Excavator Rental First Timer

[wrenchmaster]

Has anyone performed their own excavation with a rental having not used an excavator before?
I want to give it a try, not sure how difficult it would be.

 

[TK-421]

Never done it before, but you can always do what I do when I'm about to try something new, hop on Youtube and find a video of someone explaining how to do it.

 

[gasgas17]

If you get one with a hinged boom, be mindful of the foot button on the floor that swings the boom on a pivot at the base of the cab. It"s for digging in close to a wall or other obstruction. I have seen a guy put the boom through a brand new 4 pain casement window, not knowing his foot was doing the destruction. Take all the advise they offer at the rental store and keep spectators well away from the reach of the machine while in operation. Be well aware of whom and what's around you at all times. Good luck!

 

[Strouty]

Just make sure you have plenty of room to make mistakes, otherwise you could do some serious damage with a machine, they are really powerful, even the small ones. The new controls should make it fairly easy to get used to using, but if you are trying to dig a trench next to a house, get some practice first.

 

[gasgas17]

Keep in mind you can hire it out for less than you can rent by the time you pay for the machine, fuel and float both ways, in the case of smaller jobs if not always depending how well you can make use of the machine. An experienced operator can get a lot done in 4 hours at 70.00 per hour plus float charge of an hour.

 

[ertman]

Keep in mind you can hire it out for less than you can rent by the time you pay for the machine, fuel and float both ways, in the case of smaller jobs if not always depending how well you can make use of the machine. An experienced operator can get a lot done in 4 hours at 70.00 per hour plus float charge of an hour.

Here in Calgary you can't even get someone to show up to a job for less than $1000! Besides, doing it yourself means you get to play with an excavator. Dig in a big open space to practice for a while and go for it.

 

[LEVE]

I rented one for an electrical ditch. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I've never worked with any type of heavy machinery before and it was a huge learning curve. About the time I was done with the ditch, I was pretty done in. It seemed like I could never throw the right lever when needed. But after the day went on... the ditch got done. Would I do it again? Yes... but then, I'm cheap.

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Yes, nothing to it, I have rented a few, most recently to move some 20ft+ crepe myrtles that were planted too close to my house;

Like the others have said, give your self plenty of room and don't put your self in situations where you can get in trouble. Also, most counties have ordinances about digging in regards to buried lines, call before you dig, most counties have specific toll free numbers to have someone come out at no cost to mark where service lines are ahead of time!! Unless your rural and know 100% you have no buried lines anywhere. Jut take your time and don't rush!

 

[firworks]

My best advice for a newbie excavator operator, is don't dig under yourself! I've seen that plenty of times when we do "day in the dirt" at work. You start digging in front of yourself and you keep getting closer and closer to the tracks and then suddenly you're nose down in a hole and someone has to pull you out. It's really easy to collapse yourself in a HEX.