Custom 30-Inch Excavator Bucket Fabrication & Emergency Repair - Rapid Service
Custom 30-Inch Excavator Bucket Fabricated & Repaired for Urgent 10-Day Trenching Project – Built from SCRAP Available Stock
For a client needing a custom 30-inch excavator bucket for an urgent trenching project with a 10-day completion deadline, we delivered. Arriving on a Saturday, when material suppliers were closed, we built a high-quality bucket from available scrap materials, $900 less than dealer costs for a new bucket. We had it ready by Tuesday, then repaired his existing bucket by Wednesday.
This showcased our ability to adapt to any situation. We provide reliable custom welding and fabrication services for clients facing tight deadlines and unique equipment needs, offering cost-effective alternatives to traditional dealer solutions.
THE BUILD
OBJECTIVE & DESIGN: A SIMPLE SKETCH
HAND SKETCH TO PRECISION TEMPLATES: RAPID FABRICATION
To maximize scoop volume, Using just cardboard, we replicated the damaged bucket's side profile for the radius cup then calculated the full scoop capacity maximizing its width, ensuring it remained within the mini excavator's weight limits.
RADIUS CUP
PROFILES CUT PREPPED & MACHINED
PIN TAB PLATES
To create the pin tab plates (excavator arm connectors), we took precise measurements from the damaged bucket, using cardboard to create accurate templates. These templates were then used to precisely locate and machine the pin holes on our milling machine. The plate thickness had to be beefed up due to the extra width of the bucket we designed. This was one of the most critical part of the build. The weld prep had to be clean, while the penetration of the weld needed to be of maximum depth and strength to accommodate the extra force.
MACHINING THE PIN PLATES
CUSTOM FABRICATION PROCESS
After precision profiling, cutting, machining, and cleaning all parts, we began to custom fabricate the excavator bucket. To expedite the process, we utilized a rolling technique to shape the bucket skin around the side plates, securing it with tack welds and manual brute force.
HEAVY DUTY FABRICATION: PIN TAB PLATE INSTALLATION & ALIGNMENT
The bucket structure was now tacked in place with strong fillet welds, ready for the next step—installing the pin tab plates. The original pins were worn and damaged, so we machined new stainless steel replacements for accurate fitting. After aligning and double-checking the plate brackets, we locked them in with heavy tacks. Using the mini excavator on-site, we verified the fitment before fully welding the bucket. Leaving the pins in place throughout the welding process prevented heat distortion, ensuring long-term durability and precise alignment.
CUSTOM EXCAVATOR BUCKET: FASTER, STRONGER, AND $900 CHEAPER
In record time, we designed, fabricated, and delivered a custom 30-inch excavator bucket—built tough and ready for immediate use. At the client’s request, we engineered the bucket to an exact width to maximize efficiency, knowing that his mini excavator had limitations. We did the math to ensure the bucket would handle the job perfectly, allowing for a single-pass trenching operation that saved him hours of extra digging. Meanwhile, we repaired his original bucket and had it back to him within days. As a bonus, our custom-built solution came in $900 cheaper than a dealer's bucket—proving that smart design and fast turnaround can save both time and money.
