Sign In
Welcome! Sign In to personalize your Cat.com experience
If you already have an existing account with another Cat App, you can use the same account to sign in here
Register Now
One Account. All of Cat.
Your Caterpillar account is the single account you use to log in to select services and applications we offer. Shop for parts and machines online, manage your fleet, go mobile, and more.
Account Information
Site Settings
Security
MAKING THE GRADE
When to use a Grader Blade, Box Blade, or Dozer Blade with a Compact Track Loader
BOB SHOOP
Caterpillar Expert Operator
Bob has been operating construction and mining equipment over 45 years. He has been with Caterpillar 23 years. Bob currently owns several pieces of Cat® equipment and Work Tool attachments.
Multi-purpose Machines Designed to Work for You
In the construction industry there are many challenges and options for the consumer to consider when trying to determine what will work best for their business. Cat® Compact Track Loaders and Skid Steer Loaders have great versatility. They are multi-purposed and designed to attach many work tools, giving the operator a wide choice of options to save time, be more efficient and productive. From simple buckets and forks to operating hydro-mechanical tools with ease, the industry is moving towards attachments that warrant a good look at what can be done in the compact construction equipment world.
This article is about choosing the right attachment for your business when it comes to grading. Grading with compact construction equipment technology has greatly evolved with attachments for finish grading that rivals larger grading machines. I’d like to offer my advice on which blade to use when grading with a Cat® Compact Track Loader.
Grader Blades
The Cat® Grader Blade also offers great accuracy and a finish product. Like the box blade, the grader blade can slope up to 15 degrees. The grader can also angle blade up to 30 degrees windrowing material up a slope while establishing a road to create a crown. In addition, grader blades with an angle can easily establish ditches by rolling material out and away from the tool. They can also maneuver around manholes, curbs and gutters during finish grading.
Dozer Blades
The Cat® Dozer Blade allows operators to do quality work in areas such as clearing, backfilling, rough and finish grading, slot dozing, ditching and leveling. Cat® 6-way dozer blade is designed as a variable power angle tilt (VPAT). The 6-way blade offers better versatility for finish grade work than the angle blades. A tilting blade allows for easier ditch and slope work. When grading in tighter areas, dozer blades allow operators to maneuver closer to walls and corners with good visibility.
The Cat® new smart attachment dozer blade with assist takes grading and leveling with a dozer blade to a new level. Operators can grade a quality finish with fewer passes. The slope sensors on the blade, as well as on the machine allows operators to view main fall and slope during operation.
Whether the box blade, grader blade or dozer blade works best for your business, you can find these attachments on line at shop.cat.com or by visiting your local Cat dealer. In our next edition Bob will share grade control technology.
Box Blades
The Cat Box Blade offers a great finish when grading and leveling. The large box design carries large loads of material which spreads evenly while filling in low areas. The versatility of the box blade allows grading in both forward and reverse modes. The attachment also works well in manual mode, allowing operators to move materials into proximity of the grade.
The applications for the box blade include, but are not limited to athletic fields, building sites, concrete prepping, parking lots and the interior of commercial buildings.
The Cat Box Blade has all the latest software to enable 2D, 3D, as well as Universal Total Station (UTS) for automatic grade control. This creates a level of high accuracy when establishing slopes and main fall during flat grading applications. However, box blades have their limits compared to grader blades. For instance, material must be pushed in a straight line, both forward and reverse when using a box blade.
-
Making The Grade
Cat® Compact Track Loaders and Skid Steer Loaders are multi-purposed and designed to attach many work tools, giving the operator a wide choice of options to save time, be more efficient and productive.
Learn More -
One Machine Fleet
Cat® attachments equip your machine for a wide range of tasks & operating requirements. Enhance the productivity of your machine with Cat® attachments.
Learn More -
Safety
Caterpillar Safety Services can help you engage your entire organization in a culture of zero-incident performance. We’ll guide you along your safety journey by providing industry best practices, continuous improvement processes and the latest technologies to see, mitigate and manage risks.
Learn More -
Smart Dozer Blade
Cat® Dozer Blades are designed for rough and finish grading in dirt and gravel, and light dozing. With their 6-way capabilities, dozer blades are better suited for finish grade work in construction and landscaping applications.
Learn More
Connect with Us
In person or online, we're here to help you find the answers you need. Reach out to your local Cat dealer for advice close to home. Sign up for our newsletter to hear from industry experts. Or keep exploring this site for additional information.