How to Grade with A Skidsteer

[@insomniasick]

I appreciate your existence, just started grading my own property for the first time ever, these videos have helped a lot. I let your videos play as background while I'm in my garage that's how I've been learning

[@DigginLife21]

It’s great to know folks are finding these videos helpful 👍👍👍

[@justinwasil11]

I love watching your videos. You've inspired me to get started. Now I have a bobcat t870, and a 20ft gooseneck dump trailer. You keep it simple and I appreciate your time for showing us your way. Thank you sir and keep up the great work!!!

[@aaronburford5701]

Once again another dynamite video, love the ride-a-long portion. I miss drive a stick so it's so relaxing to see how you drive the truck with ease looking cool!. The dumping of the material is always a highlight for me. The sound, the smoothness as it is spread..... love it!. Then your masterful work on the equipment doing the grading with attention to detail! The customer service aspect of warranty work is top shelf! This is why I always push like to your videos and make comments sir!

[@DMAX-tp4pc]

I do a lot of grading with the skid steer and I always try new techniques etc to see what works better. And you know, last time I did a longer road the first 10 loads of top gravel I got, every load I graded with a different technique in a 100 ft section each. And when I started I thought that certain techniques will yield better results then others. The result was, I had every load graded out before the next one came in, and in the end, I couldn’t tell a darn difference between each section even tho I did them all differently. That tells me, only skill matters. Sometimes I go back to jobs I did a long time ago, jobs I thought I did good at the time. But seeing them now, I can do better then that haha. But regarding your video, all I wanna say is, I do it very differently and I do 90% of the work with the bucket flat on the ground, forward and reverse. I always cut and slice, push and pull. Either with the heel or the cutting edge, and I like to keep some material in the bucket for weight. But I really don’t do any dragging I found that’s a waste of time even for beginners. Cut and push forward, slice and pull backwards. If you are perfect, all you need is one pass forward, and one in reverse to finish it off. On each side of the road of course. But I don’t have that much skill yet.

[@craigclark8655]

Todd nice video man. I love the way you share your knowledge for others to benefit from. Keep up the good work brother!

[@G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Thanks for showing us how it’s done Todd. Says a lot about you that you stand behind your work. You’re a master with that machine. Nice backblading job.

[@DigginLife21]

I appreciate that Jeff!

[@theguyguy3528]

Love the in cab audio synced up with the exterior wide shot!

[@aaronburford5701]

You are the best at what you do sir! Great content... Started watching driveway work because of your channel!

[@tonystevenson7967]

sharing your experience for free is a hell of a great gift!!.. i have to pay for tickets and most instructors are quite busy to go over the processes ... also, the older pipe liners are real pricks to try and work with... so thank you Sir!! 😃

[@DigginLife21]

👍👍👍

[@ianricker9303]

Very much enjoy all of your videos! Learning quite a bit about excavator operation and practices from watching you. Great resource for newbies!

[@NistaDGB]

Hey just wanted to say thanks. Also been spending the past year + grading my 200 ft gravel drive and adding around it new sections. Have done it 4-5 times this past year alone each time with different techniques and different attachments just getting the practice in hours in while I can. Something I really enjoy doing and hope to keep doing in the future. It bugs the fam but it’s a great practice arena lol.

[@ChattNCC]

Gravel driveways and roads in the mountains are so susceptible to hard rains and getting the right material and fall on them are often a process of adjustments. Enjoy your vids. Be well and cheers. ☕️

[@gregw98]

Very informative. You are the Bob Ross of Skidsteers.

[@DigginLife21]

You are too kind sir!!!

[@Kleiminc]

Good video. Glad to see you upgraded the equipment

[@adamwest8256]

I do the same with my driveway jobs. I'll do the majority of earth moving with my Landpride slide grader. After I've got the shape I desire, I'll use the loader bucket to dress it out pretty and smooth.

[@RLynn-yu3ju]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video and give of your experience.

[@michaelkoon8371]

Very nice job good proud of you and how the breading turned out it’s Sunday morning here in West Virginia going to Sunday school this morning’s by God bless your business you and your family

[@DigginLife21]

Thanks Michael 👍👍👍

[@BandyFarms]

The way he explains what he’s doing reminds me of Bob Ross painting a picture lol.

[@LAKESIDEBOB1]

What do you think of the Cat cab. What about the swing out door your thoughts on it, ever been stuck in it when you wanted to get out? Did you look at a fold up cab door machine. comments?

[@d57702]

Grading should always be done pushing material. Create a level starting point and workout from there pushing material out in front of you. Back dragging should only be done to smooth out ruts and minor bumps as it takes more time to do the same work.

[@martin1234512345]

Should also be done with a full bucket of material if possible.

[@Neel-xe1po]

What I've noticed in the last two years here in indiana is that we're getting substantially heavier "down pour" rains and we are having to adjust our normal techniques due to the weather differences..

[@trayevans9381]

love the Mack ...low end torque is awesome

[@ivanvasik4170]

Hi Todd thanks hello from Winnipeg Canada 🇨🇦

[@DigginLife21]

Thank you Ivan 👍

[@jeffaddison6332]

Hi, small tracked machines aren’t real effective for compaction. A cat 289= 5.2 psi. With a full bucket you can achieve more. Water can help, up to a point. If it matters, roll it.

[@olhickory7117]

Not everybody has a 90,000 pound trackhoe

[@G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Yep, that’s why he ran over it w/ his dump. Rollers certainly are ideal if you can afford one, or have a big enough trailer to haul one to the job site.

[@martin1234512345]

Better than using your feet....

[@stevesaulsbury202]

Looking good Todd !!

[@junkyarddd1]

I really like the new microphone

[@kylejones2075]

Nice thanks for sharing

[@dannyhunter1225]

Ive been watching you since you started your channel and still really in joy it I have went out on my own now i have a kx-040 kubbta and im looking for a single axle dump truck you got any advice were to look all i can find is wore out and they wont a fortune for them

[@dennisryan7487]

Loved the Peanut Butter Analogy

[@AnomadAlaska]

Those techniques will apply to my tiny tractor as well. Just small bites. Thank you.

[@luludawg1]

Looks good!

[@adamwest8256]

Which also remains me I need to do my own driveway that I've neglected because I'm not going to bill myself 😆

[@daltdalt6624]

idk if you’ll comment on this but can you explain to me on how you slope driveways with the skid steer for the water to run off to the sides

[@brianmahoney4156]

Dude thank you. This video helped me

[@DigginLife21]

Great to hear Brian!!!

[@MrStrumboli]

Love your videos, I feel like I have learned a lot. I have a question though, what are other names for Roadbond? I need a bit for my driveway. I am in the northeast. Any idea what I should ask for at my local supplier?

[@DigginLife21]

Great question!!! Other names are ABC, crusher run, 3/4 minus and road base

[@hsing4903]

Big Mack to the rescue with the big rip rap!

[@DigginLife21]

You know it hero!!!

[@mikel9567]

Personally, not the way I would have done that driveway. I think I would have lowered that catch basin and sloped the driveway down towards it. Having a berm in the driveway is going to get annoying for the homeowner. But maybe that was the only way that could have been done. Regardless, another great job Todd.

[@MrJttubby]

What kind of camera do you use? I've been using my phone and that has complications at times.

[@Gary67242]

nice touch up ...thumbs up

[@michaelhenderson1972]

Making it right goes a long way for future jobs/work and positive referrals.

[@ianbirkmyre4622]

Does that constitute a crunchy nut peanut butter berm 🤔😃

[@murf1201]

hi all. i have to climb ramps steeper than i have before. the ramps are 3300 long and the height from ground to the level i have to get onto is 800mm. i know this probably isnt really steep but im wondering should i go counterweight uphill or just go up forward. any help would be great please. the ramps are resting on a concrete ledge so i cant put a bolt through like on the tray of a truck. if my math is right slope is 13 degrees. thanks

[@BarryHull]

Todd, I'm a homeowner, not a grading contractor. I'm building up an area for a 50x60 shed, so far had 20 tri-axle loads of fill delivered, probably 10 more to go. I'm doing the grading myself, this video helped a lot! When completed, what surface material would you use to park equipment? Gravel, crusher run, something else? Thanks!

[@DigginLife21]

Crusher run in general is a great option

[@BarryHull]

@@DigginLife21 Thanks!

[@tomrizzo1554]

Is that a speed bump???

[@workingwithadam]

nice job Tod

[@CerretaniOutdoorsLLC]

Why don’t you wet it down for better compaction?

[@jeffwhiteside1124]

What is road bond??

[@DigginLife21]

3/4 stone mixed with granite fines

[@BamaGuppies]

Do you run yours in high speed when doing a job like this? It kinda sounds like it is in high. I have a 279 D3 and I have never been told if it was ok to grade in high.

[@DigginLife21]

I prefer low just because it is less abrupt. The 289 is just a fast traveling machine even in low

[@BamaGuppies]

@@DigginLife21 i think the steering is more controllable in low especially if pushing a pile. even if going slow while in high, I still think the steering is more controllable if that makes sense. I test drove a Kubota on a paved surface and it would not turn in high.

[@thomassawyer820]

Thanks! Todd

[@junkyarddd1]

Woo-hoo I got in first !!!

[@chrisowen1412]

I've never seen someone put a burm in a driveway. That'll be a rough ride????

[@charlesworsencroft6235]

Thank you

[@DigginLife21]

🙏🏻

[@dancoleman8467]

Good morning Todd. Are you reachable at all? I'm not some kind of KZbin stalker - no, just a sixty-eight year old retiree looking to get started in grading. I'd really appreciate a five minute conversation with you. How can we connect please?

[@CerretaniOutdoorsLLC]

If you are close to Boston you can watch me grade out a new front yard About 5000SqFt

[@M3SIGNS]

You need a Cleveland (mfr.) long bottom bucket then watch dirt bossssss and mr. elite

[@jeffgrim9293]

😎

[@DigginLife21]

🤩

[@sycodad4483]

That is NOT how you grade with a skid steer. You do not grade going backwards. That thing on the front of the bucket is called a cutting edge. You cut grade. You do not back drag to get grade. That just looks like a flat pile.

[@DigginLife21]

You seem really upset given your use of all caps in the word “NOT.” Trust me it’s ok…go into your parents room and tell momma you need your binky. 10-15 minutes you’ll calm down and you can come back. I’ll be glad to have an adult conversation with you

[@etiennecossette6220]

Learn gradding!!

[@windzer]

I Don't want to be an arm chair operator but using the float like that is practically worthless cause u cant grade anything like that. dont use float and keep your bucket flat on the ground and cut with the back of your bucket back dragging and cut with the cutting edge going forward best examples ive seen is elite earthworks and letsdig18. float is useless grading the only thing ive found its good for is using the harley rake

[@kipsterchi7418]

You watched what he did in the time lapse didn't you? What you are describing is the smoothing process, I was thinking the same thing you wrote until I saw his time lapse at the end. Down in the south we use the float feature a lot until we can get the grade to firm up, then we start cutting and smoothing with the back part of the cutting edge. A floating back drag has served me well to establish a grade-able surface.

[@windzer]

@@kipsterchi7418 yup I did catch the very end like last 20 seconds and that was better but what he had going on with the float and curling his bucket is frankly a terrible tip cause all it does is follow the highs and lows and make them worse

[@kipsterchi7418]

@@windzer you are correct if you do not tilt the bucket back up for the "smearing effect" it will cascade the highs and lows, frankly it will make whoops or speed bumps! I think the trick is to tilt the bucket back up if you would, when you are coming to an area to fill, the nice thing about doing it in reverse is you can feel it in the back of your seat when you are going to an area that needs to be filled in. At the end of the day, do what works for you, but know this, the float was a feature on front end loaders long before people were running Harley rakes on skid steers. I will agree though it is very nice to run my Harley rake using float and tilt for adjustment.

[@windzer]

@@kipsterchi7418 i know its useless on loaders too lol i never use it u can do everything u need to do with your own hand and a better job at that plus half the time float and the bucket level never work anyway cause it broke lol i have several thousand hours just running a loader

[@kipsterchi7418]

@@windzer 👍