My first Job on my own.

[02powerstroke]

Here are some pics from a job I did I'am 19 and bought my own bobcat to do side jobs and hear are some pics tell me what you think.

Before
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/bryrylan/Picture004.jpg

After
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/bryrylan/Picture005-1.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/bryrylan/Picture006.jpg

[02powerstroke]

packed up going home

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/bryrylan/Picture003.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/bryrylan/Picture002.jpg

[AWJ Services]

Looks Good.

It always ssems like you need a bigger trailer before it is over with.:)

[KrayzKajun]

nice work!

[Mjh Excavating]

Looks terrible, doesn't look like grass was cut out, edges aren't straight, and looks like you might bite your tongue off driving on it. It doesn't look thick enough either, next year when the frost goes out it should be a muddy mess.

[RockSet N' Grade]

02PowerStroke.....so there you have it, two sides of the same coin.....someone says great and someone says sh*t........to me it all depends on the scope of work that was agreed upon and none of us have been privey to that. To me, it looks as though the cuts are right, you removed a couple trees and cut the wood into fire wood, and roughed in the drive area with existing material. That's what I see.

[Gravel Rat]

Not a bad job done with just a skid steer. If all the homeowner wanted was a driveway roughed in they got it.

[Mjh Excavating]

It looks to me like item was delivered and spread on top of existing grade. If that is an acceptable job to the homeowner, regardless of scope of work, then that is pretty sad. It is not that hard to level and smooth item. He asked what we thought of the job. My opinion.

[gene gls]

The tree, closest to the cut bank, on the left side of the drive should have been taken out also. Looks like a bunch of roots were distroyed.

[Fieldman12]

Looks like to me it is definitely better than what they had before. As someone else stated it depends on what the home owner wanted and what they where paying for. To me being 19 years old you are off to a good start. Yeah the tree on the left could have came out but first question is this. Was the home owner willing to pay to have it removed. From the looks I don't think they where willing to invest allot. I think one thing that we all have to remember is only do the work the customer is willing to pay for. Things can always be made to look better in just about every case. Nice looking truck, trailer, and bobcat

[Fieldman12]

Keep the picture of your jobs coming. Like to see more of your work. Your coming along well.

[02powerstroke]

Well for some reason it looks alot more bumpy in the pics than it actully is beleve it dont beleve w/e. The people were very happy with the way it came out, yes the T-base was brought in and spread, ware the tree was I took a good amount of dirt,duff and leaves out and cut into the hill to make a semi level(yes i know its tilted to the left) spot for a camper a they purchased to be parked. Considering this was the first real grading beside patching up some dirt roads I have done and the machine I used has about a 4 foot long wheel base and is real back heavy and hops up and down as you grading I think it came out well. Also I did have to cut up the trees and have the larger stump pulled with an X and put in a pile I manage to roll it up onto the trailer with that small bobcat cause thats all I have. as far as the tree on the bank thats what they wanted if it dies in a couple months because the one root I hit makes it die o well they told me to leave it and work around it to make the road wider for the camper to make the swing into there driveway.

(o and the other reason they were happy is because I got called thursday about this and showed sat my day off from my real job and finished it in one day.)

[Dirty Water]

A word of advice.

Don't leave until things are perfect. Gradeing isn't grading until things are at grade.

Your edges are undefined and all over the place...Honestly to me it looks like you pulled a tree, and then you had a dump driver tailgate out some aggregate.

Your attempting to play in the big boys world, quality is important.

[02powerstroke]

Ok so go back and make the edges of the T-base straight and grade some more till it levals out?
If it not right how about alittle more on how to make it right beside that it just sucks?

[Dirty Water]

I wouldn't go back, if they seem pleased, then you call that one good, but for the future.

Did you backblade at all when you do that?

[02powerstroke]

For about an hour it was all in a pile that was dumped to the left in that clearing. Originaly they wanted just the top part ware the car was parked T-based and bottom of the drive way but I had some left over so they said to spead it on the drive. That machine cant grade for sh%t run a 773 at work with a 66" bucket and I can do a much much better job much faster but I got is what I got.

[sdelorey494103]

sorry to change subject but im from capecod and im pretty sure i know you...your name end in sullivan by chance?

[Dirty Water]

It is a short wheel base, but thats going to hinder you more in cutting forward and trying to remain at a good grade. If you are spreading loose material, this is not how you get it level.

From the tire tracks visible, I know that you were not backblading with your bucket. Do you understand this concept?

I'm always amused by people who blame the machine and not the operator.

[02powerstroke]

LMAO hell no that would be bigshot he's got nicer machines than me. Lifes nice when the payup flow is endless.

[RockSet N' Grade]

02PowerStroke.....DirtyWater gave some good advise in a pretty kind way, in fact, all the replies to your post have merit. Clean straight edges are what the eye sees and even if the field is not quite right and the edges sharp the job has a better feel to it.

[sdelorey494103]

whats you name then?...im shawn delorey

[02powerstroke]

Yes I know what back blading means arms up sligtly, bucket cuting edge down. Not just bucket flat backing up.

[02powerstroke]

yeah we went to school around the same time.

[sdelorey494103]

whats you name...i most likely know you...you know me

[sdelorey494103]

my bad sent twice

[RockSet N' Grade]

you guys know the Peacock family in Osterville?

[sdelorey494103]

nope never heard of em...why?

[02powerstroke]

It is a short wheel base, but thats going to hinder you more in cutting forward and trying to remain at a good grade. If you are spreading loose material, this is not how you get it level.

From the tire tracks visible, I know that you were not backblading with your bucket. Do you understand this concept?

I'm always amused by people who blame the machine and not the operator.

Yeah its very amusing :clapping:

[fhdesign]

Nice job...don't let any of the advise here bother you, there's a lot of people here with a lot of experience, so keep the pictures coming. My advise is to give the customer what they want and what they're paying for, if you can make a profit doing so you're doing fine.

[Fieldman12]

All that Dirty Water is saying is you will get a better job grading going backwards plus it covers up the machine tracks. When with gravel it is best to have the edges of the gravel as straight as possible or how ever the design of the driveway flows. Now I can see as you stated you did not have much left over gravel to work with. In this case always tell the person the job wont be near as
nice as if you had the correct amount to work with. Really as long as there happy is what counts and that they would have you do more work again.

[Construct'O]

Considering first job and just 19 you did okay! By the time you get 30 plus years in, things will really look perfect,or almost.No ones perfect,just keep trying to improve on every job from now on down the road.

Sounds like homeowners was wanting a budget job and they got it.One thing on some of your jobs like this next time and with more room.Would be to slope the sides of the driveway ,instead of straight up and down sides.

Will look nicer and more professional.They will be able to seed it down and be able to mow it.Less erosion problems also,dirt washing down on to the street.

I realize that because of room and budget the straight sides was about all you could do on this job.

As far as the machine goes and operating goes ,you will figure that out also.Drive it with the seat of your pants.I know everyone is in a hurry,but just slow down to start with.The speed will come with experience.Good luck

[ksss]

"I know everyone is in a hurry,but just slow down to start with.The speed will come with experience.Good luck"

Smooth is fast

Always be thinking about the next two steps from where you are. If you think ahead you will minimize wasted motion (which wastes fuel and time).

Seems most every skid operator wants to cut grade by bring the arms down to the machine and use the bucket angle to try and cut into tough soil conditions. This pops the front tires off the ground. Better idea: lift the loader arms and then use bucket to engage the soil. This keeps all four tires on the ground for max traction and better penetration.

Use quarter turns whenever possible. Less tire scrubbing, less ground disturbance and faster.

It is usually easier and faster to move more material than you need and then put a little back than it is to make a series of incremental cuts. (applies to hard ground conditions primarily).

Many operators are scared or uncomfortable to go backward and will often and unnecessarily spin the machine around to avoid going backward. Again this disturbs more ground than needed, uses fuel and scrubs the tires. Become comfortable going backward, and insist your operators become familiar as well.

A couple key productivity options that are big money makers or savers depending on how you look at it.

Two speed - Gotta have it, increases productivity.

Ride Control - Combined with two speed, you will save time and wear and tear on you and your machine. Depending on ground conditions I can travel with a full bucket at 12 mph with the ride control activated in all but the roughest ground conditions. That is a huge time saver and it makes the ride much more comfortable. If your machine of choice offers it. Get it. My competition comments on how fast I am. The secret is the ride control.

Hyd. coupler- If you change attachments several times a day it is worth way more than it costs. Not to mention it is more safe than having the operator jumping in and out of the machine to activate the QC levers.

If your machine of choice has a foot throttle option, get it. It is also worth more than it costs.

A few things to consider.

[coopers]

Yeah its very amusing :clapping:


Lol, you guys have a bright one up there in Cape Cod. Hopefully your contracts don't have as many misspelled words and grammatical errors.


Blake

[vntgrcr]

Lol, you guys have a bright one up there in Cape Cod. Hopefully your contracts don't have as many misspelled words and grammatical errors.


Blake
Now Blake, don't group all of us "Capey's" together. The grammar, spelling on this site drives me nuts. I just keep my mouth shut though.
I am not sure where this kid did the work, but I am sure that is all the people wanted/ could afford. That house looks like a typical inexpensive Cape house. Of course here, depending on where it is, it could be a $350k summer shack!!

[02powerstroke]

One more I forgot from the bottom of the drive way. BTW these were taken before I raked it out.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/bryrylan/Picture007.jpg

[02powerstroke]

Lol, you guys have a bright one up there in Cape Cod. Hopefully your contracts don't have as many misspelled words and grammatical errors.


Blake

Naah I dun use the speelll checkamer for them things.

[Fieldman12]

I know I need to use spell checker allot more. I get in a hurry and make allot of typo errors.

[NEUSWEDE]

If this is just a part time thing, what is your full time job? Also it probably doesn't grade well because it has foot controls. Do a search on here and you will see everyone says if your doing grading pilot controls are the way to go. What are you usually using this machine for?

It is a good starting point but I wouldn't leave a job unless it is perfect regardless if the customer says that is great. People are going to see the driveway or see your truck while you were doing the job and know who you are and your quality. I would rather not make a profit and have a perfect job that impresses people than make a profit and discourage people from using my services. Not ragging on you just some help, I don't know it all just giving another opinion.

and the spelling thing it isn't when people leave off a a letter or type wrong it is when the word isn't even close. It is WHERE not WARE

[02powerstroke]

We own a campground and I do all of the outside work from cuting tree's and triming roads back, to fixing water and cable line's Pritty much every thing out side that needs doing.

[dozerman21]

Also it probably doesn't grade well because it has foot controls. Do a search on here and you will see everyone says if your doing grading pilot controls are the way to go.


That's not the problem. Even though I can't stand foot controls, guys that have ran them forever can grade as good as someone with pilots or hands controls, if they have the same skills.


It is usually easier and faster to move more material than you need and then put a little back than it is to make a series of incremental cuts. (applies to hard ground conditions primarily).

Smooth is fast

I think these are two of the most important parts of learning to grade. It's much easier to cut deeper and fill in to make level, rather than trying to shave away at a high spot. If you can make each push/cut be progressive and not move material twice, and not abuse the machine while your doing it, you'll be productive. Speed will come over time. Being fast isn't how quick the machine is flying around.

[2109 Stang]

NEUSWEDE; Also it probably doesn't grade well because it has foot controls. Do a search on here and you will see everyone says if your doing grading pilot controls are the way to go.
: I don't see a connection here ,the machine doesn't know if the controls are pilots or nay other stile it will do what the operator will command regardless of the controls ,I used to have an 1845 Case hand control ,a friend has a 450 Case that I run once in a while pilots and my current machine has hand foot controls and I still get the same results with either machine.

[02powerstroke]

Like I said before I think it has more to do with the fact that its a light machine and its very short more than the controls.

[tallrick]

With a skid steer those are always good points. Avoid tight turns, especially while carrying a load when possible. If you have to turn do it in the dirt to save your tires. Do it on pavement and you would be lucky to get 200 hours from them. Actually I have seen operators eat up a set of tires in 100 hours! They always seem to turn right, I saw so many skid steers with the right side tires worn and the left still in good shape. Remember, tires inside the turn do the most scrubbing. When cutting out a driveway it's always good to edge first with the bucket, if appearance is important. You're right about operators avoiding going backwards, I am not sure why that is. You can't grade with a skid steer going forward, it just is impossible! Controls mean nothing, if you know how to use them. A longer wheelbase tends to grade better, but several passes are needed to avoid low spots influencing the level. Keep the bucket relatively flat on the base for good levelling and remember that your tires will compress the soil more than the bucket, so make several passes to get everything compressed evenly. Of course a CTL is a much better choice but the same techniques are used.

[NEUSWEDE]

: I don't see a connection here ,the machine doesn't know if the controls are pilots or nay other stile it will do what the operator will command regardless of the controls.

It is easier to use 2 controls than to use 4 controls at the same time, just like my trucks, I like 2 controls not 2 steering wheels and 2 throttles

:hammerhead:

[ksss]

Most may prefer to use hand controls but that is not to say that there are not some very good operators running foot controls. Operator ability in running a given machine has much to do with the finished product than does what type of controls it has. I spent three days last year on Bobcat 773 with foot controls. I was lucky to hit the ground with that machine. The guys used to those controls are actually productive. It is all what your familiar with.

[02powerstroke]

Thats my problem is I went from a 2000 773G with a 66" dirt bucket with the bolt on cuting edge near new, that I run almost every day and have put about 500hrs on to a 1980 632 with a 55" weld on cuting edge wich is worn off I'am not used to the smaller machine and I was trying to make bigger cuts than it could handel then it would start to get stuck and I would have to let off with the bucket alittle to keep from geting suck. I was not blameing the machine for my lack of time with it I was just saying that I wasent use to it.

But I still have a lack in seat time with grading most of the stuff I do is loading trucks with brush or dirt, moving piles around, grading a 1/2 mile dirt road with a grader attachment but no real gradeing with a bucket. any more advise would be great.

[Gravel Rat]

Like KSSS says its all what you get used to. Myself I have a heck of a time using a skid steer with foot pedals but you get used to them you have to keep saying to your brain feet not hands.

The only thing I'am not sure of does skid steers with foot pedals have a float position like a backhoe or a trackloader ?

A driveway job like that one I prolly would have done it with a excavator just because its what I'am used to. Myself I have more control cutting a grade with a clean up bucket get the road roughed in then spread the gravel.

[02powerstroke]

yeah it has a float I dont really use it much thow, you push the lift arm pedal all the way forward and it locks it.