Mini Excavators

As always when choosing site machinery, there are a number of factors you need to consider before handing over too much of your hard-earned cash. Mini excavators are really no different and so this guide aims to assist you by discussing some of the main issues you’ll encounter whilst looking for your ideal mini excavator. We’ll have a look at some of the main features and tools you should look out for on modern mini excavators.

Getting Started

What will ultimately determine the decisions you make is the application and length of time you need a mini excavator for. The applications are almost endless, from landscaping gardens to digging out a basement in your home. With specific regards to this, the size and features sections a little later in the article should be of help. Firstly however, you need to determine whether it would be most economical to lease, hire or buy your mini excavator.

Hire

Generally speaking for the shortest projects (those that only require the use of a mini excavator for a couple days) renting will be the best option, as the financial commitment is much smaller and you will be free from any maintenance and most insurance commitments. Mini excavators are available to hire from about £100 per day but this price is highly variable and will be dependent on the model, size, tools supplied and delivery address.

Leasing

The main difference between leasing and hiring is that; when a mini excavator is leased, the lessee owns the vehicle for the duration of the lease. This means that (unless otherwise specified in the lease agreement) all aspects of the mini excavators’ maintenance and insurance are the responsibility of the lessee. For long projects or several uninterrupted projects though, a lease can work out significantly cheaper than renting but avoids the large financial commitment of purchasing a mini excavator outright.

Purchasing

Due to the specialised nature of mini excavators, this option is really best suited to construction businesses who will have an ongoing requirement for an excavator over several years. As in the long run it will always work out cheaper to purchase your own mini excavator but it will certainly take a few years to earn that money back. If you intend to buy your excavator outright, there are a number of mini excavator suppliers who will be able to help you purchase either a new or second-hand machine. A reputable dealer will also be able to offer you some advice as to servicing and insurance.

Size

Although the name suggests otherwise, mini Excavators really aren’t that small. They range in size from just under 1 tonne for the smallest models to just under six for the largest and as such, getting the size right is very important. Generally speaking mini excavators are required for smaller or more delicate jobs than their larger counterparts. On site you should consider carefully the surface you will be working on and obstacles you will need to work around. This should give you some idea as to the maximum size and weight of excavator you can use. You should also consider the size of the job in hand, as the smaller the excavator the smaller the tool or bucket you will be able to use with it. Knowing in advance the width and depth of trenches you will need to dig or the amount of construction materials you will need to move will, therefore, help greatly in determining the size of mini excavator you require. Nobody wants to over-spend on equipment but if your mini excavator is too small for the job, you will waste time and money.

Tracks

Although some mini excavators use wheels, the vast majority run on either steel or rubber caterpillar tracks. Both have their respective benefits although in general terms; metal tracks are harder wearing but have the capacity to seriously damage the surface upon which they operate. As such they’re not really suitable for working on delicate or finished surfaces. Rubber tracks on the other hand, are able to work on most surfaces without any trouble. However, just like tyres, they will wear out and need to be replaced after a certain amount of use. There are rubber attachments available for mini excavators fitted with metal tracks, so it needn’t be one or the other but you should certainly consider the surfaces you intend to use it on in advance.

Buckets

Depending on how much material you need to move or how big a hole or trench you want to dig, you will need to consider the bucket size on your mini excavator. Both the width and volume of excavator buckets can vary drastically and most mini excavators will have both a maximum and minimum bucket size rating. To make life easier most diggers are able to easily interchange their buckets.

Thumbs

A thumb is a device that (usually in conjunction with your existing bucket) connects to your mini excavator and allows you to grip objects or hook and lift with the aid of heavy duty straps. Usually thumbs are used to move heavy bits of machinery or materials.

Augers

An auger or “post auger” is a tool that connects to the mini excavators’ articulated boom, enabling the digger to bore or drill holes in the ground, typically to install things such as lamp posts. Augers are rather specialised bits of kit and come a range of diameters, depending on the size of hole you want to drill.

Tail Swing

Tail swing refers to the distance which the main body of the excavator extends past the rear end of the tracks. As such, when the tracks are stationary and the driver rotates the main body there will need to be sufficient space behind the excavator to safely accommodate the tail swing. There are mini excavators available in low or “zero” tail swing models, making them much more suitable for working in tight environments.

Retractable Undercarriage

Due to environmental constraints it helps to have as narrow a space as possible between tracks. However, the narrower the excavators’ footprint, the more unstable it is during digging and lifting. As such, some modern mini excavators are equipped with hydraulically retractable and extendable undercarriages, so they can get the best of both worlds.