Ecnerwal wrote in
rec.crafts.metalworking on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:38:06 -0500:

My impression is that running a typical grader is a very hands-on
operation. What you propose to build is somewhat less so (road drag
might be one name for it - more for road maintenance than original
construction) and there are several very simple variants (which are
limited in what they can do, but also simple to build and use so you
might use them before things get too bad), such as chain link fence or
bedsprings pulled along, or a triangle of 2x lumber with 20d spikes
driven into it (and possibly some weights added, possibly more on one
side than the other - also effects differ depending on orientation of
the triangle to the road as you pull it),or a split log drag (good
stuff can be found in the on-line out-of copyright books/magazines on
that old thing - which is still a good thing for dirt roads. This
wikipedia article has the basic goods on it and links to a patent with
drawings of a more advanced version (more bars and scrapers)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_road_drag

I am currently using a version of the King road drag that I built from
some 5in channel iron. Works good for smaller holes, and provides
crown that wasn't there before. But there are some depressions that
are larger than the drag, so the drag just drops into them. A grader
like thing would be better able to move dirt along the road length to
fill them in, from dirt that was cut off the high spots.

The pre-motor graders (ie, horse-drawn ones) would be a good place to
research what worked in the past and start adapting from if you're
looking for more of a grader - though those did have an active operator
(or two) standing on them moving the (control) wheels.

That's what I've been doing, and the link I posted in the first post
shows what one of the things I've found and would like to improve
upon. There was another, very similar, but I couldn't find it again.
I've found lots of pictures of the old antique horse drawn ones and
other more recent styles. I don't think I can come up the turntable
for the blade, but I think I can adapt a small snowplow, and use the
angling pivot that has. It won't be as versatile as a real grader,
but that's not what I'm going for.

--

Dan H.
northshore MA.