Skeleton bucket is taking shape (pics)

[farmerknowsbest]

Oh hi there,

It is almost done!!! Sweet.

It is 60" wide, has 6 rock teeth and heaped holds 1.5 yards. Not a whole lot of water though.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/farmerknowsbest/2009/October/30th/P1040746.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/farmerknowsbest/2009/October/30th/P1040743.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/farmerknowsbest/2009/October/30th/P1040744.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/farmerknowsbest/2009/October/30th/P1040745.jpg

The hangers and pins will be put on next week some time.

The components were shaped and cut by D/S Manufacturing and the welding was done by HW Supplies. They both do excellent work.

Warren

[KrayzKajun]

very kool!!!

[bobcat_ron]

That's what I need for loading our crusher!

[treadlite]

Do you know if there were any special welding proceedures required on the hardox cutting faces??

[Gravel Rat]

Cutting the Hardox plate isn't a problem you can't drill it thou. Welding it is the same process as welding any higher tensile steel.

Hardox is very wear resistant it is why its is used in gravel truck boxes it is expensive stuff.

[farmerknowsbest]

Do you know if there were any special welding proceedures required on the hardox cutting faces??

Like Gravel Rat said welding is pretty much the same procedure as most steel. However, you cannot bend and then weld Hardox. First big shock and the weld will crack.

Yes Gravel Rat, it is very expensive stuff. BUT, half price of last year.

Warren

[Gravel Rat]

The Hardox will last longer than regular T-1 or any other kind of wear plate.

[farmerknowsbest]

The Hardox will last longer than regular T-1 or any other kind of wear plate.

Yea it is good stuff. Good thing too, I've got a crap load of stones fencerows to clean through!

Warren

[Gravel Rat]

I was told the Hardox 450 used in gravel boxes is tough you can drop a sharp blast rock boulder into the box and it wouldn't dent it.

Lots of newer high abbrasion steel that is strong but its not as brittle as the stuff in previous years used to be.

In a bucket you only need it on the leading edge of the cheeks of the bucket and the lip of the bucket and some strips on the heal of the bucket.

It all depends on what your digging. Where I'am your digging blasted rock that is very tough on buckets. Look at where Bobcat Ron is digging it is loon chit.

The only thing I see with your bucket you may have problems with is where the lugging is welded to the bucket. You might get some flex in that area.

Otherwise that is alot of work bending those round bars to the same profile. There was some time there with a torch heating and bending.

I hate to ask the price of that bucket but I imagine you gotta be 6 grand atleast with a hand built bucket.

[farmerknowsbest]

I was told the Hardox 450 used in gravel boxes is tough you can drop a sharp blast rock boulder into the box and it wouldn't dent it.

Lots of newer high abbrasion steel that is strong but its not as brittle as the stuff in previous years used to be.

In a bucket you only need it on the leading edge of the cheeks of the bucket and the lip of the bucket and some strips on the heal of the bucket.

It all depends on what your digging. Where I'am your digging blasted rock that is very tough on buckets. Look at where Bobcat Ron is digging it is loon chit.

The only thing I see with your bucket you may have problems with is where the lugging is welded to the bucket. You might get some flex in that area.

Otherwise that is alot of work bending those round bars to the same profile. There was some time there with a torch heating and bending.

I hate to ask the price of that bucket but I imagine you gotta be 6 grand atleast with a hand built bucket.

There is still quite a bit of frame to go on. Another plate across the back to transfer the force to the sidewalls from the ears. A friend of mine that has one has had it for 3 years now and it looks like new.

D/S manufacturing did the bending and cutting, they are excavation bucket manufacturers. And they are Canadian! :canadaflag::canadaflag::canadaflag: They have a bending press. The bars weren't bend by hand.

Here is their website. http://www.dsmanufacturing.ca/

The big problem is building this bucket is assembling it all and getting everything lined up to weld. A lot of pieces to hold steady. Good guess on the price btw. You're a touch high but not by much. Still cheap compared to picking the stones by hand!

Warren

[Gravel Rat]

My familly is in the welding business I used to be.

I know it is alot of work building a bucket and keeping things square and straight. Especially a bucket like that you don't have the back bone of the bucket to weld the cheeks too.

Welding the harden steel is a pain in the rectus because if you don't heat it right or over heat it.

A wire feed machine is a must because there is lots of welding required. You have big welds to fill. The steel is clean so its easy to weld with wire.

Even welding the tooth shanks on the bucket lip is a pain in the :laugh:

It is a challenge and in the end it makes you feel good to see what you can do.

[farmerknowsbest]

POST BUMP!!!!!!!!!!

Finally got around to taking some photos of this awesome bucket now that it is finished. It turned out excellent. I'm very pleased with the end result. This is exactly what I need to finish off several fenceline projects I've started but not been able to finish.

Warren

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/farmerknowsbest/P1050052.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/farmerknowsbest/P1050053.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/farmerknowsbest/P1050054.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/farmerknowsbest/P1050055.jpg

[flairland]

Looks like it'll be real handy. Show some actions pics when you get around to it!

[KrayzKajun]

thts awesome! great fab work!

[hvy 1ton]

The bucket looks great warren, but why is the gooseneck chained down?

[YellowDogSVC]

im impressed.

[93turbo]

The bucket looks great warren, but why is the gooseneck chained down?

The necks not chained down the trailer is chained up LOL

[Construct'O]

The bucket looks great warren, but why is the gooseneck chained down?

The chains are holding the neck back,because the hydraulic cylinders for the detachable neck seeps off leting the neck tilt down without the truck hooked up and then you can't get the truck backed in under the neck to hook it up next time you want too use it.

Then you have to mess with getting the hoses from the wet kit hooked up too the trailer to raise the neck before you can back up to connect the trailer to the truck.Then if the hoses are to short you have more problems. Just simpler to chain it up,back,down, what ever:laugh::usflag: