Cold Planer Attachment Showcase: Compact Milling for Skid Steers and Track Loaders
This week’s web showcase spotlights cold planer attachments — some of the most aggressive tools you can mount to a skid steer, compact track loader and even an excavator. These gnarly implements grind through concrete, asphalt and more, offering small contractors a productive solution for repair work, edge prep and drainage improvement. Cold planers remove old material so new pavement can bond properly. They clean up manhole transitions, smooth frost heaves and taper edges along curbs. In tight spots where full-size mills won’t fit, cold planers step in — precise and powerful.
Compact Milling, Big Performance
Planer widths typically range from 12 to 48 in. Narrow models are ideal for standard-flow machines and patch work. Wider models pair with high-flow loaders for production-scale jobs. Tilt and side-shift features add control when cutting swales or cleaning up near walls. Don’t confuse low flow and standard flow. Cold planer manufacturers may label attachments as “low flow,” but that matches “standard flow” from machine OEMs. Always confirm compatibility by matching flow rate and hydraulic pressure between your loader and the attachment.
Buyers should weigh four main factors: host machine horsepower, hydraulic specs, cut width and max depth. Bigger isn’t always better. A well-matched 24- or 30-in. planer on a high-flow CTL often delivers more productivity than a maxed-out 48-in. unit. Solid tires or foam-filled options can reduce bounce and increase stability. For milling jobs on pavement, tires wear slower than tracks, which helps cut ownership costs. Creep control features also help maintain consistent speed, reduce stalling and optimize fuel efficiency.
Keep It Cutting
Maintenance matters. Inspect picks often and make sure they rotate freely. Replace them when worn — usually every day or two on heavy-use jobs. A stuck pick increases vibration and wear. Check hydraulic connections for leaks and clean couplers before hookup. Monitor hoses for wear, inspect for wire wrapped around the drum and clear debris often. Top-access doors and adjustable wear plates make maintenance faster and easier. Cold planer attachments may cost $20,000 to $40,000 new, but they’re widely available for rent. If you mill regularly, ownership may pay off quickly. Either way, matched with the right machine, a cold planer turns your loader into a compact demolition expert.
Now, let’s dig some models.
Blue Diamond Extreme Duty Series 2 Cold Planers
Blue Diamond Attachments recently announced its new line of self-leveling Extreme Duty Series 2 Cold Planers, designed for road surface milling, concrete scarification, and asphalt removal applications. The comprehensive line includes eight models ranging from 14 to 48 in. in milling width, compatible with skid steer and compact track loaders, and the attachments are available in both low and high flow. The cold planers feature milling depths from 4.3 to 6.7 in., depending on model, and working speeds of up to 16.4 ft per minute. All models have an optional dust suppression spray system and clear depth indicators for precise control. The line’s robust construction and direct-drive hydraulic motors ensure reliable performance while minimizing maintenance requirements. The attachments come with the Blue Diamond Satisfaction Guarantee and are backed by a one-year warranty. For more info, visit www.bdaplaners.com.
John Deere CP40G Cold Planer
The new CP40G Cold Planer from John Deere is powered by Wirtgen Group’s industry-leading milling machine and cutting technology. The CP40G features intuitive in-cab controls, including tilt float activation for precise control and seamless pass matching, even across difficult terrain. The model can slide horizontally from left to right for increased control and visible indicators for side plate depth, tilt angle and milling drum cut boundary ensure jobsite accuracy even around obstacles. The CP40G was built with durability in mind, featuring easy pick replacement for increased uptime, and wear-resistant side plates which follows the profile of the ground. The model also features an optional pressure gauge, which displays power consumption in real time, preventing stalling and loss of productivity. Additionally, the optional water tank mounts within the cold planer frame provides convenient filling and the nozzle kit effectively suppresses dust. For more info, visit deere.com.
Advice for Buying or Renting
When purchasing or renting a cold planer, it is important to match the drum and tooth setup to the work you are planning on performing. The different teeth Caterpillar offers are optimized for certain material types. We offer an all-purpose bit, a concrete bit, and a heavy-duty asphalt bit. We also offer a fine-tooth drum kit. The fine-tooth drum kit has a denser tooth pattern and leaves a smoother finish, which is ideal for roadway markings. Cold planing can be a dirty, messy task, and so we always recommend outfitting your cold planer with a water tank. The integrated water tanks on Cat cold planers offer an easy-to-fill water tank with a tank level sight gauge. The integrated tanks don’t impede visibility. You can also outfit a cab-mounted tank for additional water capacity. Using water with your cold planer will help with dust suppression as well as flushing your cutting teeth while milling. Keeping cutting teeth clean helps reduce wear and maintains cutting efficiency. Also, we like to recommend to our customers, whether they are buying or renting, to pair their cold planer with a broom attachment. Cleaning up the debris left behind from cold planing is a breeze when you use a Cat utility broom or pickup broom. These brooms allow you to sweep debris into an integrated material hopper for easy disposal. — Scott Britton, attachments marketing manager, Caterpillar.
Bobcat Cold Planers for Skid Steers and Track Loaders
Used to cut and mill concrete and asphalt, Bobcat’s planer attachments offer many different features and benefits, and they are a versatile and durable addition to any company’s equipment list. These attachments feature carbide-tipped bits mounted on a revolving drum that cut and pulverize pavement material. Planer skis are used to adjust the angle and depth of the attachment by moving the right and left ski up or down. Depth gauges are visible from the cab to provide a measurement reference of planer drum depth. Operators can easily maintain surface contact, which results in a consistent cutting depth, even on rough terrain. Bobcat planer attachments are available in standard, high or super flow and deliver high torque for maximum performance. Top tasks for these planer attachments include mating uneven pavement surfaces; cleaning up around larger miller machines; cutting drainage paths in parking lots; milling around manholes; and tapering edges on a roadway. For more info, visit bobcat.com.
Kubota by Land Pride CP30 Series Cold Planers
The Kubota by Land Pride CP30 Series Cold Planers are ideal for road contractors, municipalities, and rental yards for milling asphalt, cutting utility trenches, and pothole/shoulder repairs. The Low-Flow Cold Planer models are offered in 12- and 16-in. widths and are powered by a hydraulic motor capable of handling up to 25 gpm. They can cut up to 5 in. deep, tilt ± 15 degrees, and side-shift 26 in. Depth and tilt control are manually operated, while side-shift is hydraulically controlled. The High-Flow Cold Planer Models are available in widths of 18 to 48 in. with a hydraulic-driven planetary gearbox drive that provides maximum cutting torque while under load. The High-Flow Cold Planers can cut up to 6 in. deep and side-shift 26 in. and can handle up to 42 gpm. Tilt varies from planer to planer. Included with the high-flow models is an electro-hydraulic control harness for controlling depth of cut. For more info, visit landpride.com.
Takeuchi’s Quartet of Cold Planers
Takeuchi offers four cold planer models — the TRPLSSL45, TRPLSSL60, TRPLSSL75 and TRPMSSL60 — in a range of cutting widths, depths and tooth configurations to meet a variety of milling applications. Each is designed to match specific track loader sizes and performance requirements. Each cold planer comes standard with a pre-installed plug-and-play wiring harness, allowing operators to control all functions directly from the in-cab joysticks. An integrated water spray system with a built-in water tank helps to control dust, cool the teeth, and keep the cutting chamber clean. To ensure precise and consistent milling, Takeuchi cold planers feature hydraulic tilt for grade control, cutting depth indicators for accurate adjustments, and a cut start gauge to designate an accurate starting point. A hydraulic side shift of up to 22 in. provides greater maneuverability when working in tight spaces. Each model comes equipped with standard asphalt teeth, with optional concrete teeth available. For more info, visit takeuchi-us.com/attachments/.
Cat’s PC306 Cold Planers
Cat Cold Planers are designed for small paving jobs in residential and commercial settings. Cat Cold Planers are great for milling imperfections in concrete and asphalt prior to resurfacing, removing deteriorated pavement, and removing traffic lane stripes and markings. The Cat PC306 features a 23.6-in. cutting width and has hydraulically adjustable side-shift, tilt, and depth control. The PC306 self-leveling design keeps the drum head in contact with the ground without operator adjustments. The PC306 also has independent left and right depth control to allow operators to mill uneven asphalt or follow curbs. The PC306, as well as all Cat cold planers, features the Max Pro Pressure Gauge to provide visual feedback to the machine operator of the cold planner’s cutting efficiency. The PC306 is Smart Creep ready, meaning your Cat machine will automatically adjust the travel speed of your machine to keep the cold planer operating at max efficiency. For more info, visit cat.com.
FAE Cold Planers for Excavators and Skid Steers
FAE USA Inc. recenlty introduced a new line of high-performance road planer attachments built for skid steers and excavators, engineered to maximize productivity, precision and durability on the jobsite. The new lineup includes the RPL/EX for excavators, the RPL/SSL for skid steers and the powerful RWM/SSL disc road planer. The RPL/EX brings enhanced versatility and maneuverability to road planing with excavators, offering the control and cutting precision needed for demanding asphalt removal and surface prep. For skid steer operators, the RPL/SSL delivers deep cutting performance up to 7 in., with a hydraulic drive system, cutting depth indicators and a specially designed tooth layout that minimizes vibration and wear. FAE’s RWM/SSL disc road planer is designed for trenching applications, cutting as deep as 20 in. — ideal for installing utilities such as electrical, gas, water or fiber-optic lines. It features a self-leveling skid to maintain consistent depth and a side discharge system to keep trenches clean. For more info, visit fae-group.com.
Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.
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