Drill Bits

[Jimbrown]

In this case oils oil. Go slow. Or if it was me just drill the heck out it with 2 or 3 bits. Depends on whats your time is worth. But I really don't understand. I clean horse stalls all the time with my BX and teeth would just make it terribly hard to do. I don't want to dig just scoop up the poop.

[RichZ]

Our farm is a commercial goat dairy, and we also raise fiber sheep. We have over 100 goats and about 25 sheep. That's a lot of manure. I have a farm hand who works for me, and he cleans the barns every few days by hand. There isn't room to do it any other way, not even for a skid steer. He dumps the manure out by wheelbarrel in an area, and I pile it up with the loader. Periodically, I dump the manure into my manure spreader to fertilize my pastures and I also give it away to anyone who wants a truckload, and lots of people do. Once the manure is in a big pile, it's really hard to pick up without teeth on the bucket. The teeth dig into the pile and make it way easier to dig. I know because I was helping out at a friend's farm. She has teeth on her loader, and it was so much easier to pick up the manure. People had been telling me that for years, but it didn't make an impact until I used a loader with teeth. Then I saw the huge difference.

[CATMAN]

Are you going to install "ground-engaging" teeth or actual "manure" tines. My Dad's JD 48 loader actually has manure tines on it. They are narrower than "dirt" teeth and longer. They mount with a U-bolt up towards the cutting edge and a single bolt hole at the rear, bottom of the bucket. If you truely do a lot of manure hauling, I would think you would want tines instead of teeth. His tines extend from the cutting edge about 14" to get under packed straw/manure. These could be put on any bucket by drilling bolt holes also.

[RichZ]

I'm using ground engaging teeth. I want to also use this tractor for moving round bales, and I use a bale spear for that. I don't want the teeth to be so long that I can no longer use the bucket with a bale spear.

[Dyer, retired]

Originally Posted by RichZ

I need to put some teeth in the bucket of one of my tractors so it'll be easier to move manure with. It's a real PIA to pick up manure from piles without teeth on the loader. What kind of drill bits do I need to drill thru the steel of a loader? I have seven teeth to put in with 2 bolts each. How many drill bits will I need to drill those 14 holes? I imagine I'll dull the bits pretty good cutting thru that steel. Will titanium bits do the job?

Thanks!!!

RichZ,

Here's my two cents. I think you got an awful lot of advice about how to move manure piles, which is ultimately what your intention is, so that advice is good. I just went through the need to drill 12 holes through 1/4 steel bar stock. I found that drilling with colbalt 42 drill bits (expensive) works great at 135 degree cutting angle on the drill tips. I have a Drill Doctor and also tried high speed steel drill bits sharpened to the 135 degree, split point, worked fine too. The advice to keep the bits oiled and don't overheat them is sound advice. I generally tired out about the time the bit was getting to the point of needing to cool down, so it worked out well. Titatnium drill bits work fine and can be resharpened. Carbide bits lose any advantage of the carbide coating, if I undertand correctly, once they've been sharpened, but will still work like HSS bits. If you do any amount of drilling, the investment into a Drill Doctor is a good one too, or at least I've found it to be. Dyer, retired

[jinman]

Originally Posted by RichZ

Thanks guys!!! I don't need to drill the cutting edge, so, happily I shouldn't have any kind of problem...I hope. Do I need any special kind of oil to keep it cool. Can I just use whatever kind of old oil I have sitting around. I think I might have a few open partially filled containers of 5W-40. Can I use them?

Rich, you want that cutting fluid to be thin enough that it easily lubricates the cutting tip of your bit as it knocks chips. Pooling in the hole or running down the drill shank are good even if the sling-off is messy. You have to keep that drill tip sharp and cutting. If it stops and your metal work-hardens, you'll likely do tip damage and your bit's effeciency will really drop. I just make a big ol' mess and keep squirting fluid as I drill. I also suggest drilling pilot holes for anything larger than 1/4" holes.

Do your remember what John Miller III used to say about bucket teeth? He said, "It's like putting your bucket on steriods." I'd have to agree.

[Solo]

Originally Posted by Dyer, retired

RichZ,

If you do any amount of drilling, the investment into a Drill Doctor is a good one too, or at least I've found it to be. Dyer, retired

I agree with Dyer, retired if you are going to drill alot buy the Drill Doctor. I use mine all the time no more running to the store for a bit I already have several of. Just sharpen it and go.

Solo

[RichZ]

That's right, Jim. JMIII used to always bug me about putting teeth on one of my loaders, and I always ignored him, until I tried my friend's loader with teeth. When I see him next I'll tell him that I finally took his advice. I usually do...eventually.

[SPYDERLK]

Originally Posted by RichZ

I need to put some teeth in the bucket of one of my tractors so it'll be easier to move manure with. It's a real PIA to pick up manure from piles without teeth on the loader. What kind of drill bits do I need to drill thru the steel of a loader? I have seven teeth to put in with 2 bolts each. How many drill bits will I need to drill those 14 holes? I imagine I'll dull the bits pretty good cutting thru that steel. Will titanium bits do the job?

Thanks!!!

Drillng holes in the bucket edge weakens it. A tooth bar would avoid this, altho all teeth whether on a bar or bolted cause high leverage points on the cutting edge and will cause dimples on the edge if the teeth are used hard. --The edge may crack because of it. For what you have in mind a tooth bar would be great. The edge remains unperforated. On and off with 2 bolts fastened thru the ends of the bucket.
larry

[Pennsylvania Weldor]

You could also rent a magnetic drill and use an Annular Cutter. They'll drill anything. Nice neat hole also. Good Luck.