Bucket Skids.

[Pepsiboy]

BigBoyToys,

I just asked, because we are on a VERY fixed income and I do not have the equipment to bend iron. I'll check out the Edge Tamers. Thanks.

Dave

 

[TO_Bud]

Some of the members using plow blades on gravel drives have gone with some ABS pipe. Cut down the middle of the tube and push it onto the edge of the bucket. I don't have any experience with using one but sounds like a good cheap alternative. Maybe someone who has used this setup will chime in.

 

[kennyd]

Check out edge tamers. Same idea and these. I just bought a pair of 3 inch wide ones for my 66 inch kubota bucket. Cost me $102 delivered to my door for the pair.

Must have been high shipping costs. Do you bolt those little round cans on the bottom, like skids, or on the sides, like wheels?



Bruce

BigBoyToys,

I just asked, because we are on a VERY fixed income and I do not have the equipment to bend iron. I'll check out the Edge Tamers. Thanks.

Dave

Here is a the link for the Edge Tamers (says "forbidden" but the link works, R2manufacturing . com): 403 Forbidden

 

[ovrszd]

BigBoyToys,

I just asked, because we are on a VERY fixed income and I do not have the equipment to bend iron. I'll check out the Edge Tamers. Thanks.

Dave

Go to your local Welding Shop and see what they would charge you to build some?? My local guy builds things like these for people all the time. And is almost always under manufactured price. Only time he isn't is when he improves the product dramatically adding function and strength.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

BigBoyToys,

I just asked, because we are on a VERY fixed income and I do not have the equipment to bend iron. I'll check out the Edge Tamers. Thanks.

Dave

==
Fixed income is my world also..
However.. I have been able to make do with some simple and relatively cheap tools... A welder, and a good quality portable band saw, and drill press..

I also can't bend anything very thick or very sharp radius... I have been able to get by cutting short sections of material and welding together to achieve segmented long and short radius parts..

A 20 ton shop press can be had relatively cheaply.. And a couple home made bending jigs and fixtures will more than useful for a lot of smaller and lighter parts..

Anyone have pictures of homemade bending fixtures and such ??
Good luck..

 

[PILOON]

I as well do not have a shop bender so what I did to make my skids was , (using an angle grinder and cutting disk), cut about 1/2 way thru the skid flat plate. I then mount in the vice and pound the skid to create about a 30 deg angle.
Next I weld the the closed joint with 2 passes on the inside where the gap closed up.
Did that a few years back and so far the skids,(shoes) are holding up really well.

 

[BigBoyToys]

Anyone have pictures of homemade bending fixtures and such ??
Good luck..

Wyobuckaroo...You've got the right idea! I bought a Harbor Freight 20 Ton Press on sale and used a 20% coupon, paid less than $200.

Here's what I made for a press and it works pretty well.



Here's a link to a press on eBay someone posted just a couple days ago. Really nice unit!!!
Supreme 14" Press Brake w Front Guide Plate Rear Back Stop 20 Ton Capacity | eBay

Here's some pics from when I made mine...

Here's the material I used for the bottom assembly.


Solid round rods and angle welded together to form the base.


Welded the angle onto the above base assembly. The welded that onto the base plate.


Drilled a couple 1" holes and welded in the 1" round stock to for the guides for the "press bar".


I used 1" square bar for the "press bar. Welded some tube to slide on guides. I also welded a piece I bent to provide a flat surface for the HF press rod to sit on.


Here it is pressing some scrap stock I had laying around.

 

[ovrszd]

Nice work BBToys. Only thing wrong that I see is it hasn't been used enough.

 

[BigBoyToys]

Is your driveway paved or gravel??

Main driveway is paved. I have a side area for additional parking that's reprocessed asphalt. It's flat and fairly well packed so I think it will work out OK.

 

[oldbones]

PVC is plastic, which we all know, plastic is brittle when cold. It will last for as long as it takes to put the loader down and start moving.
But you're on the right track. Use steel pipe and make it to cover the whole width of the bit. I've done it with 2" pipe. Cut a slot wide enough to fit over the bit. Weld a couple tabs on it so you can bolt it to your bucket.