9" trenching bucket vs 6"

[Ronster]

Does anyone out there use a 9" trenching bucket? I have a 6" trenching bucket that is a beast to keep clean when trenching. Any ground moisture at all and I have to stop to scrape out bucket. Would the extra width of the 9" bucket make much difference? I have a 12" bucket that works ok, but I would prefer a more narrow trench. I'm installing a french drain with 4" corrugated pipe, maybe 12" trench is better?

 

[laurencen]

not sure I would use a 6 inch bucket, better to use a chain trencher, smallest I use is a 12 inch and it plugs up good enough, been using a 20 inch, it clears easily and in the end its quicker than cleaning the bucket out every other scoop

 

[dragoneggs]

Always thought someone should design a narrow trenching bucket that self empties/cleans when needed. Some kind of plunger/flap that could expel the crud if moved to the fully dumped position.

 

[Diggin It]

My 12 plugs real bad with wet clay mud.

I'm still looking for somebody to come up with a rounded scoop to drag with for shallow trenches, rather than really dig. Sort of like that bucket spade thing.

 

[Mat4644]

French drain 12 inch is better.

 

[ray66v]

A 9" isn't going to be much better.

Most excavators will tell you 12" is usually the minimum size to dig with, and not have any sticking issues.

However, this varies widely depending on soil type, and conditions.

To those who will suggest it, yes I tried all the gimmicks to "fix" the problem. All the chain, and spraying with Pam in the world, didn't make it work well.

What I finally realized is, if the ground is dry, it doesn't stick. So, I wait until the driest weeks of the year to use my 6" bucket. Around here, that's usually between the last week of July, and the first week of August.

For those two weeks or so, when the clay is completely dry, the bucket works perfectly.

I can only go down maybe 28" or so, before the clay starts to have some moisture in it, and then it may begin to stick some. But, when I am doing drain tile, 24" or so, is all I usually need.

I put in 270' of drain tile this year, and 220' last year. I had no issues with the digging. Being out there working in the sun all day when the temperatures are in the 90's, is another problem though. :laughing:

 

[Diggin It]

^^ My problem is that when the clay is dry, it's like concrete and difficult to break through. I have to try and time for that moist enough but not too moist point.

 

[ray66v]

^^ My problem is that when the clay is dry, it's like concrete and difficult to break through. I have to try and time for that moist enough but not too moist point.

My ground gets like stone. It's all clay fill. But a 6" bucket has a lot of cutting power, because of the smaller surface area.

I put a single scraper tooth tooth on my bucket when I made it, betting on it being able to cut. And, then I could easily get a smooth bottom.

It takes a lot of force to break the ground initially, but it is able to penetrate.

The other thing you could do, is water the surface some the day before.

 

[ray66v]

My 12 plugs real bad with wet clay mud.

I'm still looking for somebody to come up with a rounded scoop to drag with for shallow trenches, rather than really dig. Sort of like that bucket spade thing.

There is something called a banana bucket.

It's like a ripper tooth with like 3" sides on it.

I have heard they work well under some conditions.

 

[4570Man]

I’d just use the 12” the smallest bucket I have is a 16” and half the time I use the 24” to dig a ditch. If you want a narrow and clean ditch you can’t beat a ditch witch. And when you’re done with that the angle blade is as good as it gets for covering a ditch.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My 12" also is a pain to clean out in clay. I find my 24" really works better and the work isn't much more. Especially here in stoney ground. I don't even bother with the 12" much anymore.

 

[4570Man]

My 12" also is a pain to clean out in clay. I find my 24" really works better and the work isn't much more. Especially here in stoney ground. I don't even bother with the 12" much anymore.

I think the 24” digs faster. Backfilling might be a little more work but not much.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The deciding factor is not being quick attach and working with those greasy pins, just never has gotten any easier for lining them up.

Going through an area with lots of big and little tree rootes also makes the wider bucket the clear choice.

 

[kthompson]

I have a mini excavator and bought it with a 24 inch bucket and it is easy to clog in really wet clay. I bought a 30 inch bucket for digging dirt and not trees. It was amazing how little the 30 inch clogged compared to the 24 inch. With the 24 inch I found using chains crossed were a big help. Used a clevis to hook them to the front of the sides and crossed them hooking them to the dipper so when the bucket was open to dump the chains pulled tight cutting the clay into four pieces if it did not pull it out. If you could hook up chains so when the bucket is open to dump they were pulled and install piece of metal of near the width of the bucket and as long as will fit, I think the chains should be able to pull the metal out when they are tighten it would push the clay out. I have heard old grave diggers tell how they would place shovel into bucket of oil between each shovel of dirt.

 

[Sonny580]

anything less than 12" is waste of time --- I only use a 24" or 27" no matter what I am diggin !! Get in,-- get done, -- go on to the next job---dont waste time or fuel

 

[ray66v]

I have done it both ways. Since, I'm working almost exclusively on my own property, and, I'm the one who has to clean up the mess, deal with all the settling, grading, seeding, and watering, I am never going to dig a hole that ends up more than 24" wide, to put in a pipe, or a 4" tile.

My biggest concern is to find a way to do the job with the least amount of impact on my property as possible. If that means waiting for better conditions, or renting equipment, like a trencher, I do it.

Perhaps, I would feel differently if I did not keep my property nice. But, I do.

 

[4570Man]

9" trenching bucket vs 6"

I have done it both ways. Since, I'm working almost exclusively on my own property, and, I'm the one who has to clean up the mess, deal with all the settling, grading, seeding, and watering, I am never going to dig a hole that ends up more than 24" wide, to put in a pipe, or a 4" tile.

My biggest concern is to find a way to do the job with the least amount of impact on my property as possible. If that means waiting for better conditions, or renting equipment, like a trencher, I do it.

Perhaps, I would feel differently if I did not keep my property nice. But, I do.

Digging with a 12” vs 24” really isn’t that much difference in cleanup. And I’ve found that you have less settling with a wide ditch. You can roll the 24” ditch back in pretty good where you can’t a narrow one. But if I cared that much I’d use a ditch witch. There’s really no comparison between the neatness between it and a backhoe.

 

[dragoneggs]

My 12in bucket has worked well for my trenching projects. Only when I run into clay, does it get clogged up. Have thought to get a narrower bucket but figure the clogging will just get worse. Also the rock size around here I think would be problematic for a 6in bucket.

 

[ray66v]

Re: 9" trenching bucket vs 6"

Digging with a 12 vs 24 really isn稚 that much difference in cleanup. And I致e found that you have less settling with a wide ditch. You can roll the 24 ditch back in pretty good where you can稚 a narrow one. But if I cared that much I壇 use a ditch witch. There痴 really no comparison between the neatness between it and a backhoe.

I'm not talking 12" vs. 24". I'm talking 6" vs. 24" or 27".

Your last line made my point.

I can dig a hole nearly as neat and tidy, as a trencher with my 6" bucket. And, if I need to, without a huge effort, I can hydro in the fill dirt with almost no settling. Then, I'm only planting a narrow strip of grass.

As I said, I've tried both ways.

Years later when you have a drought, and that 30" wide trench shrinks and settles, you have three times the area again, to redo.

I would use a 12", if I had to. But, that's only going to happen, when I have no other choice.

 

[4570Man]

What did you do with the dirt from that ditch? I couldn’t even use a 6” on my M59. A 12” is about the least that would clear the thumb.