HOW TO CHOOSE BLADES & GRADING ATTACHMENTS

The right Bobcat blade or grading attachment or implement turns your carrier into a precision ground‑shaping machine. Start with the type of work and finish quality you need, then match the tool to your material, terrain and technology. 

Get the Grade You Want

Think about the kind of surface you’re building most often. 
If you’re cutting in pads, driveways and lots, you need an attachment that can move material quickly and leave it smooth. Long runs of roadwork or sports fields call for precise, repeatable passes. Backfilling trenches and shaping slopes demand control right up against structures, utilities and obstacles. Your everyday work points you toward the right blade family. 

Types of Grading Attachments and Implements

• Box Blade: Strong choice for bringing rough ground close to final grade, filling low spots, and building pads or lanes. Box‑end wings help carry more material, and heavy‑duty models pair with laser or 3D systems for fine flatwork. 
• Dozer Blade: A 6‑way dozer blade turns your loader into a mini crawler. Angle, tilt and oscillate to cut slopes, push bulk material, backfill foundations and create drainage in fewer passes. 
• Grader Attachment: When you need big‑machine grading performance, a grader attachment delivers it. Multiple blade positions, side shift and oscillating bolsters help you dial in roads, parking lots, trails and fields with high precision, especially when paired with laser‑ or 3D‑guided control. 
• Angle Blade for Excavators: An angle blade lets you direct spoil to one side while you backfill or clean up instead of leaving windrows on both sides. It’s ideal for backfilling trenches, shaping shoulders and keeping the work area clean as you dig. 
• Grading Blade for Compact Excavators: A grading blade gives your excavator finish‑grading capability. Paired with a tilting accessory, it makes it easier to form swales, build mounds, shape drainage and level around structures without repositioning the machine constantly. 

Choose Your Technology Level & Size 

Decide how precise you need to be.  

• Manual control: Best when grade tolerances are flexible and you want pure operator feel for rough shaping, basic pads, driveway maintenance, backfilling, and slope work. 
• Laser-guided control: A strong choice for any grading job when you want precise cutting and consistent grade. Laser guidance helps the attachment hold grade automatically, reduces rework, and can eliminate the need for someone walking alongside checking elevations with a grade rod. 
• On complex designs or changing contours, 3D‑ready systems that use GPS or total station data help you hit tight specs and reduce rework. 

Cutting width and attachment length affect both productivity and maneuverability. Match blade width to your loader or excavator so you can cover tracks without overloading the carrier. Always keep your machine’s rated operating capacity, hydraulic flow and counterweight in mind when you choose. 

Confirm Compatibility & Ground Contact 

Make sure the attachment is compatible with your equipment. Verify the correct mounting interface, whether that’s a Bob‑Tach® system on a loader or an X‑Change™ mounting system on a compact excavator. Look for depth guides, adjustable skid shoes, foam‑filled or flotation tires, and reversible cutting edges that help you hold a consistent grade, protect the ground and extend wear life. Always verify compatibility, rated operating capacity, and hydraulic requirements before operation. Attachment features, mounting interfaces, and technology compatibility vary by model. Follow your machine and attachment operator’s manuals for setup and safe use.

Quick Checklist

• Primary task: Rough cut, pad building, roadwork, backfill or finish grading. 
• Material: Soil, gravel, recycled base, sand or mixed fill. 
• Terrain: Flat pads, crowned roads, slopes, ditches or tight sites. 
• Carrier: Loader, compact tractor or compact excavator – and its size, flow and controls. 
• Precision: Manual control, laser‑guided or 3D‑ready grading. 
• Edge and wear: Reversible cutting edges, skid shoes and tires for support. 
• Jobsite demands: Obstacles, structures and safety or cleanup requirements. 

Fast Picks

• Moving round bales fast: Round bale spear with dual tines for stable transport and efficient handling – or the single-tine 3-point bale spear implement for simple tractor hookups.
• Handling stacked square bales: Open-frame bale fork with reinforced back frame.
• Feeding hay in the field: Bale unroller with grip arms and rotation control.
• Transporting wrapped bales: Single-spear design to protect plastic wrap.
• High-volume stacking: Telehandler-compatible forks for reach and control.

When you’re ready to move hay, your local Bobcat dealer can help you choose the right attachment setup for your bale handling equipment.