I need a new skid steer bucket cutting edge for my loader, and the excavator mud bucket will wear out soon. With many brands, types and designs, choosing the best bucket edge for my diggers is confusing.
Which material lasts the longest? How will it fit onto my machine? I know the cheapest is rarely the best, so how do I know I am investing in the best bucket replacement edge for my situation?
Let us dig through the facts, and simplify the decision.
Are you looking to replace the cutting edges on your excavator bucket? Over time, your machine's cutting edges may have worn out from wear and tear, requiring replacement. But how do you know which replacement cutting edge will fit best for your needs?
When replacing the cutting edge of your excavator bucket, it is essential to choose the right type of cutting edge for your specific application. The most common types of cutting edges are made from either as rolled high carbon steel or heat-treated boron steel.
As rolled cutting edges are typically used for general purpose digging and are less expensive than heat-treated edges. However, they will wear down more quickly and require more frequent replacement. Generally, the as rolled steel cutting edges are only suited to hobby applications and are not cost-effective for quarries, excavation contractors and tradesmen.
When it comes to replacing the cutting edge of an excavator bucket, there are three main options: Bolt on, weld-on single bevel or the weld on half arrow or arrowhead edge. All types of cutting edges have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it is essential to understand the differences between them in order to choose a suitable replacement for your excavator bucket for the complete range.
One factor that you should consider is the labour cost to replace parts and machinery downtime. This may help decide on a direct replacement versus an alternate cutting edge repair.
A bolt on double bevel edge is typically made from heat-treated, high-strength steel. When it comes to replacing the cutting edge on your equipment, you want to make sure that you choose a product that is durable, reliable and suited to your digging conditions. The steel used in these edges is designed to withstand extreme wear and tear, ensuring that your bucket is able to handle the most challenging jobs.
When selecting a replacement for your excavator bucket or backhoe edges, it is essential to consider the size and shape of the blade. Bolton cutting edges are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, so you can find one that fits your specific needs and provides extra wear life and maximum wear resistance.
Additionally, these blades come with pre-drilled holes for easy bucket cutting-edge installation and replacement. However, the bolt hole design pattern must be exact to ensure a smooth fit on your existing base edge.
Weld-on single bevel cutting edge profiles are an excellent choice for replacing your excavator bucket's leading edge when they do not need regular replacement. They are designed to provide high wear resistance and a smooth cutting experience, making them ideal for final trim digging applications such as excavator mud buckets and skidsteer loader buckets. Weld-on cutting edges come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so you can find one that fits your specific needs from our extensive range of sizes.
When choosing a weld on wear part for your excavator bucket, it is essential to consider the type of material you need and the cutting edge size compared with your equipment capacity. The type of material you choose will depend on the application and the environment in which your excavator will be used. For example, if you are working in an area with rocky terrain, then harder steel such as 500-grade wear edges will guarantee- reduced operating costs.
The disadvantage of using the weld on bucket cutting edges is the difficulty fitting the edges. They require some skill in welding and bracing the bucket to avoid distortion of the wear material.
Using the wrong process to fit a welded cutting edge can cause premature wear and tear on the bucket, leading to costly repairs or even complete failure of the bucket. It can also lead to decreased productivity due to reduced digging power, increased fuel consumption, and inefficient operation. In addition, using the wrong welding process can also cause the cutting edge to become brittle and break off.
The half arrow edges, also known as arrowhead weld-on bucket cutting edge is a great choice for replacing the wear edge of your excavator bucket. This heavy duty cutting edge is designed to provide superior wear resistance and a smooth cutting experience, making it ideal for final trim digging applications such as excavator mud buckets and skidsteer loader buckets. The Arrowhead weld-on edge comes in a variety of sizes from 100mm to 254mm (4" to 10") and is much easier to fit due to its self supporting shape and welding process.
When selecting an Arrowhead weld-on bucket cutting edge, it is important to consider the size of the cutting edge compared to the size of your excavator. The larger the cutting edge, the more powerful and efficient your excavator, will need to be. Additionally, you should also consider the type of material you handle and the environment in which you work.
The arrowhead shape of this bucket cutting edge allows it to be stitch welded on the top and along the base of the edge. While this requires more equipment than fitting a bolt on excavator bucket cutting edge it requires fewer skills to fit when compared to a single bevel weldon edge. Only where there is extreme wear on the original bucket corners will the original parts require trimming before fitting the new bucket wear plate.
It is important to select the correct thickness and edge depth for your edge application to ensure proper fit and performance. The size of the excavator edge should be proportional to the size of your excavator bucket. For example, a 5-ton caterpillar or john deere excavator would not dig efficiently using a 25mm thick edge.
Customers who use one that is too small may not provide enough tensile strength or wear resistance causing premature wear and cracking. On the other hand, if you choose a cutting edge that is too large, it may be too heavy for your excavator to handle and make digging very slow using more fuel than required.
In conclusion, choosing the right replacement edge system for your bucket which is designed to suit Australian conditions is an important decision. It is important to consider the size of the cutting edge, the type of material you handle and the environment in which you work.
The bolt on cutting edge is the easiest to change with minimal machine downtime, but the bolt-hole size and pattern must be measured accurately.
The Arrowhead weld-on bucket cutting edge is a great choice for replacing your existing cutting edge as it provides superior wear resistance and a smooth cutting experience. Additionally, it is much easier to fit than a standard single-bevel cutting edge due to its self-supporting shape and simplified welding process.
If you cannot decide from our wide range of options, be sure to contact our experienced team of edge specialists for further assistance and advice on how to reduce cost per hour. Phone 1800982166.
