

Meadowlark, Maybe we could trade out some services?

Tim,

Sure, that's possible. Finding time is my biggest problem. Clearing 70 acres, building more ponds, and just the normal ranch activities keeps things very busy...and work in the city is getting in the way of the "fun" work.

Well, I shot some grades today. All I have to say is that looks are very deciving. I thought that I was close by my eyes, Boy was I wrong. It will end up only be 8 ft deep and I have a bunch more digging to do. Building a pond on the side of a hill sure can fool the eyes. I estimate that I am not a 1/4 done on the digging.

Tim,

Been there, done that also.

Even the pros' eyes can't be trusted. Shoot grade early and as often as needed. Don't trust the eyes on our rolling East Texas land.

Well Folks, I have made some real good progress on this pond this past weekend. I did not work hard just at a steady pace. I have included pictures of the progress.




Than on Sunday about noontime it hit me: While I was eating lunch, “Why I had always hated the dirt business “ A tire blew!!! While the Gradall was parked and nobody near it! That had brought back some memories: Work hard all week to get a decent paycheck, than have to spend it on tires! This one is going to be expensive!!!!

Well guys Its been a year. I have spent a lot of time on the dozer ,Gradall and in the dump truck. I thought I would show you guys some updated pictures. I have a brick layer going to lay a cinder block wall about 5' high down the right side of my house and wrap around the back side of my dam. Once that is complete I will do my finish grade and seed everything with rye grass.
Before

After

Well Tim...there ya go. She's a beaut!
You guys that do your own excavation as a DIY project are in a premier class all to your own. I would consider you to be a card-carrying member.
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When all is complete and filled in with water and grass, your spectacular vista will be postcard worthy. Congrats!

Very nice lookin pond.

Tim are fish next or are they alrady in their new home ?

Ewest, No fish in it yet. I have been waiting for about 2' more of water.

uh oh....not even FH's? wait til Burger Sunmeister Forage Supply Co hears this one!

Not to mention the Jaegerwald Milk, Minnow, and Spice Company.

Tim:

You should be very proud of your accomplishments.

Bing