Micro diggers - Are they worth it?

[a1construction]

What do we think of micro diggers? Are they worth the money or not?

[msh paving]

I'v had a kobelco sk009 micro for 6 years since new great machine for back garden work,inside buildings through doorways, would no be without it in the fleet MSH

[Dave_L]

Totally agree - although we don't have one ourselves, on small jobs they are an absolute godsend.

It all comes down to what sort of work you are doing. We've had micros inside pub skittle alleys digging out loading into wheelbarrows and the usual back garden stuff.

Not the nicest machines to use, they can be rather jerky and unbalanced, but they are small consolations compared to hand-digging!!

[Pablo]

I couldn't do without one these days. Was sceptical at first but quickly converted. They aren't worth themoney new <£10000+vat without attachments but make a great buy second hand. I always hire because I use so many different sizes of machines but if i was doing mostly back gardens narrow access or extensions etc then I would buy.

[matsfc]

or £40 a day for a labourer- which one can you make go faster- its all about the strength of your whip!:p

[msh paving]

Matsfc,£40 day labourers to compete with a micro i dont think so MSH

[rimexboy]

Mmmm well i hired one for £300 for 7 days but they left it here for another 2 days befor collecting, that was the cheapest i could find in essex area delivered

simon

[ambient]

just bought a micro digger been using it on a job this week best four and a half grand i ever spent ???

[Rich H]

Bought a K008 about 3 years ago. Fantastic investment. It's old and a bit slack but runs well and the hydraulics are sound. Use it every week and charge it at £50/day or £200/week on each job. It paid for itself within the first year.

[Dave_L]

How many hours has it done Rich?

[jay-Manor Driveways]

just used 1 to dig up my garden it had to go through an alleyway and gate that was 850mm wide , didnt have any probs and saved me a weeks worth of hand digging and a fortune on labourers , they do bounce about a bit though which is annoying

[Dave_L]

Yeah know what you mean wobbly Jay....plus they are a bit jerky on the old hydraulics too - well the Takeuchi's we hire when needed are.

Still, it's far better than hand digging!

[Rich H]

3200!!

[Rich H]

It's a jap import, no ROPS or light but otherwise sound.

[dig dug dan]

these micros may be small, and as dave says, sometimes jerky, but with the right attachment, it's amazing how powerful they are:

The stump:


Ripped out using a ripper tooth


grabbed using the grip talon !


Try that by hand and a £40 labourer!