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Cutting a Straight Edge

PWR

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2009
Messages
60
Location
Texas
Occupation
Land Improvement Contractor
We do quite a few ranch and private roads. They usually do not have over a 12 foot crown. Does anyone have some tips on how to keep the edges straight when grading iron ore gravel or crushed limestone base? I have tried everything I know to keep outside edges straight when completing. Material is usually put down with belly dump trailers so it should really not be that hard. Should be easy.
 

PWR

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2009
Messages
60
Location
Texas
Occupation
Land Improvement Contractor
CAT140H the problem is not the cutting edges it is the method the operator is using to balance the material to end up with a straight line on each side of the crown. It is difficult on a narrow 12' crown to balance and move the material from side to side and end up with a uniform straight line on each side of the road. Once material gets in the ditch it is hard to get it back on the road to end up with a straight and uniform road. Any suggestions on that?
 

grandpa

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2009
Messages
1,979
Location
northern minnesota
Believe it or not, the first step is driving straight. Set up and then work off you wheel marks. Don't push material to the edges, straighten your blade and let it backfeed out to the edges. Hope this is clear to you.
 

Jonas302

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2015
Messages
1,197
Location
mn
You might want what we call a shoe on the end of the blade basically just boxes that end in our just slide into a pipe welded to the top of the moldboard
 

cuttin edge

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,692
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
Try squaring up the road before you dump the new material. It's hard to build the slope from the top down. A good dump man and good truck drivers should make laying down material easy. I like to spend time preparing the subgrade for new material. Even a small windrow tramped with your tire will keep materials out of the ditch. Just blend it in when you're finished
 

cuttin edge

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,692
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
Think you told me that before. I've got a good memory, but it's awful short
 
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