Either I'm Freaking Slow or...

[jinman]

I underestimated how much work I can get done in a week with an excavator. After a couple of days it appears to be a bit of both.

Gary, it's easy to underestimate times when you are one guy working one machine with no other help. Often, two people can get a job done much faster than a factor of two because you don't lose time getting on and off equipment and doing the 100s of things you can't do from the seat of the excavator. I have lots of empathy for your saying how mentally exhausted you are because you have to plan every move and what to do with spoils or each bucket full of rocks. Every move takes planning and an eye to safety to ensure you don't screw something up or get hurt. At construction sites with lots of folks, additional equipment, and a good plan, things just go much quicker than doing a job by the seat of your pants. You will get quicker over time, but you will never compete with the speed and ease of a full crew with experience. I'm so thankful I'm retired and own my equipment. If I decide to take a day off, nothing suffers and the job is there for me when I return.

 

[rd_macgregor]

Its true that you can get great bargains on old equipment, but, if you aren't mechanically adept, you are asking for big maintenance/repair bills. For somebody who is equipped and competent to do their own maintenance (including fairly major mechanical repairs, welding, etc.), then an older, bargain unit is a great way to go (many hours of entertainment!). For the rest of us, who have to rely on expensive mechanic's shops to keep things going, renting often makes more sense.
BOB

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I love that site. Nice to dream about what you buy if you were rich.

Wedge

Yep...

 

[Haoleguy]

Some pics as promised in the next two messages. First pic of my JD5325 with the Case CX130B. Second pic is the rock garden. The piles were accumulated during a tree clearing a few years back. Third pic is road at subsoil level with rocks on side getting ready to be buried tomorrow. Later in the day today I moved more rocks to the staging area with the Case ex and my JD with a grapple attachment ....... Gary

 

[Haoleguy]

Second set of pictures unrelated to the work I'm doing but all happened within eyesight as I worked. The first pic is my buddy Rich pulling out a deer he bagged on our property. Second pic is him posing with the grape eater. Third pic in this set is the National Guard's own version of a non-Case(Lockheed) 130 in flight pattern north to south over my property. Second time this week they decided to do this.......Cheers, Gary

 

[ustmd]

Some pics as promised in the next two messages. First pic of my JD5325 with the Case CX130B. Second pic is the rock garden. The piles were accumulated during a tree clearing a few years back. Third pic is road at subsoil level with rocks on side getting ready to be buried tomorrow. Later in the day today I moved more rocks to the staging area with the Case ex and my JD with a grapple attachment ....... Gary

Those are some serious rocks. Around here, you could cover the costs of a entire lot of equipment by selling them to people for their landscape

 

[Haoleguy]

20-20 - I hear you on the purchase thing but the angel on my right shoulder says rent for the time being and avoid the repair and upkeep costs. i need to be thinking of other major equipment to get a vineyard-winery off the ground in a few years time....i need a narrow tractor near the top of the list including sprayer, flail-mower, hydraulic spader, in-row cultivator, hedger, etc. I'm probably going to rent a post pounder for the perimeter fence and vineyard posts. Soon after I need fermenters, grape-press, destemmer, SS tanks, oak barrels, etc....whew! I could also use a dump truck....Gary

 

[Haoleguy]

Gary, it's easy to underestimate times when you are one guy working one machine with no other help. Often, two people can get a job done much faster than a factor of two because you don't lose time getting on and off equipment and doing the 100s of things you can't do from the seat of the excavator. I have lots of empathy for your saying how mentally exhausted you are because you have to plan every move and what to do with spoils or each bucket full of rocks. Every move takes planning and an eye to safety to ensure you don't screw something up or get hurt. At construction sites with lots of folks, additional equipment, and a good plan, things just go much quicker than doing a job by the seat of your pants. You will get quicker over time, but you will never compete with the speed and ease of a full crew with experience. I'm so thankful I'm retired and own my equipment. If I decide to take a day off, nothing suffers and the job is there for me when I return.

Hi Jinman - Amen to the safety side of things. At the end of the day I moved rocks with little risk involved instead of digging 8-10 ft trenches to put the rocks in. That is left for the morning list when I'm bright eyed and bushy.....well more aware of all things important to the task. Speed doesn't bother me and the last 2 days have been better. I've gotten around that by extending the rental for another week as the weather will be cooperating. At the moment I'm semi-retired but looking to start in again with a job to pay the bills for our the capital costs in our upcoming vineyard/winery. Take care.....Gary

 

[jinman]

Third pic in this set is the National Guard's own version of a non-Case(Lockheed) 130 in flight pattern north to south over my property. Second time this week they decided to do this.......Cheers, Gary

They're waiting for you to finish the runway.:laughing:

 

[20 20]

Haoleguy; I understand about the needs, looks like you've got a good thing going, thanks for the pictures.


Jinman; :laughing: