The Connection Behind the Cut: Why the Pit Bull™ System Was Engineered
When contractors think about improving pilot bore performance, attention usually turns to blade geometry, carbide placement, or steering response.
Those are all important. But one of the most overlooked components sits directly behind the blade—the connection between the transmitter housing and the blade itself. Traditional bolt-on blade systems rely on mounting bolts to do two jobs at once: secure the blade in place and absorb the lateral rotational forces created while steering through changing ground conditions.
Over time, those forces can cause bolts to loosen or shear, creating unnecessary downtime and increasing the risk of losing a blade downhole. The patented Pit Bull™ System was engineered to solve that problem.
Instead of asking the mounting bolts to carry all shear loads, the Pit Bull design incorporates removable solid dowel pins that transfer those forces away from the bolts and into purpose-built load-bearing surfaces. The result is a more secure blade-to-housing connection designed to help reduce bolt loosening and shearing while improving confidence throughout the bore.
Every Melfred Borzall directional blade is engineered to work with the Pit Bull System, allowing contractors to choose the right blade for changing ground conditions without giving up the advantages of the connection system. If a job requires a non-Pit Bull blade, the removable dowel pins can simply be taken out, preserving compatibility with many traditional bolt-on blade systems.
Among those compatible blades is America’s #1-selling Borzall blade—the Red Diamond™ Directional Blade, designed for mixed and abrasive ground conditions. Together, the Pit Bull System and Red Diamond Blade represent a simple philosophy:
Engineering every connection—not just every cutting edge. Because drilling productivity isn’t determined by only one component. It’s the result of the way the housing, blade, and drilling system work together to keep crews boring rather than making repairs that often come with discount blades.
Learn more about the Pit Bull™ System and compatible Borzall blades at
www.melfredborzall.com/pit-bull-design
