Size a serrated edge from the mouldboard geometry, the existing bolt pattern and the plow’s trip or down-pressure behaviour — not from the nominal blade width. In practice: measure the mouldboard’s bolt spacing and edge seat, confirm the carbide insert pitch suits your road mix, then choose the catalog edge whose hole pattern and thickness match that seat, verifying dimensions against the product page specifications.
Serrated carbide edges change the load path compared with a plain steel edge: the teeth concentrate contact, the carbide inserts carry the abrasion, and the base plate has to absorb the shock. That means sizing is a fit-and-load question first, and a wear question second. The sections below set out the sequence we use when a fleet asks how to specify a serrated edge for a truck plow.
Start from the mouldboard and the bolt pattern
The edge is a wear part bolted to a fixed interface, so the interface defines what will fit. Measure the existing edge while it is still on the plow, or use the removed edge as a drilling reference.
- Bolt hole diameter and centre-to-centre spacing along the length, plus the offset of any staggered rows.
- Edge seat length and the available vertical drop from the mouldboard lip to the pavement.
- Plate thickness of the current edge and the bolt head clearance behind the mouldboard.
- Whether the plow uses a trip mechanism, and how much rearward travel it allows before the edge contacts the mouldboard.
Hole spacing is the item most often assumed rather than measured. A pattern that is close but not identical will force elongation of holes in the field, which changes clamp load and accelerates bolt loosening. Fitment by model is listed in the product page comparison table.
Match edge thickness and height to the plow class
Thickness and height are chosen together, because a taller edge increases the lever arm on the bolts and on the mouldboard lip. Heavier trucks and higher down-pressure generally call for a thicker base plate; lighter municipal units can run thinner sections without losing insert retention.
| Plow class (indicative) | Base plate thickness | Edge height | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light truck / 4×4 utility | Thinner section | Short to medium | Lots, driveways, footpaths |
| Medium-duty municipal | Mid section | Medium | Urban streets, mixed surface |
| Heavy highway truck | Thicker section | Medium to tall | Open road, high down-pressure |
Treat the table as a starting envelope, not a specification. Final dimensions and hole spacing are governed by the product page data for each part number, and the correct thickness depends on the bolt grade, the number of bolts per metre and the mouldboard’s rated capacity.
Choose the serration pitch for the surface mix
Serration pitch — the spacing between carbide teeth — controls how the edge breaks crust and how much carbide is in contact at any moment. A finer pitch leaves more carbide on the road and suits hard-packed snow and ice; a coarser pitch clears loose material and reduces drag on gravel and broken surfaces.
- List the surfaces the plow actually works: asphalt, concrete, chip seal, gravel, or a mix across a route.
- Note whether the plow is used for ice control (scraping) or bulk clearing (pushing).
- Check the carbide grade and insert geometry offered for the candidate edge — abrasive aggregate favours a more wear-resistant grade.
- Confirm the tooth depth clears the trip travel and does not foul the mouldboard when tripped.
- Confirm the pitch is consistent along the full length, including the end sections.
Where routes are mixed, most fleets settle on a middle pitch rather than two part numbers. Expect edge life to vary widely with surface, down-pressure, operator technique and hours per season; a range of one to several seasons per edge is normal, and the same part number can differ by a factor across two trucks.
Account for bolts, torque and reversal
Serrated edges load bolts differently from plain edges because the teeth transmit impact through fewer contact points. Bolt grade, washer type and torque all affect whether the edge stays seated, and re-torque intervals matter more than the initial torque value alone.
Reversible edges can extend service life, but only if the mounting pattern is symmetric and the mouldboard seat is undamaged. The rules for flipping, and the checks that determine whether an edge is a candidate for reversal, are set out in can you flip a cutting edge: reversible rules. If one end of the edge is wearing faster than the other, that is usually a mounting or alignment signal rather than a material fault — see one end of the edge wearing faster: checks.
Verify against the product page before ordering
Once the mouldboard measurements, thickness envelope and pitch are settled, the part number selection is a data exercise. Work through the carbide snow plow blade range and compare hole spacing, plate thickness, edge height and insert pitch line by line.
Two practical points reduce ordering errors. First, record measurements in millimetres and photograph the old edge next to a tape measure before it is scrapped. Second, order one edge as a trial fit on a single truck before committing a fleet quantity. The full carbide range with dimensions and hole patterns is listed at carbide snow plow blade, and the same page carries the comparison table used for cross-model fitment.
Quick summary
Size a serrated edge from the measured bolt pattern and mouldboard seat, then choose thickness, height and serration pitch to suit the plow class and surface mix. Confirm every dimension against the product page before ordering, and trial-fit one unit before a fleet order. Expect life and cost per season to fall within a range rather than a fixed figure, driven mainly by surface, down-pressure and operator behaviour.
Sources checked on 2026-11-08: SENTHAI Tools carbide snow plow blade product page (dimensions and hole spacing per part number); internal fitment comparison table; field notes on bolt torque and edge reversal practice.
Three more perspectives
Workshop. The fit is decided at the bench, not at the parts counter. Keep the removed edge as a drilling template, check hole spacing with a tape rather than by eye, and clean the mouldboard seat before fitting so the new plate beds flat. A serrated edge that sits on debris will loosen bolts within the first shifts.
Purchasing. Buy on the full fitment data, not on the width printed on the carton. Ask for hole spacing, plate thickness and insert pitch per part number, and compare cost per season across the fleet rather than unit price. A single trial order on one truck is cheaper than a fleet order that needs re-drilling.
Field. Operators notice pitch and down-pressure before anything else. A pitch that is too fine on gravel drags and wears the carbide quickly; too coarse on ice leaves a slick surface. Report surface mix and hours per route back to the workshop so the next order is sized from data rather than habit.
Limits
This page is a sizing method, not a fitment catalogue and not a guarantee of edge life. It does not cover welding procedures, non-standard mouldboards, custom hole patterns, or hydraulic down-pressure system setup. Dimensions, hole spacing and available part numbers are governed by the product page specifications for each item, and any figure quoted here is an indicative range only.
