Mini Excavator Operators: Get Better at Grading

In this video I explain my hints and tips about finish grading with my Kubota KX040-4 mini excavator. We use the bucket to establish and carry a grade over an area. If you are struggling with setting and holding a grade with your excavator, I hope this video will help you get on the right track in some way.
00:00 Introduction
00:42 Setting A Reference Point
04:02 Understanding the Stick Movements
06:19 Carrying the Grade
10:24 Slower is Faster
11:18 Time Lapse View

[@lorenzcalvin]

I just got my IDig this week I'm loving it so far. Makes life so much easier and faster

[@DirtAndRocks]

The more I learn about it the more I like it. I keep finding new little things I like.

[@russelljoplin2728]

Very helpful video. You make it look easy!

[@DirtAndRocks]

Lol, ty….I have the benefit of being able to edit the video. What I would say is that I do ok with it on my excavator, but a different machine would be a learning curve. You just get to know your stuff as you run it more, and that makes it easier.

[@disenfranchisedcitizen1432]

Great video. Thanks for sharing

[@DirtAndRocks]

Thank you for watching and commenting, I appreciate it very much :)

[@garybritt1209]

Good information!.. thanks for sharing.

[@DirtAndRocks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@aaronburford5701]

Greqg Job grading! Love watching this process.... great commentary!

[@DirtAndRocks]

Thanks! and Thanks for watching and commenting 😀

[@aaronburford5701]

@@DirtAndRocks Fast becoming on of my favorite channels to watch and listen to... very easy to follow and comprehend! Didn't realize so much goes into grqding etc.

[@DirtAndRocks]

Thanks!

[@BENNHENDRICKS33]

Good work, great video. Y’all doing a good job.

[@DirtAndRocks]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@stearman]

That was a very helpful video to this novice. Thanks

[@DirtAndRocks]

awesome! Thanks so much for watching and commenting :)

[@raymondgochenour8725]

Nice job

[@DirtAndRocks]

Thanks very much for watching and commenting!

[@tylerpatterson1267]

Why no good gravel underneath where the new concrete is going? Doesn’t freeze where you are? No vehicle traffic driving on it?

[@DirtAndRocks]

My contract was just to dig it out. I am not sure what they did with it after that. I drove by a few weeks later and it was done. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@StephenMartin-dm6pj]

What brand of tilt bucket are you using?

[@DirtAndRocks]

Rhinox. here is a link to a deep dive review we recently did on it:
th-cam.com/video/ksF5NVvbIHo/w-d-xo.html

[@cvmikeray2]

How did you price this job? Thanks. I too subscribe to slow is faster for sure! Thx.

[@DirtAndRocks]

I quoted an hourly rate with a 4 hour minimum. There ended up being an add on to haul off some debris, so it ended up at about 7 hours plus landfill fees. What is not in this video is that the spoil was moved to the other side of the building and graded in to do a drainage improvement. So this plus the other side was maybe 5 hours.

[@bp5558]

Did you upcharge the customer on the paint to touch-up that block wall ?

[@DirtAndRocks]

Yeah that was unfortunate, there were some old broken off fence posts in there that were encased in concrete, bucket slipped and scuffed the wall.

[@kubota33]

How come you like running near idle? Give it some throttle. Maybe you should have gone a bit deeper for gravel
Great video

[@DirtAndRocks]

for grading, I usually run 1/2 - 2/3 throttle on this machine, just works best for me. Owner was going straight on top of the subgrade with concrete, no gravel underneath. Thanks for watching

[@TheExcavatorPros]

Great job.
But that guy needs a helmet!!⚠️

[@DirtAndRocks]

Thanks for watching and commenting!