Road Grader Blade.. Progressing Pics.

Rustyiron · Apr 26, 2011

Starting to take shape, it's been a while since I had a fab. project like this. I forgot how many different parts go into a project like this. When it's all over I'll count em up. I have some bracing to do and figure out an depth of cut adj. mech. It has a 1 1/2 inch max. "cut" to about a 4" "fill" for spreading. And to finish the 3pt. hitch at the front.
This was first posted in Build it yourself "Angle Grader help"

crash325 · Apr 26, 2011

One fine looking hunk of iron. Must be about a 'ton" of work to build that guy. It looks better than the store bought blades. Looking forward to seeing it complete. Any idea how many pounds of welding rod you have used?? :drink:

Thanks For Sharing.

davygp38 · Apr 27, 2011

Did you design it to be pushed only? It looks well made, nice welds, and the small parts look cleanly cut.

jake98 · Apr 27, 2011

Nice job!

Thomas · Apr 28, 2011

Talk about well built..dang.

Heck of plow on your Kubota in sig. pic.

Gordon Gould · Apr 28, 2011

Interesting adjustment concept :thumbsup: Gives you plenty of up and down. Let us know what depths you like best for various conditions or if you don't change it alot.
Very nice work. I enjoy the photos keep them coming .

beppington · Apr 28, 2011

I enjoy reading about & seeing project like this ... especially since I have a Land Pride GS1572 grading scraper on order.

You must have a better source for steel then me, though, because I thought about building one myself, too, but when I priced the first 4"x4"x6' frame tube, that piece alone was about $130 :shocked:

Where do you get your metal?

jake98 · Apr 29, 2011

How wide is it? The pic with it hanging from the forks looks like it's 8'. :thumbsup:

Rustyiron · Apr 29, 2011

Crash325
Sorry I'm using a MIG but you're right there is a lot of welds there and would sure use a few lbs. of rod.
Davygp38
I am outting a reg pt on the front also, I'm fooling with that now I'll take pics.
Beppington
My first trip to the steel yard, more like a scrap yard, cost me $840 and that was for various stages of rust and or primer paint, Remind mycheapself the next time to spring for the good ****. I've stent too much time just grinding and wire brushing this job!
Gordon G
As soon as it was able to "play" with I put it on the skisteer and after the winter my lane needed some love and I set the left (center crown) side of the blade at "flush" with the runner and the right (gutter) side at a full cut of 11/2" . It cut nicely and the material "rolled" foward off the blade nicely but it did not move in to the crown as fast as I thought it would. At that time I didn't have the adjustment stuff made and did not try other settings for the depth. It looks like that if I lowered the left skid a little it might be better.
Jake 98
It is about 8' I wanted to make it about 1/2 a width of a driveway for proper "profile" of the road for good drainage. For some places it may be a little wide but I didn't want it to be any narrower than my tractor or skid steer that is pulling/pushing it.

This is the first real project that I got to use my newest shop toy, an 50 ton Ironworker, It'l shear 1/2x10 plate or punch up to a 1" hole in 5/8 plate! You gotta love craigslist, $1800!!! and only about 10 miles away!! with about 15 punches. I've never seen one for under about $4500 and have been looking and dreaming for one for about 15 years. So as you may notice I kinda went gusset crazy here since it's so easy to cut one out, I try to not have any "shop cut" looking edges, you know, going for the "store bought" look.:laughing:

Dirtbos · Jun 4, 2011

Very nice piece. Looks to be doing a great job in the grading photos.

Did you purchase hardened steel scraper blades, or are you using mild steel? I think I can see the screws that attach the blades (I assume for adjustment and/or replacement).

I own a JD 3720 and plan to build a 6' or 7' wide unit. I do appreciate your posting the information. Thank you for the help.

Mike

sandman2234 · Jun 4, 2011

Nice fab work! I do believe your's will give mine a run for it's money in the weight department, lol!!!!

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/175396-dava-grader-process.html

David from jax

ericher69 · Jun 5, 2011

Very nice! Great work.

How bout posting pics of the ironworker?

Thanks keep the pics coming

Rustyiron · Jun 5, 2011

Dirtbos said:
Very nice piece. Looks to be doing a great job in the grading photos.

Did you purchase hardened steel scraper blades, or are you using mild steel? I think I can see the screws that attach the blades (I assume for adjustment and/or replacement).

I own a JD 3720 and plan to build a 6' or 7' wide unit. I do appreciate your posting the information. Thank you for the help.

Mike

Yes, they are std 6"x3/4x108" road grader blades, about $350 for both. I could have used 8' but could not find them.

Rustyiron · Jun 5, 2011

ericher69 said:
Very nice! Great work.

How bout posting pics of the ironworker?

Thanks keep the pics coming

Thanks, The ironworker was a super find on CL $1800 bucks with a bunch of dies and only 10 or so miles from home! I've wanted one for years but it's hard to justify $5k or so for a hobby/farm shop. It will punch a 1" hole in 5/8 plate or shear 1/2x12". All of my angle grinders are very happy (no edge dress up).

kebo · Jun 5, 2011

Really nice workmanship on the landgrader! That should keep your roads leveled out. The horseshoe on the side is a nice touch too! Is that your trademark or something lol???

sandman2234 · Jun 6, 2011

Hmmm, just noticed that your going to have the same problem I have, when it comes time to change the blades to the other side. The holes in the blade aren't the same distance from the other side, thereby making the opposite side pretty much useless unless you planned ahead, or just go back and redrill some new holes.
I have seen blades that were equal distances from the bolt holes to each cutting edge, but mine are like yours. I figured I would never wear the one side out, but was looking at them the other day, and I may have that figured wrong. My seven foot blades were $5 a foot, quite a bit cheaper than what you paid.
David from jax

Ken45101 · Apr 9, 2012

Wow! Quite a project there, not the typical hobby welding project! Looks like excellent work. :thumbsup: And that Ironworker is quite a machine too. I was going to ask how you cut that heavy steel before you mentioned that little tool

You must have quite a tractor that is able to pick that up!

Ken

jenkinsph · May 5, 2012

Very nice work and a lot of it too.:thumbsup: What does this thing weigh?

Groo · May 5, 2012

I'd have thought the blades should alternate directions.

I wonder is snowplow wear edges would be good blades for one of these?

Rustyiron · May 8, 2012

Groo said:
I'd have thought the blades should alternate directions.

I wonder is snowplow wear edges would be good blades for one of these?

The idea is to pull the loose material in to rebuild the "crown" in the road for proper drainage. I took a guess at the angle, and it is really not enough. As for the cutting edges, it's more of a question of how often are you willing to replace them, and how hard the materials are you'll be working with.