Where to find cutting edge for scape blade.

jkary_982 · Oct 29, 2021

Hello,

I have a 72" scrape blade with __9 bolt holes__ edge and a spacing of 3.5", 2.5", 10.5"(5 holes), 2.5", 3.5". The bolts are 5/8". I bought it used and it has no manufacturer or model number on it. Has anyone run across such an edge and can tell me either who the manufacturer is or where to get an edge with this bolt hole pattern?

Thanks
Jason

mcfarmall · Oct 29, 2021

Talk to your county road commission and ask where they buy their cutting edges.

oosik · Oct 29, 2021

I put a brand new road grader blade on my first rear blade. My BIL was a county supervisor for the highway dept. Obviously - none of the holes matched up.

Raised the rear blade on the 3-point. Removed the old cutting edge. Clamped the new blade in place. Took my big 'ol Hole Hog and drilled new holes. Used the holes in the new blade as reference for the new holes being drilled.

Only problem - my God - that road grader blade was heavy. Had a bit of a problem getting the clamps to hold the new blade in place while drilling the new holes.

Drill the first hole at the far end of the blade. Put a bolt in there. Then you only have to worry about keeping the other end up until you drill the second hole. Drill second hole at the other end - put in a bolt. Take a break - have a beer.
Finish drilling the holes and bolting up.

The brand new blade I got was 10 feet long. I cut it down to 8 feet - the width of my rear blade. According to my bathroom scales - the 8 foot blade weighed 272#.

LouNY · Oct 29, 2021

If you do a goggle search for "bolt-on cutting edges" you will find several it may take some research to find your bolt pattern.
Larger blades will sometimes benifit from buying multiple pieces, I like a 3 piece blade set often all that needs changing are the ends the center will have minimal wear.

oosik · Oct 29, 2021

After six years of use on my mile long gravel driveway. The sharp, 90 degree, cutting ends on my HD Rhino rear blade have not "rounded out". Get a good rear blade with a heavy cutting edge and it will last forever. And if it does not - just roll the cutting edge and you have a brand new rear blade.

jkary_982 · Oct 31, 2021

oosik said:
I put a brand new road grader blade on my first rear blade. My BIL was a county supervisor for the highway dept. Obviously - none of the holes matched up.

Raised the rear blade on the 3-point. Removed the old cutting edge. Clamped the new blade in place. Took my big 'ol Hole Hog and drilled new holes. Used the holes in the new blade as reference for the new holes being drilled.

Only problem - my God - that road grader blade was heavy. Had a bit of a problem getting the clamps to hold the new blade in place while drilling the new holes.

Drill the first hole at the far end of the blade. Put a bolt in there. Then you only have to worry about keeping the other end up until you drill the second hole. Drill second hole at the other end - put in a bolt. Take a break - have a beer.
Finish drilling the holes and bolting up.

The brand new blade I got was 10 feet long. I cut it down to 8 feet - the width of my rear blade. According to my bathroom scales - the 8 foot blade weighed 272#.

I was thinking the same and bought a metal drill bit for 5/8" and tried drilling a hole. I spent 30 minutes on the first hole and I was only able to get 1/8" down. A machinist friend of mine said the blade steel was too hard and I should go to a professional to find an edge with the right bolt hole pattern.

Does the Hole Hog work better? I've never tried to drill out a large piece of metal like this and so I'm thinking maybe I brought the wrong drill bit. The bit I used was https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PXGBCC2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ROUSTABOUT · Oct 31, 2021

jkary_982 said:
I was thinking the same and bought a metal drill bit for 5/8" and tried drilling a hole. I spent 30 minutes on the first hole and I was only able to get 1/8" down. A machinist friend of mine said the blade steel was too hard and I should go to a professional to find an edge with the right bolt hole pattern.

Does the Hole Hog work better? I've never tried to drill out a large piece of metal like this and so I'm thinking maybe I brought the wrong drill bit. The bit I used was https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PXGBCC2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A torch drills real fast holes.

oosik · Oct 31, 2021

The Hole Hog is just a REALLY big 1/2" drill made by Milwaukee. Two speed. I used the slow speed. I have a special set of carbide bits. You have to go slow - use lots of lubricant. Otherwise you will overheat the drill bit and change its temper/hardness.

I didn't drill new holes in the new grader blade. They were already there. I drilled new holes in the existing curved blade on the rear blade.

Yes - the steel in the grader blade, that my BIL got me, is harder than the hubs of Christ. The only thing I did to the new grader blade - cut two feet off one end.

Took me 45 minuets to an hour with a hand held cut off grinder. The road grader blade is 6" tall. It's tapered. 2" thick at the top - tapers to 1 1/4" at the cutting edge. I cut it down from ten feet to eight feet.

Fallon · Oct 31, 2021

Drill the mild steel blade rather than the hardened steel cutting edge.

A beefy drill or carbide bit won't fix the fact hardened steel is designed not to get cut, ground or otherwise worn out.