Grading sub base by hand? newbie question - Laying new gravel drive

[housemartin]

After I have dug out my DIY driveway to the required depth using a hired digger and put in my edge courses, I plan to put down around 6 tons of sub-base. I don't want the digger hanging around wasting money while I do my edge courses (and presume they should dry for a day or two anyway?) Is it feasible to grade 6 tons of subbase by hand if so how long would this take?or should I hire the digger in again?

[mickg]

yes it is feasible to grade 6 ton of sub base by hand but what might take us a few hours because we do it day in day out might take you all day

what would have been a better approach would have to worked to lines to the finished height of the sub base but left about 300mm - 400mm around the edge, lay your kerbs then to fill in to the kerbs once the concrete has set and compact, this way would mean you will only have to move about 1 ton by hand rather than 6 ton

[housemartin]

Thanks for the reply a great idea if we had two straight sides to our drive (we have only one) , sorry but I only just noticed your post, since then I have dug most of it out with the mini digger.
It was the plan to put in a single edge on the one side,(drive opens out on the other) but now we have decided to not have one at all ( there is a kerb on other side of fence next to drive). Are there any particular hand tools useful for shifting MOT ( it is actually 9 tons altogether! ) other than the obvious rake shovel and barrow? I am doing it all on me own! Planning on getting first delivery of 6 tons then will flatten that sufficient for the second delivery in a smaller truck, which will hopefully be able to back round in an ark to offload in to the other area. any useful tips appreciated :;):

[rxbren]

With out the digger its hand tools you could try and get it tipped in piles instead of one big heap

[lutonlagerlout]

shovel barrow and concrete rake
as mick said use string lines at finished level and your type 1 needs to be around 70mm below finish before wacking

a mornings work
LLL