Small mini digger for shale

mengele

Would a small mini digger dig out shale? Have a shed that I need to dig up a foot of heavy shale. Can't get a big digger as the height is limited to 13ft to get into it with a narrow passage. How good would a 3 tonne mini digger be with a small bucket with teeth on it?

freedominacup

mengele wrote: »

Would a small mini digger dig out shale? Have a shed that I need to dig up a foot of heavy shale. Can't get a big digger as the height is limited to 13ft to get into it with a narrow passage. How good would a 3 tonne mini digger be with a small bucket with teeth on it?

It would be grand. Some hire shops have breakers available for 3t machines if you meet rock. Probably need a dumper with it.

mengele

freedominacup wrote: »

It would be grand. Some hire shops have breakers available for 3t machines if you meet rock. Probably need a dumper with it.

I would be able to get in a tractor and tr9ailer alright but just wondering how capable small mini diggers are.

Who2

3 ton would be a bit small. remember once you drop a foot or two you wont be long getting a 6-8 ton in. theres no way you can dig outside and dig your way into the shed with a 12 ton. i reckon youd be far faster and cheaper than with a 3 ton. once you hit a tough patch with a 3 ton youll be forever getting through it.

croot

mengele wrote: »

I would be able to get in a tractor and tr9ailer alright but just wondering how capable small mini diggers are.

I have taken out shale with a 10 tonne. I wouldn't have liked trying it with anything smaller as its hard going. Maybe it you used a rock breaker first it would work. It will be slow though.

Timmaay

Your wasting your time with a big digger though if you can't maneuver it in the shed, I had an 8ton here last year, was mostly drainage work with it but wanted to take out one shed wall, could fit it in but the arm was too big to be able to do anything proper with it. A 5ton is closer to a 3.5ton than an 8ton size wise however.

In any case, are you sure you aren't in over your head here, it could save a hell of alot of grief and hassle just to call up your local digger contractor and get a price off them for the full job. They would know straight away looking what size digger can or can't fit, unless you're a seriously experienced digger driver already then they will get the job done faster and better than you can. I've learnt this the hard way haha.

lakill Farm

got down to 2.1meters deep with my 2.7t mini digger yesterday for a percolation hole in under 10 mins. (1.2m x 1.2m x 2.1m ) and that was keeoing it clean and tidy and walls square

your going 1 foot deep. Easy to a 3t digger

TheBoyConor

its not the depth will catch him. He's digging out rock, albeit soft and relatively loose and shattered rock. However, if he hits a tough spot the digger will be hopping all over the place.

Could you remove some cladding to get the machine in?
Or as said above, dig out a passage to get yourself in?

Or farm it out to a groundworks contractor to get the job done and let them worry about the ins and outs of how to actually do it.

keepalive213

Id be wary of using a rockbreaker inside a shed, cracking etc...