Building pad with box blade

[tsutxn]

Hey y'all I m trying to build a pad to build a 100x40 dirt floor pad on.

I have a box blade and a fel that I m using. I m having a hard time scrapping the grass off the top and getting a level cut with the fel. The box blade is not digging. I have tried cutting forwards and back with the box blade. I have sharpened the edge on the blade and tried changing the angle of the box with no change.

Any idea to get a good level cut while scrapping the grass off the top? I ve considered a piranha bar but I don't want to come off the $$ if I don't have to.

Thanks in advance

 

[bcp]

I never had any trouble removing 2-3 inches of sod once I got the bucket angle figured out. There will be several inches or more variation from level with each load but don't worry about it. Level it later with the box blade.

Bruce

 

[tsutxn]

10-4 I guess that's what I was worried about was digging to deep and it not being level. Like you said I can just use the blade once the ground is softer to level it out.

I wish I could cut in better with that blade on the top soil, but doesn't seem like it was meant to be.

 

[85Hokie]

10-4 I guess that's what I was worried about was digging to deep and it not being level. Like you said I can just use the blade once the ground is softer to level it out.

I wish I could cut in better with that blade on the top soil, but doesn't seem like it was meant to be.

Does your box blade have the teeth that hang down?
Does your FEL have any type of cutting edge adding to it? Toothbar for example?

By adjusting the top link on the 3 -point - making it shorter, the box blades (might need to add some weight on it too) angle will be sharper and it will cut easier into harder soil.

 

[tater pop]

I did one for a 24 x 48 and had to build up the pad with my box blade.To move top soil or hardened soil I tilted my box up using the top link then let my teeth all the way down so only the teeth would rip the ground. After doing this it was a lot easier to get a full box full of soil. Also you can add a little weight on the box to make it dig a little deeper.

 

[Missouribound]

Use the scarifiers on the box blade and make a few passes over the entire area.
That will make the sod much more malleable for the FEL to handle. And of course if you remove too much the box blade is your friend for putting it back.
Or spend a few bucks for a Piranha tooth bar.

 

[tsutxn]

Hey everyone thanks for the replies!

I used the rippers today to really soften it up like everyone is mentioning. This really made a huge difference in getting the top layer up without digging way down into my soil.

Thanks for the help.

I still would like a tooth bar eventually, but I haven't talked myself into coming off the money yet.

 

[MattN03]

Post some pics of the pad you're working on if you can.

 

[tsutxn]

I will try and get some pictures posted today.

Thanks

 

[tsutxn]

It's been awhile but here's an update. I took the advice of stop worrying about digging uneven when tearing up the grass. Some decent time on grass removal and then the box blade was able to go to work.

Just takes some tlc. I do think I tooth bad would help things immensely.

 

[Lencho]

Looks like it came out pretty good! Picture 4 looks smooth and level. Picture 1 looks like just before the sun came up - did you get it done in a day?

 

[Grumpyjoe]

This looks just like the pad I cut over my leach lines. I had developed recessed channels that kept water on top of the lines making it smell from the inability to drain out. Enough of that crap.

I also watched at a couple tractor pulls and rodeo ground setups something I have not seen in construction. The box blade was run in figure eights and over lapping circles. The end result was a much more level and flat surface. The occasional dip or rut disappeared. I have now done this on three different pads and I loved the end results. Now I will always do over lapping 8s or circles depending on the size of the pad. I have even started to do overlapping 8s on my driveway and have a much smoother finish that lasts longer.