Tamper or Jumping jack packer

[bimmer1980]

Just curious if anyone has a jumping jack style tamper or packer.

I'm in the market for one and would like to learn a bit more about them....

I have some trenches that are too narrow for my vibratory plate packer.....

What do you have and if you don't mind sharing how much you paid for it.....

 

[brownbagg]

wacker packer, you can buy them used at rental stores, like RSC or sunbelt

 

[jfish]

Brownbagg is on point. I can't comment on price because mine have always been provided via my company.

Whacker was always our "go to" until I got a Bomag 4 stroke on my truck and never looked back. The company has also used makita and multiquip compactors. My Bomag sat on my trucks bumper for about 5 years relatively trouble free with near daily use.

 

[RVDan]

Go rent every style to decide what you like best.

 

[wssix99]

I have some trenches that are too narrow for my vibratory plate packer....

The jumping jack is a totally different tool and will not compact the same materials a plate compactor will. So, you want to be able to use it in lieu of your plate compactor - you'd just need a smaller plate compactor instead.

For example, the jumpping jack will not compact gravel or sand well.

 

[jhark123]

The jumping jack is a totally different tool and will not compact the same materials a plate compactor will. So, you want to be able to use it in lieu of your plate compactor - you'd just need a smaller plate compactor instead.

For example, the jumpping jack will not compact gravel or sand well.

That's actually incorrect. A jumping jack compacts larger lifts in trenches whereas a vibratory plate compacts large shallow areas. A jumping jack compacts 5/8- gravel very very well in a trench. However, if you try to compact 4" of gravel for slab sub base, it will just push any material around.

 

[jhark123]

BTW, I run MQ for both. My CAT dealer also sells MQ and has good pricing.

 

[machine_punk]

I don't know much about the machine, other than they are ALWAYS available on Craigslist around here. I suspect people buy them for a project, then sell them on, like cement mixers.

Kevin

 

[wssix99]

That's actually incorrect.

Welcome to the site. There are a number of good threads where we've talked about this, but there are some with incomplete information also. My statement is correct, and these articles will help you learn more about compaction of different types of materials:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...sJlTiyyfnC2DREmGg&sig2=FVitIMd4rPVntlV7iNt4CQ

http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete-subgrades-subbases/compaction-equipment.html

^ This stuff is hard to find, so its common for there to be misconceptions about how these tools and the soils work together.

A jumping jack compacts larger lifts in trenches whereas a vibratory plate compacts large shallow areas.

This statement is correct if the jumping jack is being used for dirt/clays, as it should and if the plate compactor is being used on granular material, as they should.

^ The two are still not interchangeable with regard to materials.

A jumping jack compacts 5/8- gravel very very well in a trench.

If one gets compaction from this scenario, its because the gravel is moving around and compacting the dirt around it. Vibration is required to re-orient the sharp edges of the gravel, interlock the, and to get the material itself to density.

^ But if one is just laying a pipe or something like that, maybe this isn't a big deal. For a foundation of a building, etc. it would be a big deal and I often see architects and engineers specify that base materials need to be vibrated.

 

[bimmer1980]

Thanks for all the info posted. I read thru the links posted by WSSIX99. Very informative.

I was bidding on a Wacker BS-500 tamper/rammer and it went for $400. Higher than I wanted to go....

There was also an IR tamper on craigslist for $500, but it was a good distance away.

I found a couple of Wacker rammers listed for $200 each on sunday night. Monday night I went to take a look and came home with a Tamper/rammer!

It's a Wacker BS-60Y rammer. It's an oldie, but goodie.....or so it seems.

When the guy started it up for me, it was on a 2' concrete paver. When it started to hit, it actually broke the paver into multiple pieces. OOps.....

 

[jfish]

Those Whackers, from my experience, can be temperamental and cold blooded but never let us down. Good tool.

 

[oilslick]

Great buy!

 

[NUTTSGT]

How much excercise do you need ?

 

[lakeroadster]

The jumping jack is a totally different tool and will not compact the same materials a plate compactor will. So, you want to be able to use it in lieu of your plate compactor - you'd just need a smaller plate compactor instead.

For example, the jumping jack will not compact gravel or sand well.

When the guys compacted the modified #6 (gravel) sub-grade for my barn the 70 year old guy, Joe, said the jumping jack was the best tool for the project. Tony, the 30 something guy, said he preferred the plate compactor. After Tony had run the plate compactor over the entire area, Joe went over the entire area with the jumping jack. I was amazed at how much better the compaction was using the jumping jack.

It's more work... but the jumping jack did a much better job.

 

[wssix99]

When the guys compacted the modified #6 (gravel) sub-grade for my barn the 70 year old guy, Joe, said the jumping jack was the best tool for the project. Tony, the 30 something guy, said he preferred the plate compactor. After Tony had run the plate compactor over the entire area, Joe went over the entire area with the jumping jack. I was amazed at how much better the compaction was using the jumping jack.

It's more work... but the jumping jack did a much better job.

Nothing is going to consolidate homogenous #6 stone very much as it starting to get in to the larger sizes of rock. Vibration has the best chance (confirmed by the materials I linked above.) but the tamper will have an effect far below the layer of gravel. That tamper probably consolidated the dirt under the gravel, which is just more goodness.

by putting the 30 year old with the 70 year old, it sounds like you got the best of both worlds!