The following is an overview of excavator wear strips: including uses, types, materials, selection considerations, installation, etc.
Wear strips (also called wear straps or base edges) are replaceable plates or bars affixed to the underside and sides of excavator buckets to absorb abrasion and impact, thereby protecting the main bucket shell and extending service life. They come in a variety of profiles (flat, angled, boxed), materials (high‑manganese steel, boron steel, carbide‑embedded alloys, UHMW polyethylene), and attachment methods (weld‑on, bolt‑on). Proper selection depends on application (rock vs. soil), machine size, and maintenance practices.
1. The role of wear strips
- Wear protection: They withstand the impact and abrasion of external forces and prevent wear on the bucket shell.
- Impact resistance: At the tip and sides, they absorb the impact generated when digging in hard ground or rock.
- Structural support: Box-shaped or reinforced strips increase the rigidity of the bucket and reduce deformation under load.
2. Common types and shapes
Excavator wear strips are classified by shape and location:
- Bottom/bottom edge: located on the bottom of the bucket lip, flat or beveled strips, full length or segmented.
- Rear wear strips: located on the bottom of the rear shell, protecting the rear corner from drag wear.
- Side blades: located on the bucket wings/side blades, bolt-on blades to protect the sidewalls and improve cutting results.
- Profile cutting strips: located on the inner/outer shell, fitted strips that match the bucket contour.
- Wear buttons: located on impact points, welded carbide studs to protect the points.
3. Materials and Hardness
Selection of strip material is critical for matching job conditions:
- High‑manganese steel: 200–260 HBW, Work‑hardens under impact; good toughness
- Boron steel: 400–500 HBW, Pre‑hardened, wear‑resistant; risk of brittleness at welds
- Carbide‑embedded alloy: ~600 HBW, Exceptional abrasion resistance; used in cutting edges
- UHMW polyethylene: Low friction, corrosion‑resistant; for low‑impact, abrasive soils
- Chrome moly cast iron: 55–65 HRC, Hard cast plates for extreme abrasion; brittle if thin
4. Causes of wear
- Abrasive wear: wear caused by the sliding of sand and gravel, which can be removed by surfacing or carbide coating
- Impact wear: wear caused by objects such as rocks during excavation, which can be alleviated by using high-toughness alloys
- Fatigue wear: cyclic stress causes weld cracking, which can be reduced by proper preheating and post-weld treatment
5. Connection method
- Welding: Permanent, requires skilled welding and heat processing.
- Bolt fixing: Quick replacement; may protrude slightly and get stuck on the material, but simplifies the connection method and steps
- Combined: Welded base, wear-resistant cover with bolt fixing
6. Installation and maintenance best practices
- Pre-installation inspection: Check if parts are not suitable due to wear, remove paint from welding areas to ensure fusion
- Control welding: Use low-hydrogen electrodes, preheat thick steel plates to avoid affecting welding
- Regular inspection: Measure the thickness of wear strips; replace them in time when they are worn to 50% to avoid damage to the bucket
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