What kind of material for tractor blade?

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I'd like to build an attachment for a compact tractor to level out my dirt & gravel driveway. This is only for light duty work, but I'm leaning toward something like a box blade. So, can I use mild steel for the blade itself?  The few diy projects I've seen all start with an old blade or they buy expensive hardened steel. I'd sure appreciate some advice from you tractor guys.- Butch
Reply:Mild steel will work a long time for light duty DIY.
Reply:Build your frame from mild steel.  As far as the blade goes The Cat dealership here sells a foreign made blade that is actually pretty cheap along with there Cat blades.  If you have a catepillar dealer around you call and ask them about a price. You might be suprised.  You can use mild steel but it would not be a bad idea to run a bead of hard surface down it.  ~JacksonI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:If it's just for gravel and loose dirt, mild steel will last you years.  I use a similar thing for levelling out fields after ploughing.  I've got 5mm angle (mild steel) set like < to dig in a little and it's still intact after 2 years.  Even if it does go eventually, it won't be too expensive or difficult to just weld a new front bar on it.www.abou27.com
Reply:I built a blade from 1/4 mild steel. I had the sheet rolled and then added some curved two inch flat bar on edge to the back of the blade. I even used a piece of four inch by hafe inch flate bar for the wear edge. Holds up OK and is cheap an easy to replace. I use my blade mostly for plowing snow but do use it for fresh gravel and mud work. My blade is 7 years old and still in great shape. Hope this helps.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:I am sure mild steel would work.. Just for your info, at my local bobcat dealer I can buy a cutting edge for a mini excavator blade for $50.00  It has to be at least 50" Maybe 1/2 X 3" or 4"Nice project.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Thanks, guys! I like the idea of using 1/4" mild steel because its cheap (I have lots of scrap) and seems easy to replace. I'm new to tractors. I plan on buying a compact tractor in a couple of weeks and look forward to "playing" with it and building my own implements.
Reply:Get a piece of AR400 or T-1 for the cutting edge. It will last forever in a homeowner application.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I'm sure it will last forever, but how much does it cost, esp. considering he already HAS the mild steel?
Reply:A guy can always make a narrow bolt on cutting bar out of a lot of different things. If you make it out of mild steel it's more like a sacrifice edge, but it suits the purpose. Go to the local county yard and see if they've got an old cutting edge laying around. Some are a little heavier than you'd prefer but they are free.
Reply:I checked with my local steel supplier and about choked on the cost of AR400. Yikes! They don't have any drop-offs or seconds. He'll only sell me a full 4x8 sheet of 3/8" AR400 for $680.00  That $50 blade that David R mentioned looks a lot better. I'll keep looking around though. By the way, I can't wait for my tractor to get here!
Reply:If you're willing to buy a cutting bar go see any of the farm/eq supplies. Mine's a ford brand and can't be 3/8ths thick if that much by 6 foot 6" long and maybe 4 inches tall. Probably 6" new twenty years ago .I've done two home made jobs just using discarded state or county cutting bars. Wore out they are still 4" to 6" wide (tall). They can be a little thicker than you'd like if you are building a small light weight blade.
Reply:I usually buy AR-400 in 4" X 1/2" bars 24 feet long and was paying $100 for them. If you have or know of an old cutting edge(plow, dozer, loader, etc...) that will do the trick. Either way mild steel or AR, I would make the cutting edge replaceable.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:ive built one for our small tractor around the yard to clean up from other earthmoving equipment goint everywhere , made it from mild steel and a hard cutting edge from a grader bolt on edge it works well enough but doesnt see much useaustralian welding kid - i can fix it for ya  sure its gonna cost
Reply:i built a small loader bucket for my honda foreman and used a cutting edge from a 600 komatsu loader. its a little heavy but the extra weight helps smooth out my gravel and dirt when backdragging . also helps in getting a better bucket full. i use this quite often and cant tell that its wore any at all. it would take a lot to hurt a cutting edge on a small tractor. after about five years it still looks new.
Reply:Hey Butch,I made a box scraper for my tractor and found a used grader blade at local steel supplier. Was at the right place at the right time. Blade was $20.00.I agree with the others 1/4 steel will last a long time for the money. You can Run a weld across the bottom and lower edge to add some hardness if you want. Should make it last longer.: