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Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 4:54 pm
by cszjrh
Hi All,
Can anyone give me a rough idea how long it should take me to dig a 4m x 4m x 0.7m hole with a 0.75t mini digger assuming no prior knowledge? (and that I pile up the spoil a couple of metres from the hole for removal later).
Cheers,
John
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 5:39 pm
by London Stone Paving
It all depends what the ground is like. As long as the ground is good it should not take any longer than half a day.
Trick is take your time and master the machine. Once you understand the controls it will be a piece of cake.
Its easy to move dirt, the hard part is digging it out accurately
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 5:41 pm
by GB_Groundworks
Pile it up it with a dumper/ tracked barrow or just haymake it with machine?
It's an easy day if you're thinking of hire, take me about 2 hours with a micro depending on ground condition, but been driving machines 15 years.
Things that slow you down will be stiff ground, like dried out clay or dense chalk if I remember from previous post.
Moving the stuff with dumper etc
I get Assuming chalk at 15m3 so 22 tons dry or 36 tons wet and allowing for bulking.
Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1305564403
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 6:00 pm
by cszjrh
Will probably need to move it a couple of metres because of the volume but was hoping to get away with haymaking for most.
Ground will be 40cm soil, thin layer of flint then chalk for last 30cm given prior digging. Got through 3m3 of it with a matlock so not too tough.
Given this if I do a 3 day hire over the long weekend should I be ok and have a bit of spare time for a bit of grading?
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 6:15 pm
by GB_Groundworks
Yes
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 6:19 pm
by cszjrh
Great thanks!
Hire guy worried me earlier when he said 1-2 weeks - admittedly including moving the spoil to the front via tracked barrow! 
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 7:14 pm
by cszjrh
So 1 and a bit 8 wheeler grabs cool.
Have a load of rubble to go too so that works well.
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 10:31 pm
by lutonlagerlout
whats the machine for?
2 days work for 2 lads with a pick, fork, shovel, and barrow
all the gear moved into 2 8 yd skips
job done
LLL
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 10:31 pm
by haggistini
Check for services first before you break ground!
Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:38 am
by cszjrh
LLL - definite respect to anyone who could do that in 2 days. Took me a month of evenings to hand dig 17m x 0.6m x 0.6m of footings.
You ground workers are a hardy bunch.
John
Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 6:09 pm
by DNgroundworks
LLL - doesnt do diggers :p
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:22 pm
by cszjrh
Quick update - spent a nice couple of days with a K008 and got through the digging with no problems. Spent the first morning grading and removing the surplus earth in barrows filled by the digger. In the afternoon dug half of the pool hole, again moving the earth in barrows. Second day just used the digger to haymake the spoil into a big pile that I've since been moving round by hand in the evenings (in between down-pours...)
24 inch bucket with teeth got through the chalk at a fair rate. Definitely got the impression it would have been easier with a heavier machine but didn't have the access.
Most interesting moment was getting digger in and out - 73cm minimum clearance down the side of the house with the digger being 70cm. Had to lay a series of scaffolding board ramps and a seesaw to get up two flights of steps.
Cheers all, John
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:34 pm
by lutonlagerlout
well done john
sometimes i find the damage caused by machines does not merit their inclusion
if we dig by hand you can be sure of no collateral damage to patios ,lawns,brickwalls etc
it all depends how much digging
we took 15 8 yarder skips out of a garden in tring,with appalling access up stairs,did it in 3 weeks with 3 blokes
hard graft mind
LLL
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:46 pm
by Carberry
lutonlagerlout wrote:well done john
sometimes i find the damage caused by machines does not merit their inclusion
if we dig by hand you can be sure of no collateral damage to patios ,lawns,brickwalls etc
it all depends how much digging
we took 15 8 yarder skips out of a garden in tring,with appalling access up stairs,did it in 3 weeks with 3 blokes
hard graft mind
LLL
I prefer digging by hand. Keeps me fit :laugh:
Whenever I hear people complain about being overweight, gym prices, not being able to get down to the gym etc I tell them to go in to their garden, dig a hole and fill it back in cool hand Luke style :laugh:
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:36 pm
by lutonlagerlout
i also have a ten pole allotment for when there is no digging at work :laugh:
my mate cliff keeps saying "come down david lloyds"
grand a year 
allotment £18 a year and all the grub that mice,foxes,pigeons,voles,slugs and wireworm can chew
LLL