Box Scraper box blade, landscape rake, or rear blade

[greenxblue]

Morning everyone! I just joined this morning but I've been reading your posts for some time now. The wisdom here is awesome! I can't tell you how many posts I read to help me make the decision about which tractor to buy for my property. I finally settled on a JD 3520 and I should have it in a couple weeks. I bought it mostly for mowing the 11 out of 23 acres that I want to maintain. I bought the MX5 cutter for my long weeds and grasses. But, of course, now that I see all that this tractor can do, I want to do more.

I have a gravel driveway that is around 400' long. It's in dire need of regrading. Also, my house is basically in the middle of a field and I'd like to level some of the ground around the house and plant some nice buffalo grass there. Problem is, since this is my first tractor, I'm still learning about all the attachments and how to use them. Do you recommend a box blade, landscape rake, or rear blade?? I don't really understand the difference between a box blade and landscape rake. Also, I've read that a box blade can be used for snow removal but I don't really understand how that would work. Seems like it would just collect snow and level it.

Thanks for being patient. I know I'm a little long winded.

Michele

 

[jb62901]

I prefer the rear blade for a 900' drive and landscaping, not yet used for snow. Used a box blade and like the rear for my use. Home made...

 

[gordyy]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/122762-beginners-guide-using-box-blade.html

a must see thread for anyone looking at getting a boxblade
I learned more from this thread then I did using mine for 10 hours
after reading this I went and redid 10 hrs of work in 2
a box blade is an awesome tool for many things

 

[Knight]

I was considering selling my box grader for lack of use. ( you can do most of this work with the FEL). I just touched on this subject yesterday. The problem with grading with an non-angled attachment is the build up of material. As you pull material starts to pile up to a point that lifts the attachment( box scraper, rake, etc. By angling, you can flow the material out the side. An attachment that angles tends to keep the finish flat. Box scrapers don't angle, therefore build up material, discharge, create a hump then the process starts all over again. You end up with humps. For a long driveway, maybe pulling a homemade drag. like they do on snowmobile trails. The material will not build up.
Or a rake that is turned on a angle.
I would look into making a drag, using chain link fence or some kind of agressive teeth with weight.

 

[jenkinsph]

I would consider the 1184 landplane for your tractor very easy to use with good results.
John Deere Ag - New Equipment Features for LP11 Series Land Planes


You could add this to your tractor order



Steve

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

Well, I've got 17 years of experience with all three implements. Of the implements you mentioned the box blade by far is the most versitile implement and would be the best for the chores you need to complete.

 

[greenxblue]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I reviewed the thread at http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/122762-beginners-guide-using-box-blade.html and it has a ton of information. Being brand new to all of this, I'm a little intimidated by all of the info there and I'm worried that I'll make my drive more of a mess than it already is if I don't adjust the links just right. Maybe I'll wait on the box blade until I'm more confident with the tractor. Although I've heard over and over again that it's one of the very best tools to have around. If I get one, I'll just have to take a few days off of work and make sure no one is watching while I'm learning how to use it so that I can screw up in private!

The land plane looks very doable. I'm guessing though that it doesn't do a great job on taking out ruts in the drive. It seems like it would just pull gravel into them, which is good, but I don't know if that solves the underlying problem. I noted in the picture that it has blades. I'm assuming that they scrape instead of cut the high points? Also, I'm assuming that by angling it one way or another, I could create a little bit of a crown in the middle. Is the plane something I could use on the land around my house to level it too or is it just for a driveway type job?

As far as making my own plane goes, I'm not sharp enough for that job. The land plane and the box cutter JD sells isn't all that expensive and I just know that whatever sort of home made monster I would create would send shivers up my spine. I wish I was more handy, but I'm just not. I'm the kind of person that needs and reads the instruction manual.

The rear blade seems like the best for finishing everything off and creating a crown for drainage. I don't know what else I would use a rear blade for though. Would I be able to do the same thing with a front blade?

Again, thanks for all the tips.

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

The rear blade seems like the best for finishing everything off and creating a crown for drainage. I don't know what else I would use a rear blade for though. Would I be able to do the same thing with a front blade?

.

Nope...the box blade is the best for those tasks

 

[shakin]

the box blade will not work well for snow removal, everything else there's nothing that compares. i bucket the snow out of my drive and then scrape it clean with the box, as said above the box quicklley fill and then it's not real effective i'm going to buy a rear blade they angle and try that this winter.

 

[timswi]

Well, I have about 850 ft of gravel driveway to deal with. The landscape rake has been the best attachment for dealing with it. It doesn't remove the gravel like a rear blade, just kinda spreads it around and smooths out the road. The blade and box grader do have their place for landscaping and "tool of ignorance" work...The FEL is a godsend for this kind of mainenance as well.

Was going to buy a plow for the BX for snow removal, but the wife said no, so I bought an RTV500 with a snowplow instead...She's happy and I'm happy

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Greenxblue, no need to be intimidated, everyone has a first day. If you don't understand about some of the attachments, go to the Land Pride website for example and take a look at the different implements. Maybe that will help you understand some of the uses. The box blade is one of the most versatile implements there is, but each implement excels at its intended purpose. I have all of those implements and again, they all excel at what they are intended to do and they work for many other things too.
An example might be that the road grader blade that you mentioned is great for maintaining a road-driveway, but it is good for leveling-flattening out other ground areas also. As long as you have questions, just keep on asking.

Good luck with your research.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Nope...the box blade is the best for those tasks

May I ask why it is that you feel that the box blade is the best implement for making a crown?

 

[greenxblue]

MtnViewRanch, thank you for the Land Pride link. That's exactly the kind of information I've been looking for. I tried to find JD manuals online but the only ones I could find were ones that I would have to buy. I don't know why they don't have manuals for their attachments on their website. Maybe I just missed it.

Anyway, thanks for the boost in confidence and thanks for the direction. I think the grading scraper is perfect for what I need. I'm guessing I should get the 72" since my rear wheel base is around 66"?

And trust me, I won't be short on the questions anytime soon. This is my very first tractor so I'm at the bottom of the bell curve right now. I know just enough to know how much I don't know.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have all of the implements listed too including a heavy duty top and tilt hitch and box blade. That said the landplane I mentioned (Frontier 1184) has angled blades to build a crown. It will cut and fill where needed and is much easier to operate for a newbie.

I built my own plane with 60" runners and 8' wide with reversible blades, since my major use is to plane fields smooth I set the blades straight. Does a very good job of averageing out the high and low spots. At 950 lbs mine will cut not scrape.

I reread the OP's first post again and still feel the landplane is the best answer for his stated needs.


Steve

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Anyway, thanks for the boost in confidence and thanks for the direction. I think the grading scraper is perfect for what I need. I'm guessing I should get the 72" since my rear wheel base is around 66"?

And trust me, I won't be short on the questions anytime soon. This is my very first tractor so I'm at the bottom of the bell curve right now. I know just enough to know how much I don't know.

Yes a 72" sounds like it would be the best width for you. If you decide to get one, there are many manufactures out there, best to check around some. One of the things about the grader blades that isn't talked about is that you can get an almost unbelievably smooth flat surface by using it in reverse. You would do this only with soft dirt, one of those things of you have to see it to believe it.

Are you planning on trying to get by with only one implement for everything, or are you considering multiple implements?

 

[jenkinsph]

greenxblue,

I would get the widest landplane you can pull satisfactorily, thinking the 84" should be a good match for your tractor. This is similar to drawing a long straight line with a 12" ruler or a yardstick, the longer straight edge will give better results.



Steve

 

[MtnViewRanch]

greenxblue,
I would get the widest landplane you can pull satisfactorily, thinking the 84" should be a good match for your tractor. This is similar to drawing a long straight line with a 12" ruler or a yardstick, the longer straight edge will give better results.
Steve

If he was to get a light weight grader, he may be ok, but a commercial unit he will not pull satisfactory. A light weight wide unit will not grade as well as a heaver narrow unit in my opinion. I have an 84" wide commercial grader, and if the circumstances are right, (type of soil and moisture content) It can stop my 12,000lb tractor. I would get a medium grade implement at the minimum. (18" sides) I have a 60" medium duty grader that I use with my smaller tractor and it works quite well.
Here are a couple pics of mine.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have my blades set 1/8" below the skids, I only want to move the dirt that is in high spots to the low spots. Mine will overflow sometimes but not always. I prefer wide blades for field work and make passes perpindicular to the first trip so the wide blade can average everything out. I recognize this is not feasible for driveway work but the
OP did mention smoothing out his fields too.


I can pull the 8' 950 lb plane with my 43 hp JD 110 so I would think his tractor would pull a 7' 600 lb model.


Steve

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

May I ask why it is that you feel that the box blade is the best implement for making a crown?

Because of the three implements he asked about:
1) it can retain the material it cuts as opposed to the other two implements where the cut material will run out the end
2) it leaves a smooth base surface

 

[greg_g]

I would get the widest landplane you can pull satisfactorily,

I agree. When you index a 72" blade behind a 66" track, you're going to be inside the wheel width again. If you have the hp to pull a seven footer, that would be the wiser choice.

//greg//