Land plane/ grading scraper

[senecak19]

Got a little work done today. I'm not sure how to accurately bend 3/8" plate so I ended up cutting the bottom slides, piecing them together and welding them. Looks a little rough, but a wire wheel and paint will fix that. Note, I didn't make the final bend on the end. Not sure what I want to do with that just yet. I did manage to get some more holes drilled. You'd think it'd be done in an hour or so, but I feel like I've been doing nothing but drilling holes. I guess the 3/8'th inch thick material is to blame. Five more holes to go and I'll be ready to finish welding everything.

 

[jenkinsph]

That will work on the skids. What are you using to drill the holes? I used a 5/8" holesaw to drill through the 4x4x1/2" angle iron

 

[senecak19]

I'm using good HSS drill bits (no Chinese stuff). Starting with a spot drill and increasing in size until I hit the 1/2" mark which the grade 8 bolts fit through.

 

[crazyal]

After 3 years of use I've had to replace the skids on my GS. The gravel on my drive wears the front edge (where it's angled). You may want to think about making them easily replaceable.

 

[jenkinsph]

I'm using good HSS drill bits (no Chinese stuff). Starting with a spot drill and increasing in size until I hit the 1/2" mark which the grade 8 bolts fit through.

That is a lot harder way to do it than the holesaw method, with the holesaw you remove less material so it is faster and easier to do. With 3/8" material you could do that in 2 to 3 minutes max. per hole.

 

[joshuabardwell]

If you use a hole saw with a hand drill, do your very best to go as slow as you can. The RPMs of hand drills is too high for most sizes of hole saw, and will create excess heat, wear, and even may work-harden the piece instead of cutting it. I once heard the trick of cutting out a piece of foam with the hole saw, then soaking the foam in cutting fluid and setting it inside the saw while cutting, to keep the hole lubricated.

 

[crazyal]

One trick I do with hole saws and a hand held drill is I drill the pilot hoe first and use a solid 1/4" dowel instead of the drill bit to prevent the bit from catching and snapping.

 

[senecak19]

Thanks guys. I'll give the hole saw a try. I have 5 more holes to go in the 3/8" thick angle iron. As for keeping the blades easily accessible, these 5 holes are the mounting holes for the blades.

People with long driveways are getting 3 years out of their scrap steel blades. I have no driveway at the moment. If I get this house my driveway will be relatively short. I'm hoping this thing with 3/8"x3" steel bar will uphold a while.

 

[yelbike]

If you use a hole saw with a hand drill, do your very best to go as slow as you can. The RPMs of hand drills is too high for most sizes of hole saw, and will create excess heat, wear, and even may work-harden the piece instead of cutting it. I once heard the trick of cutting out a piece of foam with the hole saw, then soaking the foam in cutting fluid and setting it inside the saw while cutting, to keep the hole lubricated.

That's a great tip. If only I could remember it when need it.

 

[classacthollow]

Another thanks, I will probably modify it to a 6' unit to meet the width of my tractor, It sure does look like a good one. There isn't a lot of them around our parts, they (dealers) would order one for me but I hate buying an expensive implement sight unseen. We do have a good steel yard fairly close and can do all kinds of special cutting etc. I can actually order some of the parts pre made.

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with Joshua to go slow but find the small diameter holesaws we are referencing can be used a little faster than a larger diameter type. Keep it oiled up and cool and use a battery operated driver drill on the low speed range and you should be okay. I say this for reference, most battery operated drills turn about 175 rpm on low or "1" I would run less than that.

 

[senecak19]

TractorSupply has the Kubota Orange Majic Paint (gallon cans) on sale for $24.99 if anyone is interested. I've used their spray cans before and the color match was really good. Haven't had a chance to test the durability just yet as my implements were painted recently. Needless to say I picked up a gallon along with the reducer and hardener. I'll report back on how it lays down. I have some experience with paint. Just finished the roof of my Audi using Sherwin Williams Products

 

[94BULLITT]

TractorSupply has the Kubota Orange Majic Paint (gallon cans) on sale for $24.99 if anyone is interested. I've used their spray cans before and the color match was really good. Haven't had a chance to test the durability just yet as my implements were painted recently. Needless to say I picked up a gallon along with the reducer and hardener. I'll report back on how it lays down. I have some experience with paint. Just finished the roof of my Audi using Sherwin Williams Products

I am interested to hear how you like it. I keep meaning to get a spray try.

 

[senecak19]

Well, its been a few weeks. I thought for sure I'd have this welded by now, but our new puppy thought otherwise. Anyhow, I managed to get most of the welding done today. I have a few supports to weld to the upright and a few welds underneath the 4" angle iron on the bottom. So far so good. Not too many surprises based on the plans provided by (I forget his name). Another hour or so of work and I'll be prepping for paint. You'll notice mine is slightly different. 1) I have no idea how to bend 3/8"x2" bar and 2) the size of mine is slightly smaller simply because the plate I had was smaller. Without further due...

 

[Piston]

Looks great so far :thumbsup:

 

[john40981]

looks good, I also used grader blades on the skids to lengthen their life. Used a 44gal drum to add weight.

link to my build:thumbsup:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/287452-land-plain-blade-height-help.html

 

[joshuabardwell]

Where did you buy your cutting edge from?

 

[john40981]

Where did you buy your cutting edge from?

I was lucky as I got the blades for free from my local council. They are used ones that they don't want but have an unused cutting edge so I could use the new unused edge and welded them on for the cutting edges as well as the wear slides, If I ever wear them out I will just weld a new set over the top of the worn ones, I don't think I will wear them out though. I ended up using five 7' blades, 2 for the cutting edges and one and a half each side for the skids. I would think any local council would have used blades that you may be able to get your hands on.
My local farm machinery mob does sell new 7' grader blades at $160Aus each.

 

[Piston]

Can you use snow plow cutting edges? I see those a lot on craigslist, although they're probably all beat up I imagine.

 

[94BULLITT]

Can you use snow plow cutting edges? I see those a lot on craigslist, although they're probably all beat up I imagine.

They are probably a straight cutting edge and a curved cutting edge would work best.