How To: Grade With An Excavator

Using the Bobcat E50 to show you how I grade with an excavator. Let me know if you think the video was informative and if you would like to see more like this.
Like what you see? Check out The Dirt Ninja on Facebook here: / thedirtninja

[@brianllfixit]

Shift the bulk and trim it off,perfect.This bloke knows what he is doing.Ignore the keyboard operators who do not have a clue.

[@fhmchris6553]

Thanks ! ! I was talked out of buying a skid steer into a mini excavator, though, I'm still a few years out from buying one, but I love getting an idea as to how many different tasks a mini exc can handle. seeing this makes me happy, a patio in the back yard can be made pretty easy with this sucker!

[@Ghostrider2999]

Hey, liking these little tricks and the way you explain, not to many out there will show people, some new tricks and ideas to try. Thanks and keep it up.

[@Quadflash]

Whoa! Grading with a bucket is harder than it looks. Thanks for a fine introduction to that art

[@MJ-pt4lk]

This is great. I am from Australia and work with skid steers Moxys, loaders and the like, however I do want to learn Excavation grade finishing and crown cambers and other skills, you explain things in an easy to comprehend manner and yeah keep doing these clips please because they are a very good practical teaching tool / aid . More power to you my friend.

[@OSHomestead]

I appreciate that you are explaining what you’re doing and showing different ways to do it. Earned another subscriber. Thank you!

[@beauxtx1959]

FINALLY!! A great vid that shows how to grade. Stick in, boom up. YES! New operator here. Thanks so much!

[@derke123]

you are an absolute gem for making these videos thank you kindly!

[@brendandarcy8417]

this is a good video keep making them mate every tip helps

[@semicabin]

I've been trying to grade out 30ton of crushed rock over the weekend and I failed dismally, I've done 10hr all up on a machine so jumped into the hardest thing to do- you're a great operator, going to try and do the bucket movements you show tomorrow.thx for vid

[@E3CB]

Nice! I was wondering how it is done and you explained it perfectly! Thank you!

[@earthpig5385]

Love watching your videos. I find them informative and very helpful. A lot of ppl don't want to share there knowledge, hats off to you for doing so.

[@seamustuohy3558]

lovely smooth operating, great job.

[@JasonCulleyReignSports]

learning grading this week. thanks for the video, ill be watching everything you do. cheers

[@MrEdelong]

Nice video I would like to see the video of how you go about setting up your laser too everyone has there own way and I'm always open to hearing of new processes to go about it and always willing to learn faster and or simpler ways... Also if you have any ideas or just how you go about it if you don't have a tilt attachment on a machine I'm always fighting that. Also even though u have your tilt how do you know when it's level or not? Good videos btw.

[@TheMidnightKawboy]

Great video mate and very smooth operation! Do you allow for compaction when you set the laser or do you set it to `dead bone`?

[@demoman4949]

hey buddy, really enjoying the videos. i'm in the same exact business in CA. all i do is specialty excavator work, hillside work, tight access work etc. i do some dozer and loader work but i get more calls for my excavators. i run kubota excavators. its been a pleasure watching a dude that enjoys his work and does it well. keep it up brutha

[@yvindmathiassen7617]

I´d like to get some tips on how to start planning a dig on an uneven, untouched pice of land. With trees, dirt, rocks and every aspect of it. Maybe you could do a whole series on a start to finish on a project. That would be useful, interesting and fun to watch. Thanks

[@pjs5191]

Love your videos. The landscaper I am working for has some smaller patios and hardscape stuff that we get into every once in awhile but you seem to do huge patios and hardscape stuff pretty regularly. This is the kind of stuff I want to learn more about. You guys have quite a bit of work lined up yet this year before the winter hits?

[@maxwellnelson231]

How did you attach the laser to the boom!? i love this idea

[@Lanix5150]

love the vid... thank you. Possible to see a dig for a new driveway/path into a steep grade?

[@christopherkennedy314]

Hey man thanx alot for doing this vid.I just passed my ticket and have very little experiance on machines but have always been very interested since i was a lil kid.Watching this vid has defo helped me to understand a lil more of the basics of grading.Kind regards from Scotland.

[@rhinotrikes]

I've just started sorting our small trading estate with a Lewis, trying to grade today using the front bucket. Now I know why I was getting nowhere fast. Thanks for the info.

[@nltkb1]

I dig for archaeology and we gota be precise ,this guy can operate 👍

[@drewd7824]

Amazing. Just bought my first excavator and trying to learn how to grade. What lazer system and boom attachment and lazer reader are you using!??

[@theg6433]

In Permaculture they need a lot of swale work on contour, 2' deep x 6' wide, to slow the water down on the property. There is also dam and pond construction as well. Can you show this type of grading for water catchment swales? Angle Tilt bucket is awesome.

[@DirtNinja]

@Alprofight Haven't tried an E35 but we still love our E50, no complaints so far. Bobcats new machines seam to be great machines.

[@soldierofdirt81]

Awesome video, is that laser a dual plane laser? I use a topcon dual plane laser to construct oilfield pads and they are worth their weight in gold in production, man hours and many other ways.

[@chucky_gg]

Hey Ninja, first nice videos! :) What about grading with an old excavator? I have an old 8 tonne mobile excavator and grading with this machine isnt so good like you do. The hydraulic isnt so smooth and i dont realy know if i should grade without power or with full machine power on? Would be nice to know or maybe to see you on an old excavator, my is over 20 years old. (Schaeff HML30e)

[@dieselfunk65]

Very good video, good advice, and great commentary, I really enjoyed watching, I hope that you make more like it.

[@cmlinney]

You're slick.. thats a great bucket for grading. Its huge.

[@johngoldman9623]

Great video. Have no experience with excavating and planning on putting a garage on a hillside. Would be great to see you carve out a flat area with cut and fill then grade the whole thing. I've been told a pro could do my job in a couple of days. I'm going to allow at least a week. Going to get a quote from a local excavator as well as a backup plan.

[@AlwaysDigging16]

@BobcatNinja2124 So say you wanted to start the ditch at 3ft deep and end up at 9ft deep is that possible or is it just for small grades like a drainage ditch where you just wanted a 3 percent grade the whole way down the ditch?

[@stacksoncummins06]

This was an awesome video. Keep up the great work. I have operated many different brands of excavations and Bobcat is the best. I have a x331 with around 4000hrs.

[@beckyrieger9895]

very proficient, ive been operating for a year now, mainly septic test pits and flail mowing. currently running a kubota u25, ive ordered a bobcat E42 to expand into some bigger jobs like house cuts and site clearing. do you have a house cut video

[@ansaribaksh1973]

Love the precise handling bro. So many questions... if you need to add an inch, do you use the machine? Can the dozer blade be used to grade as well? I'm considering investing in a used mini excavator, what advice can you give me on brands and attachments etc?

[@Andrewxs83]

My first day grading was a disaster but its getting better :) Well done Ninja !!

[@dilbertbiggen3583]

And Ka As my grandpa would say. "The pro's started as rookies too"

[@DirtNinja]

@MrEdelong Ill get one up on setting the laser in the next few weeks. There is no way to really know of the tilt is level, I guess I just have an eye for it.

[@jon2683032009]

Nice one I've been doing a digger course for the last few days and having never been in one before told to have a go at doing this with no instructions. That 90degree thing is so obvious but I hadn't realised that was how it works awesome

[@MrLocomoconomo]

Nice vid, love the ditching bucket/knuckle combo. Pay no attention to the trolls, they suck, they know it, and anger will kill them eventually. Nice smooth operation. Very good tip regarding sightlines and partial bucket fill. Wish more operators understood that. Nice tip for noobs regarding boom/dipperstick angle relationship.

[@Dirtnsnow22]

Great Video! Keep them coming. What laser system do you use?

[@brandonvella2459]

Very informative well explained.. You got suck control over that boom keep it up

[@lionel123ification]

How would you set this up if your patio /driveway had to have some fall? As this setting is just to get the same depth all over

[@aaronburford5701]

Great video and commentary!

[@thequattro20v]

Is that a spectra receiver you are using? We don't have picth on our laser but i would still like to try it.

[@DirtNinja]

@AlwaysDigging16 Yup, I use it all the time to do that.

[@greaterthan50]

You are amazing!! You know what would be cool?! A still at the end of the completed project.

[@Johnsonporcelain]

Great video...very informative

[@snowmizerjc]

Amazing operator

[@Landscapeguy16]

the video was very informative keep them coming!

[@DirtNinja]

@AlwaysDigging16 You could do a large drop like you said, it would just have to be over a long distance.

[@melbourneSTORM4eva]

Great video mate! Defiantly more like this, and maybe those other videos i recommend? :)

[@gregjohnson4368]

Great video. Hope I get that good with my old 430

[@rcralphpfister]

do you set the dipper at 90degres by eye or do you have a gizmo telling you when its there?

[@kapperoutdoors]

excellent video, thanks!

[@nicholasr82]

Brilliant tips thanks.

[@jamesgoddard8375]

Nice work. I had a go for the first time grading with a digger, have to say I got better as the day went on but u wish id seen this first. Had a lot of fun on it though.

[@jasonp7692]

Everyone's already said it, but I'll echo it. Good tips. Liked, subscribed.

[@chrisjames7603]

What kind of stone are you using? Using it for a base for pavers? Thanks much

[@fhmchris6553]

What surveying? equipment is that you were using ? I'd like to know how to calibrate it to know where the bucket is when the receiver is up to with the LED's..

[@newzealandearthmover4008]

I have been using the boom receiver lately too (just got it) but is really hard to find the exact same spot everytime! when i check it over with the receiver on the staff it seems pretty good :) just practice using it i guess :)

[@2001yz250rider1]

very informative!! good job!!

[@neilthedigger]

Nice video mate,you are well smooth on the Bobcat :-)

[@andrevernon4627]

I really enjoy your videos. I am very impressed with your skill. You must have grown up on a machine. I just bought a new mini excavator, a Kubota KX91, and I am trying to learn how to operate it. I only have a regular 24 inch bucket. After watching this video, I am now thinking that I should have an angle bucket too. It is expensive though.

[@anthonyspadaro8556]

Great video!!!Can you show some back filling jobs?Thanks!!

[@DirtNinja]

Thanks man I appreciate it!

[@aaronburford5701]

Great information!

[@fishproet]

YOU GOT SKILLS BUDDY!!! :) KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

[@sethdabull]

Great job

[@SuperSlick501]

that's pretty cool ive never seen a person do it that way usually do it with two people

[@ridgerider7402]

Great video. Subbed. Always a school day 👍

[@MrHendrikus1977]

BCN i love your videos, you inspire me! Furthermore, was that Ozzy in the background... Mama i'm coming home...sweet sweet sweet music, and top video!

[@DirtNinja]

Thank you for the compliment! Yes its Ozzy, haha. Good music!

[@chevydirtjumper]

I do not own a laser, but after watching a few of your videos would you mind showing a video as to how to set up a laser, and where to set it up, because how do you know where to put it so where your grading should be at the right height.

[@antpoo]

Hi Great videos very informative. I am involved in demolition but would love to move into site works. Levelling the block, preparing pad, digging footings, and storm water drains etc . I will sign up to your account now but everything you can put up regarding siteworks would be greatly appreciated. Keep it up.

[@benserkowski4663]

This guy the real deal

[@dirtzilla500]

how did u make a level pad to work from, with skid steer ?

[@richarddockstader6272]

Where did you buy your laser system at?

[@greaterthan50]

You are amazing!!

[@rogerwoodland6387]

good operator

[@dobermanpac1064]

Nice work

[@DirtNinja]

NH, and yes we do depending on size

[@MrHITACHI75]

good video and tidy machine work

[@jarrodwoon2508]

Any easier ways to trench, bench and fill back in then grade to put in pipes??

[@DirtNinja]

@beetleate8 Thanks! I'll remember that for next time.

[@colrad0710]

you guys do great work and you are an excellent operator. pay no attention to the negative comments i'll guarantee those guys are complete hacks. keep up the great work and videos

[@GlenSRII]

Great video man your at a different level at grading. I say the guys on the ground love you lol. I'm 22 like to think I'm fealy handy on the grading but have no laser have to do it old school haha 😂

[@deniskissane4197]

hi there, im from ireland and that is lovely work keep it up, Denis.

[@DirtNinja]

Thanks!

[@55denzil]

very good lad top vid

[@beaverone3837]

Id love to see a video doing the same thing but with levelling off bricks and uncrushed concrete please.

[@flyinasscritter]

how big is the grading bucket your using????

[@14nooner]

I just purchased a mini and would like to get a laser level system any suggestions?

[@bonecrusherneal655]

Wow amazing video bro 😍

[@johnsnow6022]

Wow nice job brotha

[@jamesswain2923]

How much for the lazer the whole system. Thanks. Great vid

[@christopher9588]

nice easy to follow thanks

[@j.p.bequipment9104]

What kind of laser level do you use and how do you attach it to your machine

[@DirtNinja]

@NickLarsen20 I don't give away all the secrets! haha. But since you asked...The laser is set for 2" higher than its supposed to be just for that reason.

[@Creative572]

What is that Material your grading with?

[@deanlautman804]

What type of laser equipment do I need for this type of job?

[@DirtNinja]

I set it a little high to allow for compaction.