Box Blade Experts, please advise

[Anonymous Poster]

I am in the process of looking at box blades for spreading topsoil for a lawn and stone for a long driveway. I believe what I need is a Box blade, I've used them before working for a paver. We used them to level off areas and spread the base (crusher run). I managed to get quite proficient with one, however its been a while.
Do I want a hinged tailgate? I believe that's what we had on the Ford loader I used with the paving company, it provided a better finish with the crusher run and loose materials. I know for seed bed prep a power rake is better, but I can't afford one, and I will most likely buy a tiller and landscape rake in conjunction with these to round out my aresenal. - Same results, more time.

I would greatly appreciate some input, as I've never used a box blade with fixed gate.

 

[GarageSmoker]

I am sure no expert but mine has the hinged back and it seems to do a great job on leveling loose dirt. I have no experience in anything but this one. I have attached a link showing my wife blading an area last weekend. You can click through the pictures to see how it finished. (if the link doesn't open on the first try, keep trying..sometimes the site is busy)


<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbumPhoto.asp?userid=GarageSmoker&album_id=90381&image_id=49>album link</A>

GS

 

[gerard]

While we're on box blades can anyone explain why guage wheels don't come on box blades?? I use them on my rake and use skid shoes on my blade to the same effect. It occurs to me they would be very useful on a box blade also. IE set them for a 2 inch gap, drop the box and drive and you leave a perfect two inch (or whatever) layer of material. I plan on welding some brackets on my box balde so I can use my wheels on it but was wondering if I was missing something.

 

[WVBill]

I wouldn't call myself a box blade expert either but once I discovered how to use my hinged rear blade, I got much better.

Yes. You want a hinged rear blade - but one that is lockable. When your rear blade is locked, it will act as kind of a guage wheel. That is, you will be able to lengthen your top link to a point where the rear blade will ride on the just scraped area and hold the front blade at a constant relative height - thus controlling the depth of cut. I don't have position control on my 3ph so this is the only way I can get a consistent depth of cut from one pass to the next.

On the other hand, there will be times you want to take a more agressive cut than the top link adjustment will allow with a fixed rear blade - if you have a lockable one, just un lock it and let it swing.

Finally, if you want to cut and smooth in the same pass, and you have relatively light material (e.g. gravel or fluffy dirt) then by un locking the back blade you can get a less agressive smoothing action from it.

My box blade and I became much better friends when I discovered the versatility of my lockable rear blade.

I have a very old (1978) Gannon box blade.

 

[Hoeman00]

I thought same thing and made a 8' and 10.5' box blade out of 12" I beam on its side.
then put 5' long side rails out of 10" channel on each end
with slots to allow ajustment up and down.
I throw some 1" to 3" blocks under I beam and lock down
sides keep front .5" lower than rear .
Does a VERY nice job of leveling.
Used on driveways, parking lots , and smoothing topsoil in new yards.

 

[gerard]

Sounds like a great way to do large area's. Did you make a frame so you can pick the whole thing up or do you just drag it behind your tractor? Also how big a tractor do you need to pull a 12 foot width if full of loose dirt?

 

[Slamfire]

Being tighter than Scrooge, I made one out of the tounge off of a mobile home. It came with a jack to use for a gauge. I just added a couple of chains to the open part of the "V" and drag it open end first. Everything gets funneled to the narrow part where the jack sorts em out for size. How close I hook the chains to the drawbar regulates how deep the wide end digs. The lady even paid me for taking the tounges off her double wide. ;^)

 

[BrettW]

GarageSmoker,
I looked at all the pics. How can I set up that site and load pics like you did? thnaks, bw

 

[GarageSmoker]

Go to WWW.Printroom.com and follow the instructions. Very easy. Just be careful and don't join as a professional because there is a charge. Us amatuers pay nothing for the first 200 MG. which is a heck of a lot of low resolution pictures.

GS

 

[Hoeman00]

I have 3 PT hitch on both.
I did use a L2900 Kubota 4wd w/FEL
Now a NH TC35D
Also works great on JD 250 SSL, I built 3PT adapter that uses
a Speeco quik-tach.
That way I can push or pull it.
Need to get digital pics sometime.