Box Scraper Beginners guide to using a box blade

[Harry Palmer]

Something I'm learning is you can add weights to the back of the box to help dig it in so you can scrape without using the chisels. I may make some weights from concrete and rebar to hang on the back so the blade will cut the top off the high points. Otherwise, the box just skims the top. I also changed my top-link so I could shorten it enough so the blade would cut in. Does make a difference. Next year I may try ripping the whole yard, then scraping it level. I just have a small tractor so I might spend a month working it level. '

This is a very good thread; thanks to all who have commented. Really helps us who must admit we don't know anything - yet!

 

[CanuckPT]

I got about an hour in using my box blade on my driveway for the 1st time! I can't tell you all how much I appreciate the information that's available on this site when seeking advice! I followed instructions from a thread on how to use a box blade & BOOM! My driveway looks great! Even my wife was impressed!!

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[jenkinsph]

I got about an hour in using my box blade on my driveway for the 1st time! I can't tell you all how much I appreciate the information that's available on this site when seeking advice! I followed instructions from a thread on how to use a box blade & BOOM! My driveway looks great! Even my wife was impressed!!

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For a first time with a box blade I think you did a great job.:thumbsup:

I remember when I started out box blading with a 3020 Deere in 1975, it wasn't pretty.:laughing:

 

[jenkinsph]

You can say that again. I moved away for a few years, then moved back. The town almost doubled in size. I live NW of Dona Ana and a lot of the farms have been sold and converted to housing. One of my neighbors just planted a cotton field with pecans, so he isn't planning to sell anytime soon. At least most of the "new" development is East of LC. I don't want any more neighbors close to me cause they always want to add street lights which really messes up my looking at the stars. I'm semi-retired and "raise" pecans and other fruit trees. Currently, I'm using my box blade to clean out the irrigation ditch so I can get water the one time allowed. The rest of the time, I pump it from the well.

I lived in Hillsboro years ago, small enough everyone knew when a new person moved to town.

That growth east of LC is amazing but is so tacky too. You can keep that growth in LC, we don't need it in Ruidoso.

 

[CanuckPT]

For a first time with a box blade I think you did a great job.:thumbsup: I remember when I started out box blading with a 3020 Deere in 1975, it wasn't pretty.:laughing:

Thank you. It wasn't hard when I followed the great advice I got off of this thread!! I'm always learning!!

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[jmc]

Don't underestimate the value of impressing your wife with tractor chores. When she is looking for volunteers to vacuum the house, you will want to get those potholes fixed before it rains. Somebody has to do it.

 

[CanuckPT]

Don't underestimate the value of impressing your wife with tractor chores. When she is looking for volunteers to vacuum the house, you will want to get those potholes fixed before it rains. Somebody has to do it.

True - and great great advice!

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[RDrancher]

I got about an hour in using my box blade on my driveway for the 1st time! I can't tell you all how much I appreciate the information that's available on this site when seeking advice! I followed instructions from a thread on how to use a box blade & BOOM! My driveway looks great! Even my wife was impressed!!

Chicks dig tractor guys! You did a fine job on your driveway. :thumbsup:

 

[CanuckPT]

Chicks dig tractor guys! You did a fine job on your driveway. :thumbsup:

Thank you! I'm ridiculously pleased with the outcome! Fortunately, my wife appreciates me for much more than that but I'm happy when playing on the dirt with my Kubota yields benefits on multiple fronts!!!

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[adt2]

I've got a box blade question:

My tractor came with about a 5' box blade, among other things. There are "teeth" sitting upside-down in slots on the front top side of the unit. Clearly they're just being stored there. When I pull a tooth out, though, I cannot figure how to attach it right-side-up to the box blade. There are three notches cut in the front/leading edge of each tooth "upright" which look like they should engage something, but I can't figure out what. How, exactly, does one mount the teeth to the blade to rip the soil?

 

[adt2]

I've got a box blade question:

My tractor came with about a 5' box blade, among other things. There are "teeth" sitting upside-down in slots on the front top side of the unit. Clearly they're just being stored there. When I pull a tooth out, though, I cannot figure how to attach it right-side-up to the box blade. There are three notches cut in the front/leading edge of each tooth "upright" which look like they should engage something, but I can't figure out what. How, exactly, does one mount the teeth to the blade to rip the soil?

 

[jmc]

So just gravity holds them in upside down?

My Woods has teeth like you described and they are retained by separate pieces of steel included with the box blade. Are there any little "nubs" welded to the top of the tooth holder frame component that would accept a lynch pin?

 

[adt2]

Yep, just gravity...

There's no nubs or anything. I'm guessing there were some other pieces supposed to come with the tractor that the seller forgot about.

 

[jmc]

Best if you start a new thread in "Attachments" with a descriptive title like, 'my box blade teeth are falling out'. Add a picture if possible. Someone on here has one just like it and will be glad to help.

 

[bcp]

You put the scarifier in where you want it, with the notch engaged, then drop one of these down behind it so it can't come out of the notch.

5PC LOT-SLOT KEEPER PINS FOR BOX BLADE ROCK/STONE SCARIFIER RIPPER DIGGER SHANK SHANKS

Bruce

 

[CanuckPT]

I volunteered to help some friends who had a hillside excavated last summer to put up a large Shelter Logic structure. The spoils from that were piled beside their driveway.



They wanted the spoils moved to another area of their yard to decrease the slope of a hillside to enable them to safely mow it.



They also had anther area that's been difficult to weed whack that they wanted some of the spoil moved to as well but didn't need to be mow-able.

Here's what I finished yesterday:



I wrapped it up today & gave their driveway a going-over for good measure! A fun weekend of "working" on my tractor! About 7 hours of seat time. I sure learned a lot!

 

[0xbeef]

There is a lot of good info in this thread. Thanks to all who contributed.

 

[Soldier415]

Read this whole thread before using new (to me) tractor and box blade to fix one section of my road. Came out great.



This morning had 35 yards of 3/4" crusher run trucked in to fix another section which was down to the big base stone in places and rutted and washed out. As I wasn't digging a layer up, I had the top link way out so only the back blade was engaging. I think this had the unintended consequence of letting all the fines filter out of the box leaving just the stone. The top layer of the road is now loose stone, unlike the section pictured where when I let the top link out just enough to take the front blade off the ground slightly for the finishing pass. Doing that left a nice mixed layer of stone and fines that was smooth.

 

[Piston]

Looks great Soldier!

For those of you who have box blades with a hinged blade, I tried my box blade with the hinged blade fixed the other day for the first time ever, and it really made it a lot easier to carry a smoother grade by using that rear hinged blade as sort of a gauge wheel in a sense. I think I'll keep it in the fixed position unless I'm trying to dig real deep real often. I liked the additional control it had, but I also like the option of going either way with it.

I was surprised at how different it made the box blade feel.

 

[Bronco82]

Picked up a box blade myself yesterday and a big thank you to all who contributed in this thread. Now I have a better understanding of the THEORY of it, just have to get out there and to the practical.