How difficult to operate a mini excavator

[Rmart30]

I know it is a bit "Old School" but a bulldozer can do a lot of clearing in a short time. A good operator with a decent sized machine can do wonders.

Yes, could probably be done in a day or twos time.
As I get older I look at things a little different. Could pay $2000 for a months rental on mini ex and spend every off minute trying to get it done. Or, I could spend $1000-2000 and have someone on a dozer do it in 1 or 2 days...... Im going the dozer route.
OP doesnt show his location but if he can rent a miniX there has to be civilization close and excavating companies around.

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah, we're stuck with a lot of presumption. A couple pictures would be awesome!!!!

 

[PILOON]

Not all that difficult at all.
My first rental took me about 15-20 mins to get accustomed to th controls and within hours I accomplished all that I had wanted.
Over time I rented often and operated (just for fun) some really big ones.
Modern units even have switchable controls (regular excavator mode or backhoe mode).
One advise is to make your work area level B4 actual digging starts.
When it comes to trees, weaken the root structure and push rather than pull the tree towards U as that is safer.
If you do pull have the tree outside or away from you and the cab, like if to your right use the right side of the bucket to hook the tree and pull backwards and off to the right.
That way as it falls you can rotate right thus shoving the tree away from U and the cab.(tree can't jump over the boom)
Main advice is start slow, don't rush and you should be good to go.

 

[Streetcar]

Be very careful around trees. Buying used equipment can be expensive if you don稚 know what to look for. It is much easier to adequately operator excavator verses a dozer

 

[Code54]

I personally feel they are easy to learn. Rented once and was able to run it easily within a few hours and ended up purchasing a Kubota for around the house.
We have a 3.5 ton machine and I commonly take down trees and have cleared several areas. Oak, maple and hardwoods unto about 24" or so. They take time and I would never think of dropping one toward the side or toward me. I always push them away after digging around 3 sides of the stump, leaving the root uncut on the side I am going to push the tree towards. As mentioned use a LOT of care, work slow and before you do anything make sure there is no dead crap hanging about you that could fall. Also don't attack the tree to much it over, use a very slow steady push. This way if if won't go you can easy it back and not have to worry about it rebounding and swaying out of control.
Be careful and they are amazing small machines with a ton of capability.

 

[Garandman]

Considered the same prospect, have lots of stuff to move.

After a neighbor contractor turned this:

Into this:

Estimate it would have taken me 4X the time and still would have to contract the gravel.

 

[MossRoad]

If you've never operated one before, I suggest you do a weekend rental first, not a monthly rental. That's what I did. The weekend rental cost the same as a one-day weekday rental. You get two days worth of time on the machine. Well worth it. I planned on two days worth of work. They delivered the machine, I started using it, got really comfortable really fast, finished the digging I thought would take two days in about 2 hours, spent 2 hours knocking small (under 4") trees down, and returned the machine for a total of 4 hours rental instead of the weekend rental! I ran out of things to do with the machine.

So, consider a weekend rental first.

 

[4570Man]

Yep. And that machine with a tree puller will make a mini-ex look stupid in regards to removing trees 6" diameter and less. If they are near each other it will remove at least 6 for every one the mini can dig up. And make less mess in the process.

It sure will. That machine is a beast. At least compared to our tractors. Although if I was trying to clear 3 acres I'd buy a full sized backhoe and sell it when the project was done. Unless you're retired I think you'd have a hard time clearing 3 acres in a month especially being an inexperienced operator.

 

[DieselBound]

I've got a little bit of experience running excavators, having rented several over the last few years. My use, however, has been to dig ditches and stump removal (and burial). I knocked over some trees, though that wasn't necessarily my plan, I just decided to try it out- worked pretty well. I have plenty of places to get rid of debris on my property.

I watched some videos on operating an excavator before first renting one. Didn't take me very long to get the hang of it. One thing is to "feel" it more than "think" it; and, don't try to work too fast (if you think you're getting the hang of it), as you'll invariably end up on a bucking bronco (Bobcat 335 was the worst I'd operated- not a very smooth machine at all- Takeuchis are my favorite [TB285 is a very capable machine]). I've rented skid steers as well. Never, however, operated a dozer; I don't know of anyone around me that rents them; I've heard they're more difficult to operate (though that might be for finesse/grading work).

I know that many people advocate bringing someone in and knocking off the job, but in some case one doesn't want to make a huge change in a short period of time (draw attention of the authorities). And in my case had I attempted to have gone such a route I'd have regretted it (because I didn't yet have a good enough understanding of the lay of my land).

 

[Ortimber]

I say go for it...Rent the machine for a couple of days and see how you do...if you have not damaged anything and can see some improvement in the operation...rent it for the month...it will be very rewarding...

My thoughts exactly.