9" trenching bucket vs 6"

[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.