Box Scraper 5’ box blade recommendations

[Rich B1]

Re: 5 box blade recommendations

Thanks for the advance! View attachment 652385View attachment 652386 this is what need to maintain. Would a box blade be the right implement for this? Should I consider a back blade or rake? I have other uses for a box blade so if that will work, all the better.

IMO, a landscape rake is not going to fix that. You likely can do the work with a grading blade. You also can do it with a box blade.

This is from 3 years of using likely a too light of a box blade on a driveway that likes to challenge me. 21 HP tractor, 4 KK XB series blade. It just covers the rear tires.

I find I need both the box blade and grading blade to keep the driveway tame. It is a 3 part process. Use the rippers on the box blade to break up the hard material, the grading blade to work it into a decent crown, then the box blade again to move gravel, smooth, and pack.

Both blades require you to figure how the pitch of the blade can make the blade work for you. The pitch is key to getting the blade to work. Especially with the box blade, it is all about pitch to get a box blade to move/dig or spread/ smooth.

The box blade is, IMO, an attachment that need patience. IME, you go slow to get a box blade to work best. You go fast, you will not be happy. You will also get used to adjusting the top link to get the pitch the best.

You can get a nice driveway with a box blade, just don稚 think it will happen in 15 minutes.

 

[fried1765]

Thanks for the advance! View attachment 652385View attachment 652386 this is what need to maintain. Would a box blade be the right implement for this? Should I consider a back blade or rake? I have other uses for a box blade so if that will work, all the better.

I have 3 rear blades,(and a box blade)!
A crappy cheap farm store one.
A King Kutter 84" offset/tilt .
An EA Deluxe 6-way 72" Scrape Blade (32HP tractor).

The first two above, need to be sold!
The EA Deluxe Scrape Blade is the CATS AXX !!!!
A box blade is intended for moving material, but is not the proper tool for maintaining driveway shape.
I keep a significant crown on my driveway, and I have used a rear scrape blade for 50 years.
You should call EA, as I think they make bolt on ends for this Deluxe scrape blade, and if so, THAT would truly be the cats AXX.

With the bolt on ends their scrape blade can also function much like a box blade (no rippers).
With the end plates removed, it is simply a very versatile angle/offset/tilt scrape blade.

The EA 6-Way Scrape Blade may be more expensive than others, but it is worth every penny!
Be absolutely certain to get the bolt on end plates if they are available.

Someone will surely come along now and say..... "Land Plane".
It is almost impossible to keep a driveway/roadway properly crowned with a land plane.
A land plane cannot double as the box blade, that you suggest you also want.
Land plane flat driveways = lots of puddles!

 

[dlctcg]

Re: 5 box blade recommendations

So after looking at the pics you posted... it is hard to tell what the base of the drive is & there does not seem to be very many fines in the top layer...

It also looks like the right side is substantially higher than the left side.... If this is the case (as with parts of our drive) you may not wane to crown that area & instead pitch it hard to one side. We have to do this in multiple parts of our drive (close to 3/4 of a mile) as one side is substantially higher than the other....

Now we own a Land Plane / Land Leveler & while it does make an armature look like a pro for maintaining & grating, I agree it is not for making crowns... maintaining yes... making not ideal... We have TnT which helps... (actually it is a God send)

I don't own a scraper blade, but use a combination of a box blade (with scarifiers), a landscape rake with gauge wheels & a land plane (wish it had scarifiers) on our drive... we have a 40hp machine & I need all 3 implements at times to make the drive right... but we do use the land plane the most to keep the drive in shape...

Pics below are typical fall images... & I only needed the Land plane this season.... last pic is just prior to rolling it...(pic from the roller)

 

[MESSMAKER]

A 25 hp tractor will not have the power or weight to stress out a box blade. It will work fine ,but you will not need a HD unit. I think this may be a chance to save a few $$.

 

[AlbanySamurai]

Re: 5 box blade recommendations

@friend1765, @/pine, @LSmt125owner, @RichB1, @dlctg and everyone who replied to this thread, I am humbled and thankful for all your advice for this newbie. Thank you!

@RichB1, Your statements align with my thinking. I also have a small machine. I am willing to be patient and go slow and do it more than once.


@friend1765, I will look at EA. Looks like they have some good offering. Thanks!


@dlctg, This 1" crushed stone is the base I just spread. Before that, it was just dirt (mostly clay) with grass grown on it due to the lack of use. It is not a primary driveway. I had an excavator cut into the hill to establish the road to get up the hill with my truck. It is banked into the hill for the runoff. so the part near the hill stays wet and muddy (Clay mud is the worst!). I am not sure I will put a top layer of fine material on it yet. Will it just get washed away? I just want to get my tractor or truck up the hill even when it is wet out without getting muddy. My tractor is only 25hp so I am limited. I don't need to maintain a crown for much of the road. It isn't that long (<1000'). Less implements and multi-use ones would be best. I thought the box blade would be the best all around tool but it sounds like most people have a bunch of attachments they use. Perhaps a box blade and a back blade?

 

[John Skull]

I recently got the Titan 4-footer on a 10% off sale. Works good so far.

 

[fried1765]

Re: 5 box blade recommendations

@friend1765, @/pine, @LSmt125owner, @RichB1, @dlctg and everyone who replied to this thread, I am humbled and thankful for all your advice for this newbie. Thank you!

@RichB1, Your statements align with my thinking. I also have a small machine. I am willing to be patient and go slow and do it more than once.


@friend1765, I will look at EA. Looks like they have some good offering. Thanks!


@dlctg, This 1" crushed stone is the base I just spread. Before that, it was just dirt (mostly clay) with grass grown on it due to the lack of use. It is not a primary driveway. I had an excavator cut into the hill to establish the road to get up the hill with my truck. It is banked into the hill for the runoff. so the part near the hill stays wet and muddy (Clay mud is the worst!). I am not sure I will put a top layer of fine material on it yet. Will it just get washed away? I just want to get my tractor or truck up the hill even when it is wet out without getting muddy. My tractor is only 25hp so I am limited. I don't need to maintain a crown for much of the road. It isn't that long (<1000'). Less implements and multi-use ones would be best. I thought the box blade would be the best all around tool but it sounds like most people have a bunch of attachments they use. Perhaps a box blade and a back blade?

As I think I clearly pointed out.
I am not a shill for EA!

I have thee rear blades.
My EA 6 way blade is the ONLY one I will keep!
Unlike me, you will buy only one blade, if you buy the EA 6-way blade.
Before buying though, ask Travis at EA if their 60" Deluxe 6-way blade is a suitable size for your 21HP tractor.
That blade may be just a bit too big, and I don't think they offer a 4' version.

Some EA stuff is just too costly for me, but after two blade choice failures, their six foot 6-way blade eventually became my wise choice!
I do have EA 42" forks also (much more rugged than Titan, though Titan forks would likely be fine for your small machine).

 

[fried1765]

I recently got the Titan 4-footer on a 10% off sale. Works good so far.

Seems as though your 24.5HP tractor could certainly pull a 5' scrape blade.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

We got a 5' box blade from our local Canadian auto, farm store.. It is China built, but was on sale out the door cheaper than I could buy steel and build. Again, it is China made, but for what it is designed for, and capable of, it works well.. Brand name, and show room color are not important to me.

The blade in the picture of post #1 looks to be a nice implement, but I wonder if the price can be beat with some research and shopping around..

 

[manganos]

I use a 4’ Southern Boxblade on my 1723e and it’s all it wants when loaded up in low 4wd.