How can I clean up site surfaces after digging without hand work?

After digging, many job sites are left with uneven surfaces, drag marks, and loose material even when
excavation went well. Buckets and teeth are built to dig and load, not to leave finished surfaces, which
is why cleanup often turns into slow hand work with rakes and shovels. If you are trying to clean up
pads, trenches, or work areas after digging, the solution is not another machine or more labor, but a
blade designed to wipe, smooth, and level surfaces efficiently. Squeegee Blade to the rescue!

Squeegee Blades are ordered wider than the toothed bucket. Many sizes, up to ten feet long.

A digging bucket’s geometry works against surface finishing. Teeth leave grooves and ridges, bucket edges catch and tear soil, and pressure is uneven across the contact area. Even careful passes drag material instead of leveling it, leaving ripples that still require hand cleanup. A squeegee blade works differently by spanning wider than the bucket, maintaining consistent contact with the surface, and redistributing material evenly instead of tearing it. This allows operators to finish pads, approaches, utility corridors, and general site surfaces quickly and consistently. In practice, operators dig as usual, install the blade in minutes, make one or two finishing passes, and move on without rakes or rework.

Wider than a Gradeblade Crumbing Blade,  Squeegee Blades have wings, and are available up to 10 foot wide.  Way less money and more convenient than switching to a cleanout bucket.  Squeegee Blades fit all backhoes and excavators. Like all Gradeblades they are for toothed excavator and backhoe buckets. A Chain Binder and weld-on Hook is included.

For excavation companies, contractors, septic companies, anyone who needs complete control of the finished top-grade result. Banking freeway slopes, making jobs super flat before leaving, sculpt the finish of your site project.

36” Squeegee Blade for 4-tooth buckets 36” and smaller SB36-4 40 lbs
36” Squeegee Blade for 5-tooth buckets 36” and smaller SB36-5 40 lbs
48” Squeegee Blade for 12″, 18″, 24″, 36″ buckets SB48   46 lbs
60” Squeegee Blade for 12″, 18″, 24″, 36″, 48″ buckets SB60  62 lbs
Custom Models up to ten feet wide.
A welded-on cutting edge is optional.

See Models, Pricing and Ordering here.

Custom Extra-Large Squeegee Blades for excavators over 7.5 ton

Anything heavier than 7.5 ton will need to use the larger excavator blade- custom-built. We will need three different measurements from your bucket to ensure the correct fit. All large excavator squeegee blades come standard with a welded-on T-120 steel cutting edge on the straight part of the blade only. You can still order these from this page, or call.

CUSTOM Squeegee Blades
6’ Excavator Squeegee Blade Model SBC-72, 260 lbs.
8’ Excavator Squeegee Blade Model SBC-96, 350 lbs.
10’ Excavator Squeegee Blade Model SBC-120, 450 lbs.

Some measurements are required when ordering an oversize or custom blade for excavator.
1. Width of Bucket   2. Number of Teeth and width  3. Space between Teeth  4. Length of Teeth

Installation is easy. 

With each Gradeblade, a chain binder and a weld-on-hook is included for the back of your bucket. Once this simple weld is done, install or remove the Gradeblade in only a minute or so.

SHIPPING: All Crumbing Blades and Squeegee Blades up to 72″ ship by UPS to US customers. We can ship to Canada and Mexico. Blades 6′, 8′, 10′  will ship to a commercial location within city limits with dock or forklift, or to shipping depot in your area. Out-of-city limits (even farms with forklifts) may incur an additional (shipping companies term them residential ) charge.

Gradeblade also offers Crumbing Blades. The same width as your bucket. Make your trenches smooth on the bottom…and on the top when finished.

The Gradeblade Crumbing Blade  installs in just a minute, and converts your digging bucket into a grading device. The same width as your bucket, you can smooth the bottom of a trench, and grade top surfaces easily and quickly without shovels and rakes. Gradeblades are perfect for plumbers and concrete contractors, septic companies, landscapers, cemeteries, and all types of excavating. Also excellent profit maker for rental companies, who can offer these blades when renting out a backhoe or excavator.

Designed for all toothed buckets, all Gradeblades install in just a minute, requiring no tools. All Crumbing Blades come with a welded-on T-1055 steel cutting edge, a chain, binder and weld-on hook.

Crumbing Blades are available for for buckets 12″, 18″, 24″, 30″,  36″, 48″

– Includes welded-on T-1055 Cutting Edge
– Weld-on Anchor Tab for back of bucket included
– Chain Binder and weld-on Loop Included.
– 100% American Made. SEE CRUMBING BLADES HERE.
– Large, customer Excavator blades are available made-to-order.
– Custom, branded models available for your company, custom colors available.