How to use a boxblade and why you want one

[JOHNTHOMAS]

These videos sponsored by one of the TBN advertisers are incredible. To me the boxblade is one of the first implements to buy for use and for rear weight. Can't see buying a weight box that doesn't do anything but add weight when a boxblade will add the weight and is one of the most versatile implements made for a tractor. With teeth it digs and with teeth off or raised it's a blade. If you enjoy this video then you go back to their home and there are great videos on the other implements for tractors.
DHD Box Blade Video - Everything Attachments.com

 

[two_bit_score]

Thats a good video. Thanks!

 

[JRobyn]

Makes it look reeeeeal easy! Nice level ground and friable dirt! Now add a bunch of big mounds and dips, slope the whole area a bunch, throw in a couple dozen big rocks varying from football to watermelon size, and then a couple of big chunks of root. Oh yeah, and two or three stumps! Then you'd actually have the real world. ;-)

- Jay

 

[beenthere]

Makes it look reeeeeal easy! Nice level ground and friable dirt! Now add a bunch of big mounds and dips, slope the whole area a bunch, throw in a couple dozen big rocks varying from football to watermelon size, and then a couple of big chunks of root. Oh yeah, and two or three stumps! Then you'd actually have the real world. ;-)

- Jay

Jay said that well. I've been on such a hill for near 43 years, and never felt a need for a box blade.
A Harley Rake yes, but not a box blade.

Mean no offense to those who like them.

 

[_RaT_]

Jay said that well. I've been on such a hill for near 43 years, and never felt a need for a box blade.
A Harley Rake yes, but not a box blade.

Mean no offense to those who like them.

I have both a Harley 8 foot rake and 7' Gannon box blade. The one thing that makes what they were doing a ton easier is hydraulic TnT. Can't imagine having a tractor and having to do all that adjustment by hand. I use the box blade with hydraulic operated rippers before using the Harley. If the ground is hard, the Harley just floats and does not get into and open up the soil. The box blade will leave large clumps that the Harley can then come back and break up and level like no box blade can in just a pass or two.

A couple of words he uses, muuuve and diiitch, what do those mean? :laughing:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Makes it look reeeeeal easy! Nice level ground and friable dirt! Now add a bunch of big mounds and dips, slope the whole area a bunch, throw in a couple dozen big rocks varying from football to watermelon size, and then a couple of big chunks of root. Oh yeah, and two or three stumps! Then you'd actually have the real world. ;-)

- Jay

I live in Ky in the red clay part. I also have the rocks and roots so I agree that the rocks and roots add another dimension but the red clay can be like concrete. It was level which I also have very little of but again, don't know where your from but if you've never tackled red clay it has some very demanding characteristics. I grew up 45 miles east of Somerset and the dirt there was black and if you left a car sitting off the pavement after it had rained it would sink to the frame. Here you can drive up mountains and through fields after rains and the red clay holds you up. So, not quite as easy as you seem to be implying. He had a tractor powerful enough to pull it and that's one of the keys.

 

[two_bit_score]

Makes it look reeeeeal easy! Nice level ground and friable dirt! Now add a bunch of big mounds and dips, slope the whole area a bunch, throw in a couple dozen big rocks varying from football to watermelon size, and then a couple of big chunks of root. Oh yeah, and two or three stumps! Then you'd actually have the real world. ;-)

- Jay

That's the difference in being an operator and a driver - making it look easy.


But, you're right relatively level ground helps a lot. :laughing:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Have you ever seen a car commercial where the car won't start? Have you ever seen a commercial for Beauty Supplies showing an ugly old woman? Have you ever seen a Beer commercial where the Beer is hot and the person is spitting it out? Have you ever seen a Beef commercial where they show cutting the cows throat? They are all true and are probably fairly common but no one selling a product is going to show it not working perfectly. This man did not do these videos just to entertain me for a couple of hours, which they did do, but he did them to sell you a tractor implement that is so easy to use and will save you so much time. I personally would never try using a boxblade in a rocky field on a BX1500 or in the woods and I sure wouldn't if I was trying to sell it, boxblade or the BX1500. Maybe with a M model Kubota but not a BX1500. Warning: Boxblades, tractors, rear blades, FEL's, Shuttle shifts, HST's, 4WD will not work the same on all property and all situations unless they are being shown in a commercial that is showing the actual product doing an actual job. Guess you can see I've got a few spare minutes this morning before going upstairs to get my second cup of coffee.:laughing: Have a nice day, all.

 

[TripleR]

I have used box blades on tractors from my BX2200 on up and found them very useful on all of them. My dad was a dump truck owner/operator who did home site preparation in his "spare time". He tried several machines including a small dozer and settled on a Ford Series 600 tractor and box blade. I have never seen anyone who could do so much with so little. He ran this little tractor until he died even though he could afford something "newer, bigger or better".

I have found that just because I can't do it doesn't mean it can't be done.

 

[Paul Wise]

I really like EVERYTHINGATTACHMENTS.COM :thumbsup: !!! I have learned so much from their vids

 

[ModMech]

Of course if you have hardpan and turf tires, like we do, well forget it...... and hire a dozer.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Of course if you have hardpan and turf tires, like we do, well forget it...... and hire a dozer.

I see you have tillers. Do they work on your hardpan with turf tires? Do they just bounce on the top of it?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I really like EVERYTHINGATTACHMENTS.COM :thumbsup: !!! I have learned so much from their vids

Me to............but.........now I want more of the implements. I'm now in serious persuit of a Disc harrow and single bottom plow because of watching their videos. I even got out this morning and cut a bunch of briars off my none developed property. Goinna do me a garden!!!! I raised my MMM to top and mowed little trees and briars. Now to get the bigger rocks up. Boxblade it, single bottom plow it (when I get one) and disc harrow it (when I get one) and then RatchetRake it when it gets here and then till it and then let my wife go from there.:laughing:

 

[slan]

I don't want to get into the box blade vs the scraper blade thing so I am not saying one is better than the other.
I would say that maybe a box blade might be better for an inexperienced user if all they wanted to do was to smooth out uneven ground, take out small/med sized roots, and maintain a driveway.

I have one and I absolutely love it. The only thing I wish is that I was good at welding so I could hinge the side plates to allow slight angeling of the blade while keeping the benefits of the box design for crowning the road.

Come on guys, think about it.:thumbsup::cool2:
I know theres someone thinking about how to do this right now!
Could be the first angle box blade?:thumbsup:

The challenge has been tabled....
Evil grin.....

 

[RealDogBoy]

I got a box blade with my L1500 and have yet to use it. Before watching the video and reading this thread I had a vague idea of how to use it. I'm much better off thanks to all of you who contributed.

 

[savageactor7]

Wicked excellent...thank for bringing it to our attention.

 

[DavidAubke]

Do I want a box blade? I've heard about how they're one of the most useful attachments but I think I don't entirely understand their applications. They seem to be mainly about leveling dirt moguls which is something I haven't often needed to do.

I use a 6' scraper blade to maintain a gravel driveway. First I put the blade at a 45 deg. angle and pull towards the center of the driveway. Usually I only pull uphill to counteract effects of gravity and rainwater so that's two trips down and up. I then turn the blade around and pull it backwards (the blade, not the tractor) at a 90 deg. angle to spread the material I just piled up in the center. This requires two or three passes.

This leaves me with a very smooth driveway. The only problem I have is that pieces the #4 stone I placed on the bank have tumbled down and are scattered across the drive. These wedge under the blade when I'm smoothing and lift it off the ground while they dig little trenches.

How would a box blade improve my driveway maintenance experience?

 

[DavidAubke]

...while keeping the benefits of the box design for crowning the road.

How does the box design aid in crowning the road? I thought it just made things flat.

 

[TripleR]

SEOdave,

First I am by no means an expert on box blades/scraper or back blades, so someone may set me straight. I really need both to do all my work as both have strengths and weaknesses when compared to each other. I move material up a steeply inclined "road" that washes down over time, do dirt work and smooth out rutted roads a blade won't touch. I use my back/grader blade much as you on my regular flat roads to get the stone back where it needs to be.

In spite of the love many of us have for the box blade/scraper, not everyone needs or has any use for one. If all I was going to do was gravel maintenance or snow removal, I wouldn't own one either.

 

[/pine]

I could have missed it but one thing I did not see mentioned about using a box blade was digging...
...I know a bb is not normally thought of as a digging implement but anyone that has used one knows how well they "cut" with the proper blade attitude.

Not saying it is the best tool for digging applications but it does work great for some...
...as long as you are digging something wider than the bb and have egress a bb will dig as deep as you can continue to manuver the machine... a basement with one open end/side is a an example...