How To: Grade With An Excavator

[@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.

[@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.

[@Quadflash]

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

[@beauxtx1959]

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

[@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

[@OSHomestead]

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

[@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.

[@Andrius-K]

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"

[@derke123]

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

[@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

[@maxwellnelson231]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@brendandarcy8417]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@E3CB]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@JasonCulleyReignSports]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@nltkb1]

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

[@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.

[@cmlinney]

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

[@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

[@jasonp7692]

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

[@Lanix5150]

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

[@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.

[@dieselfunk65]

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

[@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!??

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@anthonyspadaro8556]

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

[@greaterthan50]

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

[@vulcan_nz]

this is how we were taught to do it in digger school here in NZ too . :) were using laser level equipment too.

[@DirtNinja]

Nice!

[@deniskissane4197]

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

[@DirtNinja]

Thanks!

[@DirtNinja]

Spreading so its flat and spreading it with a 2% pitch are two totally different things.I use the laser to set pitches.

[@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.

[@jamesswain2923]

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

[@aaronburford5701]

Great video and commentary!

[@DirtNinja]

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

[@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..

[@chrisjames7603]

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

[@seamustuohy3558]

lovely smooth operating, great job.

[@ridgerider7402]

Great video. Subbed. Always a school day 👍

[@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?

[@SuperSlick501]

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

[@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.

[@BenjaminButton6573]

This guy the real deal

[@slayer646464]

put the bottom of your bucket flat, you got a bunch of little hills there, when the compactor rides over that, it's gonna turn into hills because the material was so loose in some places and not in others.

[@Dirtnsnow22]

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

[@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]

@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.

[@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!

[@DirtNinja]

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

[@beaverone3837]

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

[@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 😂

[@neilthedigger]

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

[@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?

[@j.p.bequipment9104]

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

[@brandonvella2459]

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

[@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`?

[@tvra5429]

Do you ever use the bottom of your bucket and slide it across the surface to give it more compaction when you grade?

[@DirtNinja]

Yes depending on what I am doing

[@dirtzilla500]

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

[@jarrodwoon2508]

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

[@gregjohnson4368]

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

[@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?

[@master_vator]

well its clear you werent drinkin the night before, no shakes for you haha, very slick man, props

[@Landscapeguy16]

the video was very informative keep them coming!

[@fishproet]

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

[@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 :)

[@Creative572]

What is that Material your grading with?

[@kawaboga]

Very good video. I have a question, Im looking to buy a magnetic receiver on my kx-040-4 and im wondering if i should buy one with tilt and plumb indicator or even angle compensation ? Does it really make a huge difference if im not always exactly the same ? I hesitate between topcon ls-b10 (600$), futtura mcr2 (2000$) and mcr3 (2500$) but I don't want to spend 1500$ more for something I don't really need in the first place.

[@DirtNinja]

You wont need the really expensive ones unless you need to be extremely precise.

[@ceribaldwin8555]

Can you do a video on battering ??

[@kapperoutdoors]

excellent video, thanks!

[@DirtNinja]

@Bonjon949 Full throttle nearly all the time. Gives you the most power and control.

[@rcralphpfister]

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

[@FIREFIGTER301]

so this is quicker then by hand with a crew of guys, cuz i heard u say toward the end of the vid that it will only take like 20 min to do like 20' X 30' and then u guys just go back and smooth the rough spots and add a lil where needed / if needed. right, that's what i got from it and btw ur damn good with a machine keep up the great vids

[@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

[@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)

[@DirtNinja]

NH, and yes we do depending on size

[@JoseGonzalez-de9zy]

I wish we can have at list one operator with the experience that you have Or at least grade checker but is hard the get both

[@chrisclose7793]

brilliant video and very informative ,nice excavator is it a bobcat, just curious im suprised when i see these videos every excavator has a thumb on it , its very rare to see a thumb on a excavator in the uk ,but once again great video keep up the good work

[@DirtNinja]

+chris close Thanks for watching! Almost every mini excavator over here has a thumb on it. I never see tilt-rotators over here and I know everyone uses them in the UK

[@MrDyson01]

+Dirt Ninja this was the excavator you did a walk around of correct?

[@ayeayroncali6977]

+Dirt Ninja Hey mate. I've just started using a bucket trying to make a big loading pad I have only used a grapple for loading log ships and I find the bucket a little difficult my machine doesn't have any fancy lasers and stuff so do you have any tips for a clean level on clay?

[@johnsnow6022]

Wow nice job brotha

[@mikefoster8144]

Ozzy! Only music to Listen to while operating

[@johnathancasey4818]

I used to find grading off easier with full stretch.done a job in the past with a 4 meter steel welded to a hanix 7 tonne..and worked fucking awsome.when ever I had time I would allways practise keeping it 3 inches off the floor.full stretch to touching track...

[@DirtNinja]

I set it a little high to allow for compaction.

[@XxnosmanXx]

Thanks for sharing, I'm in school taking heavy equipment operator certification. This is a great tip and idea for grading. What seems simple to you is very hard for a newbie like myself. Any tricks and tips are greatly appreciated

[@b.lemire7453]

Just curious, do they make an excavator that auto-levels the bucket for grading? (That probably takes all the fun out of it though!)

[@DirtNinja]

B. Lemire No they dont. It would be very hard because the machine is not always sitting level.

[@MrMrvandeweyer]

Hyundai is working on a self grading system, but they cant get it on point..

[@dgc9198]

so how do you set the laser. Theres no grade rod to take your bench mark and then adjust the foot of the rod to be at the depth your trying to excavate to. Do you just slide the receiver up or down the arm of the excavator?

[@DirtNinja]

+DGC Do a search for a video of mine called "How To: Set Up A Laser Level With A Pitch - Part 2 " Watch that I explain how to use the laser mount on the excavator.

[@aaronburford5701]

Great information!

[@DirtNinja]

@Alprofight We have only owned bobcats, we own 5 now and have owned 10 or so over they years. Biggest thing for us is service, and that should be a big part of your decision too. if the closest bobcat dealership is 100 miles away and the case is 20, that's a big factor to think about. We love our bobcats though, we will probably never buy a different brand.

[@luisarevalo8394]

Could anybody explain what lasers he is using and how he has them set up

[@richarddockstader6272]

Where did you buy your laser system at?