Land plane questions

[KanakaRick]

I spotted a used land plane for sale and I was curious if anyone knew anything about the Terrabond brand? It looks like the blades are fixed in a horizontal position (90 degreees toward the direction of travel), rather than an angled position (45 degrees off the direction of travel), does that make any difference? I would assume a person would want the blades angled towards the back so the gravel would flow backwards and fill better. Am I delusional, does it make a difference?

 

[bcp]

Most have a much smaller angle, maybe 15 degrees. If you watch lots of them on Youtube, you will see almost no gravel movement sideways. I would actually prefer straight blades. I think angled blades are as much to lure buyers as to move gravel.

Here are some Terrabond graders, which appear to have angled blades.

TerraBond Spreader Grader - YouTube


Bruce

 

[Gordon Gould]

Mine are fixed at 90* and I am pretty happy with the way it works. Ideally you want to cut deep enough so the blades cut at the bottom of the low spots. The blades run full of gravel all the way across the box and deposit an even layer over the fresh cut. If you don't cut to the bottom of the low spots they will still fill and the surface will look flat until you pack it. The low spots will pack more because the loose gravel is deeper there and you will need to grade again. Each time it will get better.

Like Bruce said = there seems to be little advantage to blades at a shallow angle.






gg

 

[KanakaRick]

I spotted a used land plane for sale and I was curious if anyone knew anything about the Terrabond brand? It looks like the blades are fixed in a horizontal position (90 degreees toward the direction of travel), rather than an angled position (45 degrees off the direction of travel), does that make any difference? I would assume a person would want the blades angled towards the back so the gravel would flow backwards and fill better. Am I delusional, does it make a difference?

Doing a bit more research. My driveway is over a mile long, and the surface is ground up ashpalt from the local freeway, so the surface is pretty smooth to begin with, and isn't as tough to deal with as a rock or gravel driveway would be. Do you guys think a rake would be a better impliment to get instead of the grader scraper? I could use the rake for a lot more uses, if it would work as a alternative for the land plane. Thoughts?

 

[Gordon Gould]

I would go with the tool that gives you the most bang for the buck first. With a mile long driveway you will undoubtedly end up with more than one implement anyway.

gg

 

[JerryK]

I would buy the landplane if you can get a good price. If you Google Terrabond, there is a video of them on Youtube. Why the landplane ???, long term it will take care of just about all you driveway problems. A rake has it's uses, but won't do much to fix a drive that is in bad shape. You need the landplanes length to plane off the high spots/low spots that develop.

 

[couchsachraga]

I maintain part of our road which is over a mile long. I couldn't do it well without a land plane. I used to use a box blade, rear blade, and landscape rake. Came out OK, but lots of fiddling. I still use those implements on the ditches, but for dressing the roadbed itself a few passes with the land plane followed buy the rake (at an angle and at speed to remove larger stones kicked up) and it is in perfect shape.

My grapple rake (front implement) and land plane are the two implements I have that I wish I'd purchased earlier and are worth every penny for my needs.

 

[KanakaRick]

I maintain part of our road which is over a mile long. I couldn't do it well without a land plane. I used to use a box blade, rear blade, and landscape rake. Came out OK, but lots of fiddling. I still use those implements on the ditches, but for dressing the roadbed itself a few passes with the land plane followed buy the rake (at an angle and at speed to remove larger stones kicked up) and it is in perfect shape.

My grapple rake (front implement) and land plane are the two implements I have that I wish I'd purchased earlier and are worth every penny for my needs.

Guys, thanks for the advice. Land Plane it is.

 

[KanakaRick]

Sorry about all the questions. I am getting my neighbors to chip in on the purchase. One neighbor has a skid steer, and I have the Kioti tractor. Is there any difference in finish between using a pull behind 3 point vs the front mount skid steer style? I can do both, but I recognize the front mount will be a dusty mother. If we get the drag behind, then it will be MY tractor doing the driveway, and if we get the front mount, then either of us can do it. Opinions please....

 

[Steppenwolfe]

View attachment 509117

I picked up this Bush Hog 60 inch land plane from my dealer who had it stashed in the weeds. I think it was $300, his cost. I put it on my little B series and it works wonders on my 1/2 mile gravel driveway to my cabin. Tilt up the front just a hair and it won't dig in... It even works good in soil if it isn't too wet, or dry.