Rear Blade Box Blade vs. Grader Blade

[jmc]

Here's another thought for you .....
I have a york rake which is fine for leveling gravel but not so great for loose soil. I modified the cutting edge of an old snow plow so that I can bolt it to the tines of the york rake. That converts the york rake into a rear blade with only 5 bolts.

We're gonna need a picture of that one!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Land Pride RBT blade.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Land Pride RBT blade.

I guess it was a mistake for me to say an RBT blade was primitive. :laughing: That is some blade you have there Brian !!!
I didn't know they had changed so much. They don't even make an RBT25 blade like the one I have any more. Guess I am turning into a dinosaur.

 

[ovrszd]

Thanks. Also read a few posts on Grader Scrapers. Right now I'm leaning towards box blade. Appreciate the info.

During the buildup phase a rear angle blade would probably be your friend. If you patiently shop using tools like Craigslist, you can pick up an old angle blade for a couple hundred.

For maintenance the Grader Scraper is your best friend.

30 years ago before Box Blades or Grader Scrapers became popular everyone did their driveway maintenance with a rear angle blade. Just requires more patience and operator skills. The Grader Scraper can be used by anyone that has the talent to get it hitched to their tractor.

 

[sandman2234]

I have a box blade, maintained a dirt road (not gravel, just dirt!) for years. I moved on to a homemade two blade pull behind grader and pretty much parked the box blade.
I don't have a budget for it, but really like the off-setable rear blade, wow those are nice! Considered building one, but time has gotten more valuable!
David from jax

 

[xrsrfn]

Allied Farm King makes a blade like the Land pride but is much heavier. I found a used 100109 that weighs 1300 plus and is one of the easiest ways to move large amounts of dirt in a short time I have had the pleasure of using. My vote is a large grader blade. My next build project is going to be putting hydraulic tilt and offset on unit as well as hitch so I never have to take it off :laughing:

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I guess it was a mistake for me to say an RBT blade was primitive. :laughing: That is some blade you have there Brian !!!
I didn't know they had changed so much. They don't even make an RBT25 blade like the one I have any more. Guess I am turning into a dinosaur.

Gordon, aren't we all. One thing that no matter who you are or how much $$$$ you have, we all get older. A person may be able to slow it down, however it is that "they" may be able to do that? :confused3: But in the end, time will get us all.

Thanks for the comment on the rear blade, one of the best investments that I have ever made IMO.

 

[crazyal]

If you have a road and are going to buy new get the grading scrapper. Both a box blade and a rear blade can be found used but grading scrappers are few and far between. Once people buy them I don't think they give them up. Also they are not as well known so they don't sell as well as rear blades and box blades. I would get one with the ripping shanks. I've found 6' wide is about all I need. 6' allows you to do up to about a 11' wide driveway in two passes, up one way, turn around, and come back down the other side. Also weight is your friend while width isn't. The wider the blade is the more weight you need.

For doing ditches I use the front loader as long as the driveway isn't too steep. This allows me to remove dirt and place it where I want. Also I can sculpt the banks. I just put the edge of the bucket facing almost straight down and lift the front tires off the ground then slowly drive forward while curing the bucket. Sure it's slower but that's just more seat time so it doesn't bother me. I borrowed a box blade a few times and found it worked ok but once I got my BEFCO grading scraper I don't see myself ever needing a box blade again. Over the years I've even used the grading scraper to level the yard and i use the ripping shanks to break up ice on the driveway in the winter.

 

[alia176]

sorry for this dumb question is the term "grading scraper" and a "land plane" used synonymously on this site?

 

[nybirdman]

sorry for this dumb question is the term "grading scraper" and a "land plane" used synonymously on this site?

No,they are different tools.Rear blades are a lot more common,box blades also are popular,grading scraper not so much.