Grader

[yzbdsbp]

laurencen now that is one of the nicer blades i have seen on here.....I also am wanting to build a grader and would consider it an honor to have the notes you made on your grader. Again very very nice job.

 

[LetsRoll]

Laurence...thats a good looking grader you built there. You sure did brace the top supports allot. I had thought about more braces when I built mine, but after seeing some commercial grade graders, decided against it. You cant go wrong useing cutting edges, specially on driveways or road. They are the cats meow.

 

[laurencen]

Hi all, the notching the front blade is a must in hard packed conditions but I would caution about havint the back blade down the same as the middle blade, I would raise the back blade 1/4 inch if doing it again as there is quite a bit of material dragged over the rear blade now, also the skids run at grade so by setting the back blade down the grade will allways lower, just my opinion, the front bracing, yes the main force is pulling on the lower pivots, I did not cary the plates thro to the back channels but the 2 x 2 tube looked flimsy all by its self so along came the bracing, still think it would benifit from a extra 100 pounds, I will clean my notes and attach them in the next couple days when I can scan them in

Laurence

 

[sandman2234]

Seems as though notching the front blade would allow roots and things to get hung up in it. I noticed the crack between the end of the blade and the side of the grader was always getting stuff hung in it. Something to think about before you torch those holes. I think adding weight is a better approach to the problem, but we have soft soils here.
David from jax

 

[soarkrebel1]

That looks good!! I think I need one.
Why did you go and give me another idea for a project when I don't have time to do the others I have on my plate!

 

[montejw]

Great job Laurence
Thanks for discussing the details. I'm building a grader and it's nice to know your thoughts. I am planning to notch the front blade like this \_/\_/\_/ and then follow with a straight blade, both set 3/4" deep.

You want the back blade flush with the side skids. The front blade does the digging, the back blade does the spreading.

Monte

 

[Tig]

I was actually planning on having a third blade (flush or perhaps up 1/4") to do the final spreading.

 

[3RRL]

laurencen,
Great job in fabricating your grader. Top notch work man.
You said they were scrap blades from highway use? Where did you get them then, what source?

 

[laurencen]

Hi Rob, here in Saskatchewan we have Department of Highways, also city services, they use graders for road maintainance, tons of gravel roads, they replace these blades regulary, I asked what they do with the old blades and they scrap them, looking in the yard found 10, 7 foot blades, cost me $10.00, they were cut down to 49 inches and turned upside down, the worn side up, some graders can use the second edge but most can not, the blades were worn from 6 inches wide down to 3 1/2 inches, it does not matter as I used 4 inch flatbar for support, they will last years for what we do, I think better than welded edges, you need bolts available from a Cat dealer, they cost $1.25 each with nuts, there are 8 bolts for the blades but you could easily use 4 and still be OK

Laurence

 

[3RRL]

Laurence,
Thanks for the reply. I will contact my department down here in Southern California to see if they such a "grave yard" for old blades. I want to build one like you did.