excavator ripper toth type of steel to use?

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I posted the question on the CAT cutting edge steel to make a root rake from.Wondering if the CAT cutting edge steel would make a good ripper/frost tooth for the CAT 312 excavator.Am thinking of cutting out the frost tooth from the cuttiing edge steel and welding two of them together for the ripper shaft.Then welding (after some fabrication - an excavator tooth mount onto the shaft.The ripper shaft would be welded to a fabricated mounting plate to be pined to the excavator arm just like a pin on bucket.Is this possible? Would the cutting edge steel hold up to the stress the ripper shaft would encounter?
Reply:Hey bob, generally, tooth adapters for rippers are forgings, fabricated pieces will not hold up under hard digging.  I hate to say it, but do not waste your time trying to fab one of these.  Cutting edges are heat treated steel known as T 1 and must be preheated and then cured to retain strength.  A good box ripper for this machine will probably set you back around 850.00.  Good luck- Ralph
Reply:Here is a must read for someone looking to weld "T1" Even if your experienced at it.How to weld T1 steelLast edited by RaptorDuner; 12-24-2010 at 12:50 PM.Millermatic 200Hobart Handler 120Victor O/A & Ramco BandsawLincoln 225 ACSnapOn AD HoodMiller XMT304/22AHypertherm Powermax 1650 G3Lincoln Idealarc DC600 w/Extreme 12 VSMiller Digital Elite "Joker"
Reply:OK it may (dozer cutting edge steel) not work for an excavator ripper tooth but what about this steel for the teeth on a dozer root rake?
Reply:I think your idea may work well.  What else could you fab a tooth from that would be better.  Any harder wear resistant steels will be too brittle to take the stress.  I would fab a ripper tooth from T1 and hardface or plate the leading edge with wear resistant steel.  Cap the point with a backhoe tooth adaptor and tooth.  Same for a root rake, much less stress on this than a ripper tooth.I've been thinking of making a root rake for my dozer, seems doable to me."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:Thinking out load (on typewrtter key board); how much stress could a D3 LGP dozer put on the dozer  root rake teeth, If the tooth steel is say 1.25 inches thick do you think maybe it could/would have the power to cause the cutting edge steel to crack when it hits a rock in the dirt being cleared/grubbed?I wonder as its a 16,500 lb dozer compared to the 80,000 lb D8 dozer the cutting edge would be from, big difference in stress put on the steel. Reason I am here is I am Just looking for information and comments.Thank you every one commenting.
Reply:I've seen a root rake built from old 2wd pickup straight axles from the '50 & '60 that was used on a JD 350 for about 15 yrs and only one tooth was slightly bent. I think the T1 would hold up fine. FYI, T1 is a trademarked name and it comes in different grades that range from very tough steels to very brittle & hard steels for wear resistance.Millermatic 200Hobart Handler 120Victor O/A & Ramco BandsawLincoln 225 ACSnapOn AD HoodMiller XMT304/22AHypertherm Powermax 1650 G3Lincoln Idealarc DC600 w/Extreme 12 VSMiller Digital Elite "Joker"
Reply:Good morning Bob - i have built a ripper to go on one of my machines Kom. 220 Hoe. I have it on a quick attach and use it more than i ever thought i would, it is a shank off a d8 and then built the attachment head same as on the bucket, this way it works with my quick attach. We just finished a job that we went thru 36' of cut in  rock and it was all ripped with this tooth. WE wore out two teeth but it worked fine. It has also been great for stumping and stacking for burn piles- no dirt in the piles . If i can figure out how to post a pic ill send you one.Last edited by Swamp rat; 05-08-2011 at 03:31 PM.