Smoothing a freshly laid gravel drive.

[LD1]

Trying to drag anything across a crusher run mix just leaves you with all the fines settling to the bottom and the large stone on top.

Front loader back dragging in float does pretty good at knocking down some high spots and filling in the lows without pulling up the big stone.

But best to leave as spread by the truck. And if you get a few high spots or clumps, redistribute manually with a garden rake. Then pack it in.

How do you plan on packing it in?

 

[jbadkins7o]

I use a 6ft landscape rake with gauge wheels and it stirs up just enough for the dust to get mixed in and packs nice.

 

[ruffdog]

I have used a wood shipping skid with the right amount of weight on it. I angle it so it moves the gravel where I want it. More weight in the front will dig more.

 

[Soldier415]

I always use my box blade with the top link extended so that the front cutter is up off the ground and the rear cutter is feathered. Does a nice job "smearing" out the gravel without moving it or churning it up.

I do the same thing with a LPGS as a final pass after refinishing my 3/4 "crusher run road. Leaves a nice smooth finish.

 

[/pine]

...53's/crusher runs,...

I do not know what this means...around here if it's a # stone it is just gravel (no fines) "crusher run" has fines...
for instance a load of #57's is gravel between 3/4" and 1.5"...crusher run is everything from 57's all the way down to fine sand (ie., the run of the crusher)

If what has been laid down has no fines...just general traffic will settle it...if it has fines it should be dressed because it will pack down like concrete after a little rain and traffic and it won't flatten itself...

 

[teejk]

I do not know what this means...around here if it's a # stone it is just gravel (no fines) "crusher run" has fines...
for instance a load of #57's is gravel between 3/4" and 1.5"...crusher run is everything from 57's all the way down to fine sand (ie., the run of the crusher)

If what has been laid down has no fines...just general traffic will settle it...if it has fines it should be dressed because it will pack down like concrete after a little rain and traffic and it won't flatten itself...

Figure the typical gravel plant will start with big chunks and mill them into smaller big chunks (called "breaker run" around here), then those pieces move to the "crusher", output of which gets screened into various sizes depending on the screen size (I think that's how they size peas and other common items also). I said it earlier but I'll repeat...if you live in a frost climate, you will not know your driveway until mother nature has a frost cycle at it (she will move a lot of stuff around).

 

[Paddy]

Here in Southern IN, 53's are a large range of stones and a lot of dust. But if the layer is to thin, it can separate as it's falling from the bed. This can leave the larger stone on top.

In the past I have bought a load of chip and dust to replenish the washed away dust. All the loose stone is rebound.