Fab a bolt-on plate to make grading bucket?

[radair]

I am hoping to fabricate a plate to bolt onto my mini-excavator bucket to create a grading or ditching bucket. I have some scrap steel and am trying to figure out an easy way to bolt it on to basically cover the teeth and give me a smooth cutting edge. Here's a couple poor photos of what I found while searching.

Anyone with experience with this and have some photos or ideas to share?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rustyiron]

I made one years ago to fit a little Wood's 3 pt. backhoe. I don't remember what I used for the "blade" but I do remember cutting pieces of pipe to fit over the bucker teeth to "capture" the tooth. Then I ran a chain that was welded to the backside of the blade up to a chain hook welded to the bucket. It made for a tool less installation in seconds. I would use a 4"X8" heavy (maybe 1/2") angle, cutting hole's in the 4" side for the teeth to go through, then make something to further capture the teeth (with the 4" side pointing down). IIRC it was about 30" wide & just for grading.

 

[Steave]

The first one I saw a gentleman used his on a full size backhoe. He was digging trenches for footers at a hospital. When the depth would be close to where he wanted he slipped on the plate over the end of the bucket simular to what Rusrtyiron is doing but his attached with 2 bolts and nuts he drilled through the bucket bottom.

The plate protruded about 2" on either side just to clear the bucket width. He used it to smooth the bottom of the ditch and get to final grade. His helper would be in the ditch with the receiver pole of the rotary level checking as they went along. The ditch would be smooth and level ready for the rebar and standoffs.

I didn't see exactly how it was built but it was bolted onto the bucket and another thing the plate was straight across with no bends.

 

[avc8130]

I've always thought of one as a way to clear snow from sidewalks the tractor is too wide for. You could even get the front stoop with it!

ac

 

[CurlyDave]

... He was digging trenches for footers at a hospital. When the depth would be close to where he wanted he slipped on the plate over the end of the bucket simular to what Rusrtyiron is doing but his attached with 2 bolts and nuts he drilled through the bucket bottom.

The plate protruded about 2" on either side just to clear the bucket width. He used it to smooth the bottom of the ditch and get to final grade. His helper would be in the ditch with the receiver pole of the rotary level checking as they went along. The ditch would be smooth and level ready for the rebar and standoffs...

I am not certain that produced as high a quality job as it appeared.

If he just used it as a scraper to make the trench an inch or two deeper, that would be OK, but the bottom of a footer excavation should be either undisturbed earth, or compacted. If he was using it to scrape some sections and to spread material into other sections where the trench was originally too deep, that would not support the bottom of the footer properly.

 

[radair]

I am not certain that produced as high a quality job as it appeared.

If he just used it as a scraper to make the trench an inch or two deeper, that would be OK, but the bottom of a footer excavation should be either undisturbed earth, or compacted. If he was using it to scrape some sections and to spread material into other sections where the trench was originally too deep, that would not support the bottom of the footer properly.

I'm not really interested in a discussion about compaction but thanks for your input.

I made one years ago to fit a little Wood's 3 pt. backhoe. I don't remember what I used for the "blade" but I do remember cutting pieces of pipe to fit over the bucker teeth to "capture" the tooth. Then I ran a chain that was welded to the backside of the blade up to a chain hook welded to the bucket. It made for a tool less installation in seconds. I would use a 4"X8" heavy (maybe 1/2") angle, cutting hole's in the 4" side for the teeth to go through, then make something to further capture the teeth (with the 4" side pointing down). IIRC it was about 30" wide & just for grading.

Thanks Rustyiron! I have seen a photo of a thick angle as you mentioned with teeth holes. I am considering a flat plate with short clip angles on each end that would bolt thru the sides of the bucket, similar to how some tooth bars attach.

I've also seen people grab an I beam or railroad tie using their thumb but would like a simple bolt-on solution.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Here is a link to a build , seen a few done this way.

A little painting and some welding on brand new bucket teeth

 

[countrybumpkin]

A pic of one.

 

[Blaneypark]

I had a JD #7 backhoe. After several attemps to come up with a bolt on plate that would be strong I finally just took a 6 X 14 X 1/2 plate and welded it to the teeth. Worked great.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Also look at Crumbling blades or squeegee blades. Should give you a bunch of design ideas. GRADEBLADE Squeegee Blade or Crumbing Blades from EQUIPMENTLAND