If you are planning on engaging in a digging operation, an excavator bucket will facilitate the job. Excavator buckets are typically used in digging procedures as they have the power and force to dig deep into the ground. Buckets are generally made of steel, which adds to their longevity and their ability to penetrate the earth.

USA Attachments excavator buckets are made of the following steel:

• AR400 Sides
• AR400 Cutting Edge
• A-572-50 (Used For The Shell)

The A-572-50 steel is required to form the shell of the bucket. The AR400 steel on the bucket sides strengthen the bucket for high impact and abrasion. In fact the "AR" in AR400 steel stands for "Abrasian Resistant". The 400 of AR400 is a reference to the Brinell hardness of the steel. If you are looking to buy an excavator bucket, inquire what type of steel it is made of. Some buckets are built using a steel called T1 steel. AR400 steel is stronger and more wear resistant than T1 steel.

In regards to digging, buckets that come with teeth are for penetrating tough surfaces. Bucket teeth ease breaking and digging into hard soil. When excavator bucket teeth wear down after digging, they can be replaced.

USA Attachments buckets come with one of two varieties of teeth.

• General Utility Teeth - Good for most applications.
• Penetration Teeth - For maximum penetration.

Penetration teeth are for excavators weighing 14,000 lbs and up. USA Attachments mini excavator buckets all have general utility teeth, there are no penetration options for them.

If you are simply trying to move loose dirt or debris, the teeth of the bucket are not as essential. You may want to consider getting a bucket with a smooth edge, or a ditching bucket. Smooth edged buckets can be used for moving mulch, sloping, grading, and clean up work.

If you want to improve your bucket's durability, consider adding side cutters. Side cutters bolt on to the side of the bucket. Side cutters protect the sides of the bucket and give the bucket a wider cutting width. Side cutters also slightly expand the capacity of the bucket, which improves the long term productivity of the bucket as well. You can learn more about excavator bucket side cutters here.

Another factor of bucket strength to consider is the type of upper support the bucket has. Triangular upper support is stronger than square or round upper support. The type of upper support you need also depends on the stress that will be put on the bucket. Smaller excavator buckets may not be put under enough stress to require triangular upper support. For a quick reference here is how upper support works at USA Attachments: excavators 6,000 - 10,000 and 10,000 - 14,000 have round tube upper support, 14,000 - 16,000 have square tube upper support, and excavators 24,000 and above have triangular upper tube support

An astute excavator operator needs to pay careful attention to the condition of their bucket. If you see that there are parts that are not to full capacity, it would be wise to replace these defects as soon as possible. A faulty, suboptimal bucket can set you back a lot of time and money. Worn or broken bucket teeth may affect your buckets ability to dig. You may also want to check your bucket pins and bushings. If your bucket is a pin on bucket, it is attached with a pin. Bucket bushings are for replacement when the bucket bushings wear out. When bucket pins or bushings wear too much, the bucket becomes loose and/or wobbly, which makes digging more stressful, and less inefficient. USA Attachments makes custom pins and bushings that fit a variety of popular excavators.