The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:58 pm**

An equipment supplier in the US has recommended the Belle brand of vibratory compactors for a project I'm working on, which includes both the construction of a retaining/garden wall, as well as the installation of concrete pavers in sandy soils.

As Belle is made in the UK, I was interested to know what UK contractors think of the unit and if they have any recommendations as to model. I'm currently considering the PC 400 model for this job.

Thanks!

Pat

Posted: **Wed Aug 18, 2004 1:09 am**

Hey Pat,
I am located in the US also. I recently bought a plate compactor from Northern Industrial Tools which I am very happy with. It has a EX17 6 hp Robin engine, weighs 200 lb.
Works great. Great engine. Super EZ to start.
Cost about &#36850.
What does the Bella cost?

Posted: **Wed Aug 18, 2004 2:03 am**

The PC400 runs around 1500.00, FOB destination, and the elastomeric paver pad option runs around another 250.00. I've installed pavers with a straight plate before, but the Belle uses a "dual force"-style plate which would likely damage pavers without a pad.

I'm doing about 100 meters of wall and about 1100 sq meters of pavers. I'm also adding on to my machine shop in the near future and will be compacting the sub-base for the 400 sq meter addition. This is the main reason I'm considering a unit like Belle, MBW, or DynaPac.

Thanks for the tip regarding Northern Tool. I've purchased from them in the past (mainly hydraulic parts for my business) and didn't realize they sold compactors...

Pat

Edited to change my wishful thinking shop addition size to reality :)

(Edited by camachinist at 4:10 pm on Aug. 17, 2004)

Posted: **Wed Aug 18, 2004 11:53 am**

Just to give you a UK perspective on the Belle plate compactors - I think it would be fair to say they are not at the top of most contractors wish list.

Belle made their name with a range of mini-concrete and mortar mixers, and have since branched out into other, smallish powered and hand tools. They are realiable and cost-efficient, but when it comes to plate compactors, Wacker is still top of the pile, even if they are German!

1500 US dollars sounds expensive - that's around 850 quid, around 100-150 quid more than the price from a UK distributor.

Posted: **Wed Aug 18, 2004 2:59 pm**

Thanks Tony, for the recommendation. I have looked at Wacker and Weber, both German makes, but didn't want to prejudice myself as I am German (ancestry) as well :) I do see a lot of Wacker units in rental yards here and I believe the last plate I rented was one. I'll re-visit it.

BTW, everything over on this side of the pond may seem expensive due to the strong GPB and Euro. You folks just have more buying power right now. :) Also, I imagine there's &#36150.00 or so in freight rolled into the price.

Thanks for the help. I'll continue shopping.

I'm also shopping for a block saw, due to the myriad of curves on this project and the use of 80mm pavers on the drives. A lot of tile and paver folks around here use Imer and Felker saws but my jury is still out. I'll start a seperate thread on that subject. A block splitter is also a consideration.

Pat

Posted: **Wed Aug 18, 2004 4:55 pm**

If anyone has an informational web link for Wacker, I'd be appreciative. I can only find Wacker Chemical in Germany and, other than a couple of UK dealers, nothing significant, outside of a couple of used units on eBay, exists, at least by my searches.

The dealer which recommended Belle does not carry Wacker. Any assistance is appreciated. :)

Pat

Posted: **Wed Aug 18, 2004 5:40 pm**

Try www.wacker-machinery.co.uk James.

Posted: **Wed Oct 13, 2004 10:05 pm**

Just wanted to update and let those who advised me to look at Wacker know that I did purchase one of their units, used, and am emminently satisfied. I purchased the WP 1550 model, which has a 5.5hp Honda engine and the water tank.

I've noted, in our sandy soils, that proper soil hydration is important to proper compaction. Not enough moisture and clouds of dust are the product

Anyway, it was a big investment, but one I think will pay over time, with all the projects in the pipeline, in that the jobs will be done right.

Thanks for the advice!

Pat

Posted: **Thu Oct 14, 2004 3:11 am**

Pat,
Good to hear that you have a great Wacker.
Keep us posted on your paving projects.
Cheers,
LM

Posted: **Thu Oct 14, 2004 5:38 pm**

the wp 1550 is for asphalt contractors,compacting areas inacessible to a vibratory roller,the water tank is to prevent the tar sticking to the base plate! improper use of vibratory plates is in my opinion the reason why there are so many substandard block paving jobs around the country, as the plates in use do not properly compact the sub-base for vehicular traffic.any contractor out there only using a wacker plate for sub-base compaction is in danger of being classed as a cowboy!

Posted: **Thu Oct 14, 2004 7:28 pm**

What are you on about? The WP 1550 is not just for asphalt, its also for compacting granular materials and paving stones. Having the water tank is just another cost option.
It does a perfectly satisfactory job on block paving projects, a cowboy i certainly aint !!!!

Posted: **Thu Oct 14, 2004 9:02 pm**

Point well-taken...

Most of the projects I am doing will be inaccesible to a riding or walk-behind roller vibratory compactor. Also, I had to consider ease of transport. I did try it out on our decomposed granite driveway, which is fairly well compacted, at it moved at about a 50' per minute clip. The plate is 15"x24" IIRC.

I was aware of the function of the water tank but the unit came with it. Perhaps, if/when I sell it, being appropriate for asphalt might widen the potential buyer market.

In case there's any confusion, although I own a machine shop, I'm not a contractor and don't do this for a living. It's strictly for our own home improvement projects and possibly so remediation/addition for the shop.

Given the brand name, over on this side of the pond, one conjures up something very different from a cowboy and his trusty steed, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, it starts on the first pull and pounds the heck out of the ground. I'll have to get a rubber pad for doing the pavers or perhaps thicken the sand layer on top. It hits pretty hard.

Pat

Posted: **Thu Oct 14, 2004 11:55 pm**

james,the point was,the jokers who pull a 150kg plate out the back of the van to compact 100mm of type1,when what is required is many passes with a 1500kg twin drum vibratory roller or a 750kg single drum at least.next time you see a block paved drive with tyre lines,you know what machine the base has been hit with! And you know the contractor has little knowledge of pavement design!
the wp 1550 water tank is not an option,you cant buy the plate without it,thats why its for asphalt,ask your rep.

Posted: **Fri Oct 15, 2004 12:24 am**

I bought my WP 1550 direct from wacker a few years ago without the water tank, as did one of my rivals more recently.

I'm sure the most common reason for tyre ruts is caused by insufficient subbase depth rather than poor compaction. I could show you hundreds of drives with no ruts, compacted with nothing more than a plate compactor. James

Posted: **Fri Oct 15, 2004 3:50 am**

FWIW, I have a pad in front of our garage, made of 80mm interlocking concrete pavers, which I compacted with an old jumping jack-style compactor, both the sub-base and pavers. That was 15 years ago and it is still remarkably flat and level. I routinely drive my bucket loader (tractor) over this area, as well as my equipment trucks, and have had no issues. The subbase is about 1 foot thick of compacted base, crush and sand.

I have also seen some WP 1550's without water tanks, although I don't know their age. Our local rental yard has some. The reason I bought this particular model was that it was a real common unit at rental yards and the people I talked to said they were really reliable in rental service.

Compared to some of my friends who put in slabs and pavers and walls and don't even know what a compactor is, I figure I'm light years ahead in doing proper engineering and execution. Part of being a machinist, I guess

Thanks for the replies!

Pat

The Brew Cabin

Vibratory Compactor ?