Box Scraper Box Blade Types

RayCo · Apr 24, 2008

About an acre of my property is slated to become a normal grassy yard after I get the soil prepped, so I'm in the market for a box blade to help me out with that. I see that there are box blades with a hinged back box blades. How do I know if I want a blade with or without the hinged back? Which way does the back flap swing? In the pictures (on King Kutter's site), it looks as though the back flap would just allow some dirt to slide out behind the box as you drive along, but the description of "the rear cutting edge is hinged to allow deeper penetration and to eliminate the build up of soil between the cutting edges." doesn't really match what I'm assuming. Is it just that it allows it to go deeper in the ground? If I'm pulling a 48" blade with a Kubota BX24 (subcompact 23 hp), I'd think that going deeper in the ground would just leave me wanting a bigger tractor. If I don't let it go deeper in the ground, will it allow dirt to just sweep out under the back flap? Just not sure what I should be getting here.

Most my my box blading will be done going up and downhill, as my whole property's on a hill, if this is relevant.

skipmarcy · Apr 24, 2008

All I've ever had experience with is the fixed blade type but that's 100's of hours with it in all types of materials. You can do most anything with this type if you are willing to adjust your toplink as needed which is very, very often. That's why I have a hydraulic toplink. Minute adjustments make a rather large difference with a boxblade as far as depth of cut and smoothness etc. With a boxblade, weight is the biggest factor but my lightweight Atlas can get the job done, just takes a little longer. The swinging rear blade would probably be able to cut deeper given the same weight and angle, plus they say the swinging blade leaves a smoother finish grade with fewer passes. I hope to upgrade boxblades sometime this year and I'm going with a fixed blade type again, just a heavier and wider one. My 6' just barely catches all of my tire tracks, a 7' will be ideal for me. I found a place near me that has some good prices on the type of boxblade I want - a 7' that weighs about 600 lbs. for right at $600. Good luck on whatever you decide.

seapea · Apr 25, 2008

A hinged box blade will allow you to extend your toplink while and still keep the front blade in contact with the ground. This will give the front blade a more agressive bite into the ground.

With a fixed back blade, if you extend the toplink far enough, only the back blade will make contact. This is useful for smoothing loose dirt when you don't really want to be moving much if any dirt around. I think the technique is to have the back blade in contact with the ground, the front blade just a bit off the ground, and drop the 3PH so it is not lifting the box blade at all. The front blade will only bite into high spots, and the back blade will smooth things out.

I don't have either yet, but plan on getting a fixed blade very soon. From what I've learned, fixed blades are easier for the novice, and hinged blades are better for those with a lot of box blade experience.

mojoinco · Apr 25, 2008

I have a 'floating' blade type, with scarifiers that can be dropped (rough manual adjustment) and are adjusted by shortening the top link (which raises the rear blade, and can even be adjusted so that the front blade is tilted up).

Or, you can lengthen the top link to the point that the scarifier and front blade are lifted off of the ground.

The floating blade is great as it acts like a rake. I just tilt the front blade high, and lower the 3ph so that the rear blade just touches the ground.

The lower the unit sits, the deeper it will dig, to the point that the ground is too hard and it slides over it (talking about the blade here, not the scarifiers), or your tractor stalls out.

I really like mine, and need to find a wider one for my new tractor.

RayCo · Apr 25, 2008

mojoinco said:
I have a 'floating' blade type, with scarifiers that can be dropped (rough manual adjustment) and are adjusted by shortening the top link (which raises the rear blade, and can even be adjusted so that the front blade is tilted up).

mojoinco, what's the floating blade type? Is this a third option I need to read into? Or is floating just synonomous with hinged when it comes to box blades?