Questions on building a "Dura Grader"

TraderMark · Mar 8, 2011

Well, I've finally collected almost enough material to build the Dura Grader that I've wanted for a long time now. :cool2:

Question #1 : Where can I get a couple of reasonably priced cutting edges? I know some of our sponsors here must sell them, but I can't find anything yet.

Question #2 : What's the best tilt angle to mount the cuttings edges? When I say "tilt angle" I'm asking how far back should the cutting edges be tilted, if perpindicular to the ground is 90* and parallel to the ground is 0*?

Question #3 : What's the best front to back angle to mount the cutting edges, if perpendicular to the sides is 90* and parallel to the sides is 0*?

Question #4 : My sides are going to be 49" long. (Don't ask why 49" ... stupid math mistake. :ashamed

How much room do I need to leave from the front cutting edge to the front of the grader short side to avoid spillover around that side?

I know some of you guys have already built these graders and I'm hoping your experience will help keep me from going through a lot of trial and error to get all these angles right.

Thanks!!

Mark

Gordon Gould · Mar 8, 2011

#1 - if you are talking about already made new blades and you find the answer then let us know. They are expensive. Used blades can be found. Or buy a piece of tough steel and make your own if you can. I bought mine - Ouch.

#2 - I have no idea what the best angle is. There must be one. But I put mine at 45* because I didn't know any better. Works fine. (I guess)

#3 - Again ??. Try looking at some pictures and scaleing the angle from them. In the back of my head I think I read 5* to 10* somewhere. But that should be to be confirmed.

#4 - Again I don't know the best. My skid shoes is angled at 45* in front and back. I cut a 5" by 5" triangle from the bottom corners of the side plates to get the angle. I put the blade back 12" from the very front or 7" back from the skid shoe angle. I get no tendency for spillage. You could scale this off a picture also.

Don't make any restriction points to the material flow. ie you would not want to put a cross member just above or just behind a blade. Material flowing over the blade will catch and dam up.

Make it heavy.

Have fun.

gg

smiley · Mar 8, 2011

TraderMark said:
Well, I've finally collected almost enough material to build the Dura Grader that I've wanted for a long time now. :cool2:

Question #1 : Where can I get a couple of reasonably priced cutting edges? I know some of our sponsors here must sell them, but I can't find anything yet.
CHECK CONST COMPANIES, QUARRIES ETC. THEY REGULARLY REPLACE THEM ON GRADERS LOADERS ETC BUT THEY WILL BE HEAVY FOR A LITTLE GRADER LIKE YOURS. IF IT WILL SEE ONLY OCCASIONAL USE YOU DON'T EVEN NEED CUTTING EDGES.

Question #2 : What's the best tilt angle to mount the cuttings edges? When I say "tilt angle" I'm asking how far back should the cutting edges be tilted, if perpindicular to the ground is 90* and parallel to the ground is 0*?
THE MORE TILT YOU HAVE THE DEEPER IT WILL CUT AND BOG DOWN YOUR TRACTOR AND MIGHT HOP AND SKIP AS EXCESS MATERIAL BUILDS UP, IF YOU CAN PULL IT.

Question #3 : What's the best front to back angle to mount the cutting edges, if perpendicular to the sides is 90* and parallel to the sides is 0*?

I HAD MINE PROBABLY AROUND 25 DEGREES AND IT WORKED OK

Question #4 : My sides are going to be 49" long. (Don't ask why 49" ... stupid math mistake. :ashamed
How much room do I need to leave from the front cutting edge to the front of the grader short side to avoid spillover around that side?

IF IT'S ANGLED AWAY IT SHOULDN'T BUILD UP THERE

I know some of you guys have already built these graders and I'm hoping your experience will help keep me from going through a lot of trial and error to get all these angles right.

Thanks!!

Mark

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