Mini Excavators: The Big Solution for Small Projects
The term mini excavator can be a little confusing. This is because the term refers to automated diggers that weigh anything below 10 tonnes – which can seem a pretty large piece of equipment to be termed as ‘mini’.
However, mini they are… It’s also important to know that they’re then further classified according to where they fall on this weight chart.
There are four main classifications:
Less than 1 tonne: Machines used for shallow digging and trenching.
1 – 2 tonnes: For grading, trenching and the demolition of small structures.
3 – 5 tonnes: Suitable for digging domestic unit foundations, prepping a worksite, handling materials, trenching and grading.
6 – 10 tonnes: For larger trenching and grading projects, worksite prep, digging foundations, backfilling, larger scale material handling and demolition.
Selecting the right size equipment is important. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a larger size will necessarily equal faster work. While the size of the digger ultimately determines its lifting capacity, it’s also vital – especially with smaller projects – to have the manoeuvrability offered by using the smallest size possible.
Some typical small-scale projects for mini excavator use
When earth needs to be moved, it’s a pretty safe bet that a mini digger is going to be a staple piece of kit.
Some examples include:
Land clearing: Mini excavators come with various attachments to aid the movement of rocks, debris, vegetation etc to clear an area or worksite.
Digging and earth moving: Creating ditches, trenches, holes, moving earth from one place to another… Such machinery can drastically cut the time and effort it would take to complete the job manually.
Demolition: Breaking down structures, small walls, concrete etc. Various tools can be attached to a mini excavator, such as a hydraulic hammer, that give incredible precision and accuracy.
Landscaping: Clearing the area, levelling the terrain, transporting gravel and materials, digging irrigation trenches…
Road and track repairs: Small-scale excavation of kerbs and other minor repairs, as well as clearing potholes ready for refilling and repair.
Installing utilities: Digging trenches for water pipes, cables etc.
Choosing the right size excavator for the job
Selecting the right mini digger is crucial. Too small and it won’t be up to the task. Conversely, hiring an oversized excavator means you lose dexterity, they’re more cumbersome to move around, cost more to run and will most likely take longer to do the job.
Excavators < 1 tonne
These tiny examples are usually trailer-mounted, very compact and pretty easy to operate. They can be used in confined spaces and, although they have limited weight and excavator capacity, can be useful for, say, a DIY landscaping project.
1 – 2 tonne mini excavators
This is probably one of the most common classifications of mini diggers that are hired for DIY projects. The extra weight means that as well as the capacity to dig deeper trenches and move materials, they also have some demolition capacity.
3 - 5 tonne mini excavators
If you need a bit more power – yet still need a compact size machine – then this third classification is ideal. It can dig deeper and has increased clearing and demolition power. A mini excavator of this size is quite capable of digging the foundations for a domestic property, as well as preparing deep enough trenches for pipework and cable installation.
6 - 10 tonne mini excavators
Still considered compact, this level of machinery is a workhorse of both domestic and smaller commercial property building sites. As well as being used for deeper trenching and digging, the increased weight provides the might for larger demolition and site clearance. They’re also invaluable when large amounts of heavy materials need to be transported across the worksite.
In general, the larger the mini excavator, the more fuel it will take to run. Its weight also determines how deep it can dig. However, the engine power also plays a factor – the larger this is, the higher the digging, breaking and lifting capacity.
Other aspects to consider when selecting a mini excavator for hire are:
The swing space – how much room it needs to rotate.
The arm reach – how far the arm can extend.
The bucket breakout force – the higher this is, the greater the load the machine can move.
It’s always advisable to take expert advice when determining the correct size of mini excavator for a DIY project. At McMahon Hire Solutions our experts are always on hand to advise. We stock a huge range of earth moving equipment and mini excavators to suit every need, as well as other vital construction kit, including material handling, generators and other general tools.
Contact our team today for a no-obligation discussion.