An Mini excavator is the ideal machine for excavation and earthmoving work. The main factors to consider when choosing this construction machine are its use, size, and power, depending on your needs. What are the different models of excavators available for rent? How do you make your choice? MMS provides the keys to selecting the most suitable excavator.
What is an excavator?
An excavator, also called a mechanical shovel or hydraulic shovel, is a construction machine used for earthmoving, digging, demolition, or handling tasks.
What is an excavator used for?
The first step before choosing an excavator is to clearly define its intended use — that is, the type of work you want to carry out.
Keep in mind that most excavators are versatile and perfect for foundation work, drainage trenches, and clearing land. However, some have specific features, such as:
- Excavators adapted for tunnel work,
- Compact excavators for urban projects,
- Zero-tail-swing excavators for tight spaces,
Defining the use will help determine the machine’s size, weight, and engine power. The type of terrain will determine how it moves (wheels or tracks). A good excavator is one that fits your needs — not too small to meet the site requirements, and not too large to be cumbersome.
The main types of excavators
Two major types of excavators are often distinguished: wheeled (tire) excavators and tracked excavators. Excavators can also be categorized by weight:
Fuel Type: Electric or Diesel
If you do a lot of indoor projects or work in areas where noise restrictions restrict your working hours, an electric compact excavator could be a great addition to your fleet.
Battery-powered excavators have zero emissions and low noise levels, which can help you work around certain pollution or noise regulations. Electric compact excavators may allow you to do tasks that bring extra opportunity for investment.
Diesel-powered compact excavators generally come with a lower price tag, and they offer job-proven power and performance that is hard to beat – especially when engine noise and exhaust are not a concern.
Because diesel-powered compact excavators can use the same attachments as other diesel-powered MMS equipment, it can help you maximize efficiency and utilization across your equipment fleet.
What power for excavators?
The engine power, usually diesel, generally correlates with the machine’s size. This engine power, expressed in kW, determines the power of the excavator’s arm.
Wheels or tracks?
The terrain type will guide your choice. A tracked excavator is ideal when the machine doesn’t need to travel long distances and when the ground is soft. Stable and powerful, these excavators move slowly (about 5 km/h). On the other hand, wheeled excavators are much more agile and travel faster (up to 53 km/h). However, they are only suitable for hard surfaces.
Attachments
Excavators are most often equipped with:
- A backhoe bucket for earthmoving;
- A cleaning bucket for clearing;
- A hydraulic hammer for rock demolition;
- A grapple bucket made of two buckets;
- A hydraulic auger;
- A sorting grapple for recycling and debris storage;
- A ripper tooth for scraping and dragging rocks;
Mini Excavator Specs and Considerations
While all excavators are categorized by weight, there are other specifications to consider before renting a mini excavator. Digging capacity, dimensions and engine power are all important factors to consider when picking the right mini excavator for a project. Here’s a closer look at the eight most common excavator specs.
Operating Weight
Mini excavators are classified by their operating weight. The operating weight is how much a mini excavator weighs while working. The operating weight is determined by calculating the sum of the weight of the machine, an average-sized operator and the fuel that keeps it running.
The operating weight of the machine is essentially the counterweight to the bucket’s load. If a project requires heavy lifting and digging through dense materials, a higher operating weight proves necessary.
Digging Depth
The digging capacity or depth determines how deep an excavator can dig into a surface. For mini excavators, a general rule of thumb is the larger the size, the further it can dig. Of course, the makes and models of excavators differ, so you should always double-check that a machine’s digging specifications will suit your needs.
Overall Dimensions
One of the main reasons anyone operates a mini excavator is due to its compact design that can fit and work within small spaces. That said, mini excavators still come in different shapes and sizes. It’s wise to double-check the measurements of the area you’re working in to ensure the excavator’s height, width and length are the optimal sizes.
Engine Power
Engine power on a mini excavator is typically measured in horsepower (HP) or kilowatts (kW). The engine power rating indicates the amount of power that the engine can generate. The higher the engine power, the more energy it can exert for digging large loads and breaking through compact surfaces.
Bucket Breakout Force
Bucket breakout force is the maximum amount of force that an excavator bucket can exert and is measured in pound-force. Knowing the breakout force of the machine is important because it determines its digging and lifting capacity. Essentially, the higher the breakout force, the better equipped the machine is for handling scooping up large loads.
Arm Reach
The arm’s reach is how far the arm can extend. It may seem like this specification may not be as relevant if you’re working within a small space, but operating an arm that’s too long within a confined work area may be difficult. Always double-check that the arm’s reach of an excavator is long enough to suit your digging and reaching needs, but not so long that it becomes a nuisance to the project.
Swing Space
The swing of a mini excavator refers to the amount of space required for the machine to rotate without hitting any obstacles. When working in tight or confined spaces, it’s considered the boom (the arm) and tail swing of the excavator. Low and zero-swing excavators are available for operating within small spaces.
Dumping Height
The dumping height of an excavator refers to the maximum height the machine’s arm can dump or scoop material from its bucket. The height is determined by measuring the ground to the highest point of the bucket when it’s fully extended and in the dumping position.
Dumping height is an important consideration because it determines the height of the dumpster, truck or other containers that the machine can load or unload.
Renting a small excavator: choosing the electric model
In recent years, hybrid excavators have appeared. As powerful as thermal mini excavators but quieter and more efficient, these new-generation construction machines operate in electric mode without producing exhaust gases. They are especially suited for small areas, indoor work in tight spots, sensitive zones, or city centers.
Renting an excavator: main criteria for choosing
What size excavator should you choose?
Manufacturers offer a wide range of excavator sizes, from less than one ton to nearly 1,000 tons. The machine’s size and weight should fit your needs at the work site.
Renting a micro excavator
The micro excavator can be used for small jobs in agriculture or construction. Its advantage? The ability to maneuver in very narrow or limited spaces, both outdoors and inside buildings.
Renting a mini excavator
Are you doing excavation work for foundations or earthmoving for a single-family home, installing a pool, or digging a trench for pipes? The mini excavator, also known as a compact excavator, is the ideal machine. The midi excavator, which remains compact at 6 to 10 tons, can also fall into this category.
Renting an excavator: how much does it cost?
Buying an excavator represents a significant investment for companies. That’s why construction professionals as well as individuals often prefer to rent this type of machinery.
The rental price depends, of course, on the machine’s power and size. Mini excavators can be rented for under $100 per day.Larger models rent for several hundred euros per day.
Renting an excavator or a backhoe loader
Also common on job sites, the backhoe loader has a different use than an excavator. Mounted on tires with a tractor chassis, the backhoe loader is more versatile but always has less working power than an excavator, both in digging strength and in digging depth and dumping height.