Making a smooth cutting edge for my Kubota excavator bucket 

Thank you for the video. I wanted a way of covering the teeth on the one & two foot rock buckets for my Kubota U55-4. Your method seems to be a nice way to having flat bottom trenches, especially needed for footings. Thanks again!

I saw a guy that built basically the same thing except for the way he holds it on the bucket. He used a hook welded on the back of the bucket like you would use for a lifting hook. Then he used a chain dog from the bucket hook to the cutting edge to hold it on the teeth. It was quick to install and remove and didn't require any tools. I thought that was pretty slick. You did a good job on yours. I like the fab work.

Up our way on the big machines we weld two outside teeth to the bottom of straight edge. While on the machine then just knock the two outside teeth off throw staight edge on. It rests on center teath. Simple works great for years. Then ten minutes switch it over to regular bucket

I'm 75 and new to all this (subscriber). In my whole life I've used a excavator for 2 hours. Just bought a kubota k008-3 for personal use, got one working arm and leg from stroke. Yesterday had a drunk take out both mine and neighbors mailboxes. My neighbors 72 can't dig no hole or even remove bent up posts. Had Mini Ex parked in shop, drove to shop on lawn mower drove back on Mini Ex, Pulled out posts dug 12" x 30' x 48" hole for new mailboxes. This morning the father and his son that ran over mailboxes actually came back and helped installed two new mail boxes. I told the dad I want $134 for mailbox or his son to mow my acre grass field 4 times, takes 2 hours to mow field, D160 John Deere. Excavators are really handy and fun!

That thing is slicker than snot on a greased door knob!

Awesome job that’s really cool to come up with a idea then fabricate it and have it work like you wanted it to. Great video

Hi Tim I'm at Ritchie Brothers auction in Houston Texas and they got a bunch of husqvarna chainsaws 460 now still in the box

Great work Tim you’re a great metal worker. I will say I did this with out John Deere 60G buckets and I found that the teeth on the thumb will start to bend out from hitting the smooth nose cutting edge. I ended up welding a piece of strap the teeth or ears on the thumb so it would stop bending out. A smooth nose is great for doing clean up and fine grading in soft material. If you need to do grade and all you have is teeth leave a little extra and then I just put my bucket flat and slide it across the area I’m work to flatten it out and it’s semi compacted.

Super nice, that's cool as all get out. I was thinking when you were cutting those long angles some people don't know how much of a steady hand that takes. A nervous hand would make that look like a mountain landscape. Lol. cool build.

nice job Tim. A man of many talents thanks again.

Your flat bucket adaptor is GREAT WORK!!!Wonderful job!!!Perfect fit!!!

Good one. I want to do the very same thing for my sub-compact 12” bucket for cleaning my ditches on my acreage. I had an idea and you improved it. Thanks!

That thing's gonna be tough, plus it's a whole lot cheaper than buying another bucket. I'd get some extra nuts and bolts, just in case something crazy happened. Y'all have a blessed weekend.

Tim we used old small dozer cutting-edge for blade welded to outside teeth then change outside teeth when wanting to go back.

Nicely done, I was searching the internet for this exact mod. Thanks for posting and sharing your design, saves me from coming up with one of my own that knowing me I would end up using as the prototype for the improved upon second generation. So thanks to your video, I will only have to make one.

I made one for my buddy's 36" kubota bucket. I bought 3 new teeth and just welded a flat bar to the 3 new teeth. Then drilled out for the tooth pin to go through. He has used it for 1000-1500 hrs now and it's been fine.

you will really like having that to grade with we made one similar for our backhoe .really handy piece. looks great

Hell that ole Pete didn't plane out till bout 106. ALLWAYS new Michelin rubber though. And a crazy ass kilroy wide open hind the wheel. Yessir

Tim you did an awesome job making that smooth edge. Figure things out and work at as you said you can do anything you set your mind to. Have a great day and be safe

So over the years I've noticed you have all these cool toys. Have you ever considered getting a antique car? Kinda like a old car you, Jill and the girls can take a ride in on the weekends.

I watch your videos everyday they are great you are tim of many trades i learn lots

Hey Tim, if you have pin on teeth for your excavator; you can buy a set of teeth for the bucket that nearly touch each other and leave a smooth bottom in the ditch you are digging. We use them for digging footings because all the loose dirt has to come out of the hole and we are allowed no grooves in the bottom.

Darn nice job Tim, No limit's anymore ..LOL Have a great upcoming weekend, and be safe out there..

Good old American ingenuity!! Excellent video as always!

Old school there. Friend's of mine did that yrs ago for their backhoe, but they made it out of a 3' piece of old motor grader cutting edge . Nice job

That’s the next thing I’m making for my 36” bucket! I like the way you made it!! If you ever run a machine with a pin grabber Quick connect you will wish you had one instead of the type you have on your machine! I got one on my last mini and love it, I never thought I’d use my bucket backwards but I do all the time!! Great job.

Good job. I have a mini backhoe have thought about doing the same thing. For the uses of a mini you need to be able to make a smooth bottom to the cut.

Nice work! Maybe add another nut on each bolt to protect the threads from wearing in the dirt.

I watched a guy with a John Deere backhoe build the same exact thing a couple months ago for his bucket. He said it worked real good to!!!

Very nice job.👍🏻I like the fabricating videos a lot.👍🏻👍🏻

Great build. You could have used hardened single bevel cutting edge strip, it would have been a once in a decade build and would have allowed you to play with some mixed metal welding. However I guess for a rainy day project y'all have to use what's at hand.

No plan, no problem, just creativity of bringing a vision to life, love the video man keep em commin

Looks good. I wondered if welding a short length of 3/8th or 1/2" hardened steel rod to close off the open end of the teeth-caps wouldn't make some jobs a little easier. Just on onlookers idea, but I'm not a machine operator. I like it as it is!!

I like when a plan comes together

Tim, I did that to my bucket but I used grader blade with the cutting edge on it. Works great.

Thankyou again. Your videos are a great way to get through my day Thankyou

Sir you're a surgeon with the torch, great work

That dog's gonna hunt😄 very nice!

Nicely done!! It’s like a whole new bucket !

Cotontop, this is kilroy again, I was telling you back in the seventies when I used to run down through there I had me a cabover Peterbilt with a 15 over an. 370 rears. I came through Mississippi one night there a State Trooper pulled me over and said Son do you know how fast you was going I said no officer he said you was going 95 miles an hour I said I wasn't even the big hole yet !!!

Great job on the bucket blade. Why didn't you put the bolt heads inside the bucket and nuts outside. The outside is less likely always to be in the dirt whereas the bucket gets dirt every time. Probably not much difference but it was what I noticed.

Yes that's common, it shaves like razor, it's because the edge goes completely across the bucket.

I've been a. Shoprat most of.my.life Tim,, love your place and all.your goodies Bud,

The powdery soil is the way it comes out when digging in hard ground with a grade plate. In my part of southeast Texas you can't even rent a track hoe without a grade plate they weld them directly to the teeth.

Done that to mine last year. I have full length plate on the bottom.

Looks like a good job. You probably already cut bolts off. But dont cut them with nylock nut on our replace them. Basically ruuins the lock of the nylon with heat. I bet you never take that smooth edge off unless you are into rocks :)

Brilliant idea coton! You should build and sell those part time. :) Great video!

Great job Tim. That sould work good. Know you would have to try it out. I would have done the something. Looking good. Stay safe and God bless.

Looks good great video hope you have a great weekend Tim. Thank you for sharing

Way more thoughtful that what I do.. I just weld a plate on.. Then cut it off when I don't need it. Lol

Hello there Tim. Great video as always buddy. Hope you and the family are doing very well.

This is exactly what I was search for. Thanks for the video

Awesome video Tim. I love too do that kinda fab work. You done a fine job. Works pretty slick. Literally. 👍👍👍

Thank you for this great idea

Love your videos. Thankyou

Really nice job on that sand plate you made for your machine i have the same Kubota Kx 57 also 24 inch bucket but spot welded it on teeth think I'm going to change mine up.

Well done lovely job just like any job it has to be in you it's a gift.

Tune in next time to Fabricating with Cotontop to see how you too can have perfect mashed potatoes when Tim builds a new Tater Masher for the mini!!!

That's going to work great for grading, great video!!

Your probably gonna have to patent that Tim. Lol. I like it man, neat little cutting piece

That’s look like it is working good. CM in Louisiana

Great video today Tim have a great weekend.

Nothing like a good sharp drill bit!

It looks like it works great.

Very Kool... Great Job Tim...

I like it , I may make one for my mini .

Hope you hit the 100k man I’d love to come see all the equipment up close lol🤙 keep up the good work and you will hit it in no time

I'd love to know what Chris Guins and Frank (digginOK) think of your new bucket. Frank does the neatest footings with his backhoe that I have seen anywhere. I have a feeling that Tim will get fed up with bolting his smooth edge on and off, and buy a new bucket within six months to a year.

Do you have any plans on getting a Milwaukee Mag Drill. They are pretty sweet and would work well on you repair and fabrication videos.

And the project passes the "will it work" test!Nice flat smooth bottomed hole.

I build things the same way to. Just start going at it.

Get a band saw all shops have one

Need to make another one for the narrow bucket

Man, That worked Great, and looks like it was made for it...lolol well, it was , wasn't it !! Have a Great Day !!

Excellent job.

Man that's pretty freaking cool Tim, good job

good job bud

Great job enjoyed that!!!!

WELL MADE YOUR BUILD

Smooth metal work really cool have a good weekend

Real nice job man. Good vision, good fabrication.

Tim you did a good job buddy I'll give you 100% on that buddy you good and that will do a good job like you talkin about in a water line smooth a ditches

Nice job!

Great project 👍

Easier to weld the plate to the outside two teeth and just pop the pins and put two new teeth on if you want teeth.

You Better hope Chris Guins don't see this video, he be Laughing his behind off.

I can hear Safety Sally screaming Oh my God where is your faceshield and guard for the grinder.

Should work slick nice job Tim see ya Napa mike

I have the same bucket, how much you charge me for one of them? :) i'm in illinois

If you wanted to get really crazy you could do a bolt on cutting edge on it.

What are you running for pressures on your torches? No preheat edge before burning, how do you do that?

Well done!

If you still have this would you be interested in selling it?

Great video

I MADE A BOX AROUND THE TEETH cutting edge under the teeth like a box TWO PINS HOLD IT ON .

thats cool tim .

Pretty neat deal there. What kind of tripod was your camera on? You must have had auto exposure when you were welding.

Nice job

Listen to 19:36

Is that motor oil you are using to keep that bit cool?