Anyone ever used a miniature excavator?

JoeR · Apr 4, 2006

I need to dig a 5x5x8 foot deep hole. Rental guy says miniature excavator would be recommended. So, I am sitting here thinking about it... Can it really do the job from a stationary position? Is this the right machine?

I was thinking more along the lines of a Case Loader/BH type.

Thanks,

Joe

hilld · Apr 5, 2006

I have rented a mini ex several times, it took about 4 hours to get comfortable with it. Make sure you get at least 2 buckets one with teeth for the digging and a muck bucket (wide one) with a flat edge for the "finishing" of the hole.

Rent it and have some fun.

Derek

DUMBDOG · Apr 5, 2006

It sure beats a shovel. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Have not used one, but the neighbor uses one upon occasion and it sure digs a nice hole in short order.

MarkV · Apr 5, 2006

Ya the mini excavators are great fun and great diggers. The only reason I would want a backhoe instead is if I needed to move the dirt somewhere out of the reach of the excavator. In your case that can be done with your tractor.

MarkV

Birdhunter1 · Apr 6, 2006

A buddy of mine who has a concrete business with his dad has 2 of them and a few bobcats. The mini excavators are the berries for doing a hole like you are needing. They have done several walk out basements with them and a bobcat in about as much time as anything else would take.

Regal · Apr 6, 2006

I have used both mini excavators and backhoes. If you have a mini that will dig 13 feet deep and a backhoe that will dig 13 feet deep, the mini will out dig the backhoe every time. Also they are much smoother to operate. Most backhoes do not have hydraulics that will allow you to lift,curl and swing all at the same time. At least not as well as the mini will.IMO
Also when digging with BH you are quite limited to putting the dirt off to either side whereas with a mini you can pile it all around your self if you want. If you are loading dirt into a truck or wagon etc many times it's easier to find a place to park that vehicle.
Besides, they are a blast to operate!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
My vote goes for the mini unless of course you already have access to the BH and transportation of a mini is a problem. Dollars usually make the decisions. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

PILOON · Apr 6, 2006

For sure a mini excavator, and not that large either.
5 x 5 x 8 is not all that big a hole, just be sure the one you rent goes 8 ft deep.
Ask for a 1/2 day rate as that is all you'll need.

Also all mini's have a dozer blade to spread or backfill your excavation.

Another big advantage not mentioned is excavators hardly damage that nice lawn while a hoe will really trash all the work area.

Controls are real easy to get used to and within a 1/2 to 1 hr you'll be a pro at it.

Absolutely no contest.

JoeR · Apr 6, 2006

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am feeling a little better now. I will take pictures and post them. Putting in the foundation for my ham radio 89' crank up tower. It has been horizontal ever since I moved 5 years ago.

Joe

Mith · Apr 8, 2006

Go for it, they are extremely capable. Dont worry about having nowhere to put the dirt. You can put it behind you so you have room around the hole. Its a blast ripping out roots the size of your legs with no sweat!
I hire one almost every year to take out stumps.

You will get your hole done in a couple hours tops. The hole in the picture is probably about 10x10x7 foot deep, wouldnt taken long to dig is there wasnt a stump in the middle /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Besides, its just plain fun to use /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JoeR · Apr 9, 2006

That looks exactly like the one I was using today. It was a Takeuchi TB-16. What a lot of fun to operate. I really like the machince. Although, it did not do the job for me. I found I couldn't get more than 6 feet 7 inches deep. Here in Florida the soil is mostly sand. So, when you dig a hole, you have to dig 9 feet to get 8 feet since it keeps filling in. Not to mention the water table is around 6 feet. If I dig too slowly, I end up moving lots of water and mud.

I am very dissapointed with the rental company since I told them I need to dig an 8 foot deep hole. I looked up the specification of the machine today and found its maximum digging depth is 7.7 feet. I think that is measured from the bottom of the backhoe, not from ground level. Add 12 inches of machine height, and you are now down to 6.7 feet which is close to what I achieved.