Box blade vs scrape blade

[MtnViewRanch]

This is contrary to my experience...regardless of the implement BB, RB, Rake...I find somewhat wet materials much easier to work with...

Maybe we should be calling it moisture content. When I hear wet, it sounds like the ground has to much water in it. (to me anyway)

First 3 pictures the ground is damp and about perfect for working. The last 2 pictures the ground is way to dry IMO. But I am a weekender at best and have to work with what there is when I have the time. We don't get much rain out here, so not much choice.

 

[bdhsfz6]

This is contrary to my experience...regardless of the implement BB, RB, Rake...I find somewhat wet materials much easier to work with...

+1. I usually wait a day or so after a rainstorm. Otherwise I raise a huge dust cloud.

 

[LouNY]

I maintain a 1/4 driveway on a steep hill, I haven't even hooked up my box blade in 4 or 5 years (it's a very heavy box blade with hydraulic scarficers), I use my back blade several times a year to eliminate wash boards and ruts that people put in churning there tires. I pull my back blade with the blade backwards and set at considerable angle to move material sideways and fill and pack wash boards and ruts, running the blade backwards uses the weight of the blade to move material rather then the cutting edge scraping it off and creating even more high and low spots. Using my hydraulic top link enables me to change the angle of attack on the cutting edge to vary how aggressive the blade is. This also does not dislodge larger stones from the gravel that are at the surface of the driveway, disturbing two or three inch rocks means loosening up considerable material which is difficult to get compacted sufficiently. This is the same way I use the blade in the winter when the driveway is not frozen and needs snow removed.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Very interesting set up bdhsfz6

 

[/pine]

...Maybe we should be calling it moisture content. When I hear wet, it sounds like the ground has to much water in it....

I think it has more to do with the actual material more than anything...I admit I deal mostly with (granite) crusher run...when it is wet enough where the fines stick with the courser gravel it smooths the best...when it's dry the fines separate from the larger media... I can see where loam or clay based materials react differently when "wet"

I usually wait a day or so after a rainstorm. Otherwise I raise a huge dust cloud.

Ditto...if we are in a dry spell I will not even attempt to do any maintenance on our road...would end up with nothing but loose gravel that does not work well on grades...

 

[fried1765]

I think it has more to do with the actual material more than anything...I admit I deal mostly with (granite) crusher run...when it is wet enough where the fines stick with the courser gravel it smooths the best...when it's dry the fines separate from the larger media... I can see where loam or clay based materials react differently when "wet"


Ditto...if we are in a dry spell I will not even attempt to do any maintenance on our road...would end up with nothing but loose gravel that does not work well on grades...

Moisture content is VERY important!
Dust may be a comfort issue, but compaction is the more significant issue.
If you grade when dry, you are separating out the fines, and you will not get any compaction.
Of course, soaking wet is not good either.
I do have a moderate hill in a part of my driveway though, and find that separating out the fines there is quite beneficial.
By leaving a significant ratio of 3/4" to 1-1/2" stone on the hill portion, erosion is greatly reduced.