How Do I Choose the Best Rock Picker?

A rock picker is a machine used to remove rocks from topsoil.

They are most commonly used to improve the soil quality of agricultural land or to remove rocks from construction sites, such as future golf courses. Most are designed to be towed behind a tractor or other vehicle. Choosing the right one requires primarily evaluating the situation for which it will be used and then finding the one that best meets the needs of the farmer for the project.

Like many other agricultural implements and construction equipment, rock crushers are manufactured in various sizes and with varying capacities. Smaller models are best for light use and have a smaller maximum rock size they can handle, as well as a smaller TANK capacity. Larger models are better suited for covering large amounts of area, such as agricultural fields.

Removing rocks from a field with a rock breaker or rock chip remover improves soil quality and prevents other equipment from breaking when planting fields.

The first step in choosing the best rock breaker or stone remover for your needs is to have an idea of the size of the rocks on the ground where it will be used. Manufacturers always list the maximum rock size their machines can handle. Scout the area and measure some of the largest rocks you can find. You should assume that there may be slightly larger rocks present as well. The best rock breaker or rock remover for you will be able to handle rocks of at least this size.

The next thing to consider is the size of the area you need to remove rocks from. A very large area, such as a golf course or a large agricultural field, requires a rock picker with a larger sweep and a large TANK . The sweep is the amount of ground covered in one pass of the rock picker. A large sweep allows more ground to be covered in less time. The size of the TANK determines how often it must stop to dump the rocks the picker has collected.

If the ground is very rocky, you should consider a picker with the largest possible TANK . Very rocky ground can produce a large amount of rocks very quickly, and a rock picker with a small TANK requires frequent stops to empty it. The amount of time you are willing or able to spend removing rocks should influence your decision, of course, as collectors with larger hoppers are more expensive, as a general rule, than those with smaller hoppers. Willingness to spend more time on removal may save you money if you select a collector with a smaller TANK .

Depth is another thing to consider. Each rock collector will remove rocks to a certain depth in the soil. Consider your needs when selecting a dethatcher or rock remover. If the rock remover will be used to clear cropland, a rock remover that removes rocks as deep as possible is more desirable. A rock breaker that simply removes rocks from the surface and at shallow depths is probably good enough for landscaping and other similar uses.

Power is an important factor when choosing a rock picker as well. Most rock pickers are designed to be towed from behind and to come out of a tractor's hydraulic system. They require a certain horsepower rating to operate properly. Some models have their own engines, but be careful to choose a rock chipper that is compatible with any intended tow vehicle.

Cost is, of course, a consideration. Use word-of-mouth and the Internet to research brushcutters and their manufacturers, and narrow down your choices that meet your sweeping requirements, collection depth, size of the TANK and vehicle compatibility. Choose the machine that best suits your needs and fits your budget. However, with heavy equipment, the cheapest machine is not always the best choice, as it may be of inferior quality to more expensive machines. However, the most expensive model is not necessarily the highest quality equipment. It may also be a good idea to consider renting a rock breaker rather than buying one, as you may only need the machine for one project and then have no further use for it.