Plate Compactor / Cement Mixer

karlitob

Hi all

Need a plate compactor and a cement mixer for a fairly large patio, and possibly the drive also.

Will be taking my time with it so had wondered about purchasing a plate compactor and cement mixer as hiring of the wacker is about €100 a week. Wondered if purchasing was a better option.

I’ve asked a few hire shops if they’ve any for sale A but no dice. Done deal is fairly slim pickings. If only I could pick up below in Aldi ireland.

Any suggestions?



https://www.aldi.co.uk/scheppach-6-5hp-petrol-compactor/p/803899448612200

standardg60

What sort of ground are you putting the patio on OP? If it's long established soil/lawn there is no need for major excavation and refill with hardcore and subsequent compacting.

ted1

I got a fairly large whacker for 40 euro Friday-Monday.

It’s not something you’d use to often. A week is a long time. Just pick it up when you are ready for it

karlitob

ted1 wrote: »

I got a fairly large whacker for 40 euro Friday-Monday.

It’s not something you’d use to often. A week is a long time. Just pick it up when you are ready for it

Yeah, maybe you’re right. Thanks for that. Always good to get an opinion. Thanks.

karlitob

standardg60 wrote: »

What sort of ground are you putting the patio on OP? If it's long established soil/lawn there is no need for major excavation and refill with hardcore and subsequent compacting.

70 years!

I know you should go down until you hit hard ground - and that can be deeper than the 150mm recommended. But it already feels fairly solid.


Any advice?

The Continental Op

You don't have a kango or similar demolition hammer do you. If so you can fit a plate compator to one https://www.amazon.co.uk/WERHE-Landscaper-Groundwork-Demolition-Jackhammer/dp/B089KPXZJN/ .

Or by hand https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-64379-Tarmac-Tamper/dp/B0002GUVJM/ - handy tool anyway for corners.

standardg60

If it's bare earth, you just need to rake off loose stuff enough to provide a circa 50mm bed of concrete under the slabs, if lawn you'll find where the sod roots stop penetrating into the subsoil, remove as far as this and you're ready to go.

The Continental Op

I've always removed any "soil" that contains organic matter. Some sites like back of our house thats only a few inches but at the front its more like 6 inches.

If you go down to "solid ground" you could go on together but any soil thats left with organic matter in it can shrink as the organic matter decomposes so once that is out of the way your normally OK.

listermint

The Continental Op wrote: »

You don't have a kango or similar demolition hammer do you. If so you can fit a plate compator to one https://www.amazon.co.uk/WERHE-Landscaper-Groundwork-Demolition-Jackhammer/dp/B089KPXZJN/ .

Or by hand https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-64379-Tarmac-Tamper/dp/B0002GUVJM/ - handy tool anyway for corners.

Jesus god I'd pay two hundred a week rather than use that thing to compact . Your arms would be melted off ya.

The Continental Op

listermint wrote: »

Jesus god I'd pay two hundred a week rather than use that thing to compact . Your arms would be melted off ya.

I've used one so much that I broke the head off several :eek: I'm not that strong but you only really need to lift it and drop it again - and they did have wooden handles . Also really handy for ramming around dug in fence posts. tbh I'm never that bothered to do much in the way of compaction. If you dig off down to the right level and then put in a decent amount of good graded base (I tend to use inch and down) it will compact and almost go solid after a good bit of rain.

standardg60

The Continental Op wrote: »

I've always removed any "soil" that contains organic matter. Some sites like back of our house thats only a few inches but at the front its more like 6 inches.

If you go down to "solid ground" you could go on together but any soil thats left with organic matter in it can shrink as the organic matter decomposes so once that is out of the way your normally OK.

Yes it's the organic matter that, er matters:D
Even so i've found that for light traffic like a patio a two inch concrete bed is fine as long as the soil hasn't been dug for a few years.
Vehicular traffic yes i would remove it but there is no need to remove settled subsoil beyond that.
I've never found using compactors that taxing on the muscles tbh, but a decent sized rotovator, now you're talking!

The Continental Op

standardg60 wrote: »

Yes it's the organic matter that, er matters:D
Even so i've found that for light traffic like a patio a two inch concrete bed is fine as long as the soil hasn't been dug for a few years.
Vehicular traffic yes i would remove it but there is no need to remove settled subsoil beyond that.
I've never found using compactors that taxing on the muscles tbh, but a decent sized rotovator, now you're talking!

Its the little rotovators that put muscles on you. The big ones are just out to kill you.

karlitob

The Continental Op wrote: »

I've always removed any "soil" that contains organic matter. Some sites like back of our house thats only a few inches but at the front its more like 6 inches.

If you go down to "solid ground" you could go on together but any soil thats left with organic matter in it can shrink as the organic matter decomposes so once that is out of the way your normally OK.

Thanks for that. That makes sense.

Was wondering about the following. The vent brick is 130mm from the current bit of patio. I know they say 150mm below the dpc. I presume the bottom of the vent brick is above the dpc and I’ve not much lee-way.

karlitob

The Continental Op wrote: »

I've always removed any "soil" that contains organic matter. Some sites like back of our house thats only a few inches but at the front its more like 6 inches.

If you go down to "solid ground" you could go on together but any soil thats left with organic matter in it can shrink as the organic matter decomposes so once that is out of the way your normally OK.

Thanks for that. That makes sense.

Was wondering about the following. The vent brick is 130mm from the current bit of patio. I know they say 150mm below the dpc. I presume the bottom of the vent brick is above the dpc and I’ve not much lee-way.

standardg60

karlitob wrote: »

Thanks for that. That makes sense.

Was wondering about the following. The vent brick is 130mm from the current bit of patio. I know they say 150mm below the dpc. I presume the bottom of the vent brick is above the dpc and I’ve not much lee-way.

Good time to insert that pic, best to stick with regulations and excavate enough so the finished patio is 150mm below the vent.
Suspended timber floors are a rare sight nowadays.

The Continental Op

karlitob wrote: »

Thanks for that. That makes sense.

Was wondering about the following. The vent brick is 130mm from the current bit of patio. I know they say 150mm below the dpc. I presume the bottom of the vent brick is above the dpc and I’ve not much lee-way.

I think you'll find the DPC used to be put brick course above the vents (you don't want water going into a vent above the DPC). So think you will be fine.

karlitob

Hi all

Have the opportunity to buy this at a good price. Any comments.

I don’t mind doing it slow - if it’s lots of small layers then so be it. But would it do the job for the patio out the back.

10.5kN compaction force?

Thanks all.




https://www.donedeal.ie/tools-for-sale/the-lumag-rp700pro-compactor-wacker-plate/24762321

The Continental Op

Seems expensive so hope your price is about half that. The transport wheels are really handy I know that from expereince.

karlitob

The Continental Op wrote: »

Seems expensive so hope your price is about half that. The transport wheels are really handy I know that from expereince.

550€ is the best I can find for something of these specs....If it’s in the country.
Wheels not included but I’m hoping he’ll through it in.

Cant get one shipped from Germany. Pallet too expensive. Aldi won’t send the one they had online in the uk a few weeks back. The same one is nearly twice that price on uk screwfix.

Anything I’ve seen in ireland is at least 600€. Not much going on donedeal. Everyone seems to want to charge full price for second hand products.

So
- will the specs suit what I need do you think?
- all ears on cheaper if you can guide me.

GreeBo

The Continental Op wrote: »

Or by hand https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-64379-Tarmac-Tamper/dp/B0002GUVJM/ - handy tool anyway for corners.

pfft, look at mr fancy pants!
A 9" cavity was all we got to use!

The Continental Op

tbh I've never looked at the specs on a wacker plate as its something I've always hired and you often get a choice of one.

Being a flat plate you can keep it in the same spot for as long as you like and I don't think once 804 type has been compacted its going to get any more compacted by a more powerful machine unless you are compacting the ground underneath it.

I'd seen machines recently when in the UK sub £300 - chinese machines with chinese engines, so that might be giving me a false idea on price. Model I saw was similar if not the same as this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Petrol-Compactor-Compaction-Wacker-RocwooD/dp/B07JBWRXQM/

Sorry can't be more help but why are you buying one?

Another idea - electric wacker plate https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evolution-Power-Tools-Electric-Compactor/dp/B006DV8EUI/ some reviews here

karlitob

The Continental Op wrote: »

Sorry can't be more help but why are you buying one?]

Thanks for that. Had spotted those.

The main reason is - I’ve a lot to wack ~160 sq m and maybe another 100 for the drive. I’m learning as I’m going so I probably won’t have efficiently prepared the site. I’ve a small side access so I’ve to manually bring in the sub base. Reviews of the cheap wackers say, and I quote, only tickling the sub base, not enough compaction force. At at 100€ ex vat for a week I reckon I’ll sell on whatever I buy for whatever I use on the hire. But without the hassle of back/forth etx.

That’s the thinking anyway. Bought my cement mixer yesterday. Fingers crossed it’s not ****e.

GreeBo

I'd stick with weekend hire, two weekends will get you 6 days+ of access, if you are doing more than that then something is wrong!

The Continental Op

karlitob wrote: »

Thanks for that. Had spotted those.

The main reason is - I’ve a lot to wack ~160 sq m and maybe another 100 for the drive. I’m learning as I’m going so I probably won’t have efficiently prepared the site. I’ve a small side access so I’ve to manually bring in the sub base. Reviews of the cheap wackers say, and I quote, only tickling the sub base, not enough compaction force. At at 100€ ex vat for a week I reckon I’ll sell on whatever I buy for whatever I use on the hire. But without the hassle of back/forth etx.

That’s the thinking anyway. Bought my cement mixer yesterday. Fingers crossed it’s not ****e.

Out of habit I'd go for a Belle mixer, had three over the years (sold when not needed) they almost never die in DIY hands, its only builders that don't give a **** that can destroy them. However the prices are mad on them as well now not far off €600 :eek:

You know you are getting old when everything seems expensive

karlitob

GreeBo wrote: »

I'd stick with weekend hire, two weekends will get you 6 days+ of access, if you are doing more than that then something is wrong!

Thanks. Will think about it. As I say, I’ve about 260 sq m to wack. Doubt I’ll be efficient enough to have all 160/100 laid ready to wack, or be a Duracell bunny and be fit enough to bring in another layer through a small side access on my todd for the second layer.

I’ve another little work area to prepare also. And the area around the back of the planned garden shed. All 50m away from where the gravel will be dropped off.

I think I’m better to be looking at it than looking for it. And hopefully be able to sell it on afterwards.

karlitob

The Continental Op wrote: »

Out of habit I'd go for a Belle mixer, had three over the years (sold when not needed) they almost never die in DIY hands, its only builders that don't give a **** that can destroy them. However the prices are mad on them as well now not far off €600 :eek:

You know you are getting old when everything seems expensive

Thanks for that. I got a pacini in the ige.ie for €350. I’ll be taking my time. So I hope it’ll be good enough.

GreeBo

Whacked hardcore can stay like that indefinitely, so you could prepare all the areas in advance and whack all in one go or do it over two weekends, still cheaper then buying!

hesker

GreeBo wrote: »

Whacked hardcore can stay like that indefinitely, so you could prepare all the areas in advance and whack all in one go or do it over two weekends, still cheaper then buying!

I’d agree. Have rented a whacker a few times and the actual whacking is done in no time at all. I’d feel buying one would be hardly worth it.