Thickness of steel for a bucket?

[Ingersoll444]

OK, I am thinking of making up a bucket type attachment for my Ingersoll's using parts from an old snow plow I have. Still working on the design, but thinking of building sides and a bottom edge on the old plow blade. Anyone have an idea on what thickness steel I sould use? I dont want it to thin, becouse I tend to abuse stuff[:D] but if its to thick, the workabilty of it becomes a factor. So anyone that has done this before, what should I use?

[Carl]

Ingersoll, what do you plan on doing with the bucket? That will make a difference on thickness. How big is it going to be?

I made a FEL for my OLD MTD. The bucket was just over 3 foot X 14 inch X about 14 inch. I used 1/8 " because it was free. It has about 20 years of use on it. Lots of grading, back dragging, and digging. It would pick up about 350 pounds without any weight on the back. Trying to root out saplings etc. the buckets edge would bow down. But it would basically spring back into shape. The only thing is that it is wearing the edge is no longer straight.

[guest]

I would think 6 or 7 gauge steel with 1/4 inch reinforcement plates for the cutting edge.

[slipshod]

Go with a heavy duty replacable cutter edge. Mounted properly it will take most of the stress when you are digging with the bucket.

[Ingersoll444]

Go with a heavy duty replacable cutter edge. Mounted properly it will take most of the stress when you are digging with the bucket.


Maybe like a bolt on edge? Maybe I will take the old plow cutting edge, and move it to the bucket.

I am not thinking of heavy diging at all, just carrying stuff, scoping stuff, and maybe some light scraping. I dont want to go TO thick, becouse with just a 110v mig welder, I can only weld so thick. Now Its scrap steel shopping

[Kbeitz]

12 Ga. is fine... But use at least .250 for the frame...

I have built many buckets and the sheeting need not to be heavy, but the frame need to be stout....