SB: Re: Question about excavations

["John Dittli" <dittli@earthlink.net>]

Kirk
What type of machine really depends on your soil type. If you are located in
a glacial moraine with BIG rocks for example, a Bobcat probably isn't going
to cut it. Even a small backhoe will have trouble. If your in fine grain
till or sediments and just need to scrape a clearing and do some shallow
footings then perhaps a little machine will work.
If you have some experience with machinery it doesn't take too long to kinda
get the hang of a backhoe. We decided to purchase a used backhoe for our
project. This allowed us to do our own water system, road, septic, building
pad and basement, on our schedule with sensitivity to our site (the latter
can be hard to convey to equipment drivers). It also makes you very popular
with you neighbors. The machine has paid for itself and now can be sold or
used for snow removal.

Also as a side note, our medium sized backhoe (JD 410) was delivered using a
standard 3/4 ton full size pickup truck.

John

John Dittli Photography
www.johndittli.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kirk Haines" <khaines@enigo.com>
To: <strawbale@crest.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 11:34 PM
Subject: SB: Question about excavations


> This is just a general knowledge type of question, here.  I am trying to
> figure out my options for doing the excavation work for our construction
> work this summer.  As is so common, we are operating on a shoestring
budget,
> so I want to make my $$$ go as far as possible.
>
> Basically, I can either hire someone to do the excavating, or rent a
digger
> of some flavor and do it myself.
>
> On the bottom end of the price scale sits a Bobcat 331 mini excavator.  Up
> in price from there, a bit is a tractor with hoe and loader attachments,
and
> up from there is a regular backhoe.  I have a truck that can readily tow a
> bobcat or tractor, but I'd have to have a backhoe hauled out for me, and
the
> distance is around 60 miles from the closest possible rental location.
>
> The question, for me, really boils down to how much digging I could do
with
> a given machine.  Anyone have any practical experience to share on this?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kirk Haines
>
>
>
>
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