Land plane blades straight or angled ?

[goneblue]

I am building a land plane and can't decide which way the blades should be, straight or angled. The more expensive ones have an adjustment for both ways. Since the land plane sits flat, it would seem the only difference would be having the material roll over or travel in the direction of the blade angle. But since its flat what difference does it make? Does the angle cut better? Spent the day at a salvage yard and got all the steel I need now for the fun.

 

[bcp]

If you watch the videos, there is little visible sideways movement along the blades. Some people say the angled blades cut off humps better, as they are not cutting full width at once. Others like straight blades for yard and field work.

My rear blade at 30 degrees angle spills dirt off both ends. I get no large movement unless it is at 45 degrees. Most land plane grading scrapers are less than 30 degrees, to my eye.

If you are building it only for road work, building crowns, I would angle the blades, but at more angle than the commercial scrapers. Otherwise, mine would be straight.

Bruce

 

[goneblue]

I agree and have watched many videos and whether angled or straight the material seems to just flow over. The blades being so small it doesn't seem to make much difference.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I agree and have watched many videos and whether angled or straight the material seems to just flow over. The blades being so small it doesn't seem to make much difference.

On my LPGSs, the dirt moves over about 1/2" per blade, so about 1" per pass. The cutting edges are about 20-25 degree angle. I actually painted strips on the ground to check this.
That is when it flows over the edge like is seen in so many videos. When I grade, this does not happen very often, I usually have much more material being moved and then I have no idea how much it moves sideways, very little to none would be my guess.

I do believe that the angled blades cut better on a washboard surface, but I know others would dispute that. What I do know is whatever you build, you will be happy with it. They all seem to work well, some better than others, but all of them are better than the alternatives IMO.

Good luck.

 

[/pine]

...I do believe that the angled blades cut better on a washboard surface...

I can't speak for planes but I know for a fact (in my experience) that this is true with scrape blades and rakes...

 

[Gordon Gould]

A couple thoughts I have on severely angled blades that will build a crown - If you angle the blades enough to build a crown that means you can only travel in one direction. It is often advantageous to be able to travel in both directions both for efficiency and material distribution. For instance on a hill I like to grade uphill on both sides of the road. This tends to bring material back up hill.

On some road sections you make not want a crown. You may want or need a flat pitch across the whole road. If your blades are angled enough to crown it will add a complication in doing this.

If you use your top link to feather or adjust the aggressiveness of the cut a straight blade will have the same pressure on it all the way across and cut even. If you shorten the top link say, to make a more aggressive cut, with an angled blade the forward end of the blade (ditch side) will cut harder than the back end (road center).

If your blades are not severely angled I doubt you will see much difference as others have said.

My blades are straight. I do crown and contour work with a rear blade and maintain the contour with my land plane.

Start on hard packed gravel road



Finished



gg

 

[goneblue]

Looks like yours is doing a real nice job! Does the hinged back flap fluff it out?
Just finished one side of mine today and it will look like a Land Pride and I
may steal some of your design also.

 

[Gordon Gould]

It doesn't do much in straight gravel. But it traps sod and other light debris if you have that in the road.
There is a stop pin at the bottom so I can use the tailgate as a blade to push sod piles off the road. If I hang the tailgate inside the pin by flipping it up and over it will hold gravel in the box like a box bade.





gg

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

I built mine with straight blades because it is much easier to do. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to make it as heavy as you possibly can. Mine is 600 lbs and only 3' wide (yes, three feet) which puts it nearly double the weight of most commercially available and it's not any where near too heavy. In the spring, I'll be adding more weight up to the max of what my 3 pt will lift and see how it works. When you make the adjustable height for the blades, make sure you allow for them to drop below the runners otherwise you'll only be able to take off the high spots and not grade out any potholes.

My build: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/320911-lpgs-build.html

Gordon, nice lane you have there :thumbsup:

 

[goneblue]

Did you make it 3ft for weight issue or other? I have not figured out what width I want yet but length is 5 ft.
Yours sure looks heavy duty.