Blastrac BMS-280LP, Operating Manual, Page: 15 / 39

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7. Cutting Head & Blades
Weight vs. Sharpness
The most common way to compensate for a dull blade is to add more weight and raise the blade angle (see re-
scrape setting). Weight allows dull blades to be used to a point. Weight also causes blades to dull and break
easier. Blades of any thickness tend to catch cracks and expansion joints and will bend or break the blade if set at
a high angle. For best results, run a small ditching blade at a low angle to identify as many cracks and joints as
possible. If blades are breaking, you are misunderstanding the conditions.
Cutting Head Angle
Set the cutting head angle to where the material comes up the easiest. The lowest is usually the best.
Steep Cutting Head Angle
A steep angle is only used for re-scraping. The slide plate has to be raised so the bottom of the slide plate is
higher or even with the bottom of the guide channels. Not raising the slide plate when operating the machine at a
steep angle will cause the machine to jump and buck. It does not give the operator a clear vision of the cutting
head and it causes the machine to operate at an unsafe operating height. Failure to raise the slide plate could
cause machine damage and/or bodily injury.
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Swivel Head
The swivel head keeps the blade in contact with the floor even when the floor is uneven. When using a flat blade
with no bevel, flipping the blade to the other side after it dulls is one of the fastest methods to keep the machine
running as much as possible.
Saving Time With Extra Cutting Heads
The machine is supplied with one cutting head. Having additional cutting heads will save time on the job. Insert
blades into the extra cutting heads before starting a job. When the blade is dull, instead of taking the time to
replace it or sharpen it on the job, take out the cutting head and replace it with another. When a different type or
size of blade is needed, you can already have them ready in additional cutting heads.