- Box blade
A box blade is a type of implement used on tractors for smoothing and contouring land. It is almost always unpowered, though can have auxiliary hydraulics attached in order for adjustments to be made without leaving the seat of the tractor. It is attached to the tractor via the 3 point hitch.
Box blades are a variation of the rear blade which has developed into its own implement, with uses that parallel that of a rear blade, but are distinct. They consist of a heavy metal 3 sided box, with the front, top and bottom open. The front has retractable scarifiers which can be used to break up hard ground. The rear has a forward and reverse cutting edge, with the reverse cutting edge often gated or floating on more expensive models. Box blades are usually very heavy due to the forces placed on them - even a lightweight one will weigh 500 pounds.
Most major tractor implement manufacturers make box blades, including Cammond, Woods, Gannon, etc.
Commercial laser guided models are coming into use which automatically level the blade via reference to an external laser.
3 point Road graders can be viewed as a specific type of box blade, and are used to grade and maintain dirt and gravel roads. They usually have 2 parallel angled cutting edges, and long sidepieces. Manufacturers include Road Boss, GradeMaster, and RoadRunner.
Box blades are primarily used for moving dirt, smoothing land, and contouring land.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
