Gunns Contractors Ltd

[Bucket on wheels]

circular shed ..... gonna have a job putting stuff in the corner of one o' them though

Then you don't have to worry about losing stuff in the corners

I would have loved to see Pam's reaction when she come home and find this

30m diameter and 30 m High

 

[V8Druid]

.....Back to reality.... ......... I've dug footings down to 3m before but not an open pit.

dug something similar for a mate's soak away years ago with a 3t Kub ... was a hell of a hole .... especially when it came to re-filling the damned thing ..... .... he didn't appreciate just how much rubble a 10ft cube hole needed to fill it

 

[Gunners]

Well impressed with this little Avant loader. Moved 1000 blocks with it yesterday, once you get used to the way it steers (you sit behind the pivot point but attached to the front half) its quite stable and certainly doesn't lack grunt. I have to say when it turned up I didnt think it had a chance of lifting these blocks but it surprised me. It also has a heated seat - not necessary with last weeks heat but why cant dumpers have one of those for the winter!
In other news I've been out late most evenings after work doing hay. Only do it on a small scale and sell to local horse owners, it brings in some money in the winter when the landscaping is usually a bit quieter. I'm pleased to say all the classic old kit didn't let me down and zero depreciation is a bonus. Could of done with aircon though in the 30+ degrees we had

 

[Grahams]

Mini loaders have taken a long time catching on, but everyone you hear who has tried one seems impressed. I've had many sceptical comments turning up with mine at jobs, but after people have seen it in action they usually understand why I bought it.

 

[Hydremaduck]

Well the show garden did alright at Hampton - won Gold, best in category and best construction so almost a clean sweep! Got my 5 mins of fame on BBC 2 a couple of weeks ago !

Big congratulations on the garden result and a fantastic bonus getting a few minutes of TV advertising thrown in too class work as always.

Now for the negative, sorry!

If your going to dig a pit to extreme depths, make it as safe for yourself as possible!

Imagine your worse case scenario ( edge collapse imho) and consider your options! I know it was tight for room and I know you minimised stress on edge by not sprigging about BUT if the edge had gone you'd have been screwed. At least with your tracks square on you may well have had a chance of self rescue or at least minimised damage to the machine.

 

[Furniss]

Big congratulations on the garden result and a fantastic bonus getting a few minutes of TV advertising thrown in too class work as always.

Now for the negative, sorry!

If your going to dig a pit to extreme depths, make it as safe for yourself as possible!

Imagine your worse case scenario ( edge collapse imho) and consider your options! I know it was tight for room and I know you minimised stress on edge by not sprigging about BUT if the edge had gone you'd have been screwed. At least with your tracks square on you may well have had a chance of self rescue or at least minimised damage to the machine.

I thought that I would have been digging it square on too BUT he may just have been dipping it back in to demonstrate the depth versus his reach ... looks like bedding material is in the dumper already so that could well be the case....... thats the prob with photos - they dont tell the whole story, I dont post for that reason.

 

[V8Druid]

Big congratulations on the garden result and a fantastic bonus getting a few minutes of TV advertising thrown in too class work as always.

Now for the negative, sorry!

If your going to dig a pit to extreme depths, make it as safe for yourself as possible!

Imagine your worse case scenario ( edge collapse imho) and consider your options! I know it was tight for room and I know you minimised stress on edge by not sprigging about BUT if the edge had gone you'd have been screwed. At least with your tracks square on you may well have had a chance of self rescue or at least minimised damage to the machine.

I recall you giving me that piece of advice for me duck, not long after having her ... and it made perfect sense .... a few vids on you tube where, had they not been over the side, they may have saved the day, or at least minimized the damage .... those words have always been at the forefront of my mind whenever I dig to any sizeable depth/width below her

 

[Gunners]

If your going to dig a pit to extreme depths, make it as safe for yourself as possible!

I thought that I would have been digging it square on too BUT he may just have been dipping it back in to demonstrate the depth versus his reach

You're totally right Rob, I know you have years of experience in working in some of the most safety critical environments and its good you comment where you see things not right. I am no longer in that kind of environment and the mentality of the people I work with day to day can lead standards to slip. Their attitudes to "the digger will lift that" is pretty shocking and I admit I've done some "favours" for builders that I regret - and I say no more often these days as it only has to go wrong once.

But Furniss you are correct, I did dig it with my tracks square on and the pic was taken after I'd just filled the dumper up so I wasnt the right way round as just showing off really.

I welcome all comments - its good to keep me on my toes!

 

[Gunners]

Its continuing to be busy not just with work but also the varied hobbies that I seem to of got myself into. First off, my small herd of Highlands on some conservation grazing land behind my house have started to have their calves. Its my first year of doing cattle so its all new to me, always something to be learnt. I've also just taken one to the butchers and am awaiting the results - but fairly safe to say Ill be eating steak for a few months to get space back in the freezer!

As the weather picked up last week, it was rude not to do some more hay. Unfortunately the baler had other ideas and decided to throw its flywheel across the field Looked worse than it was in the end and managed a field fix which had us up and running in an hour.

I'm also back at the Mens shed, installing 150m of new foul drain run. As Rory will remind me, the endless shuttering job! I'm pleased to say the combination of the tiltrotator and Idig are making me money, I've saved 3 man days on this one job alone and that equates to 15% of what the Idig cost me. Looking forward to more returns like that
In between the foul drain I found time to fill in someones lawn and dig a porch out, all local jobs, loving life at the moment but could do with a day off

 

[doobin]

How much was the iDig? That's the one you can easily move between machines?

When you want to treat yourself again, upgrade that Titan breaker to the Erbauer one. £200 at Screwfix, and worth every penny over the Titan. Way more comfortable to use and much less vibes.

 

[TiltyShaun]

Can’t handle doing calves but this is the best beef you can get!!

 

[V8Druid]

Its continuing to be busy not just with work but also the varied hobbies that I seem to of got myself into. First off, my small herd of Highlands on some conservation grazing land behind my house have started to have their calves. Its my first year of doing cattle so its all new to me, always something to be learnt. I've also just taken one to the butchers and am awaiting the results - but fairly safe to say Ill be eating steak for a few months to get space back in the freezer!

As the weather picked up last week, it was rude not to do some more hay. Unfortunately the baler had other ideas and decided to throw its flywheel across the field Looked worse than it was in the end and managed a field fix which had us up and running in an hour.

I'm also back at the Mens shed, installing 150m of new foul drain run. As Rory will remind me, the endless shuttering job! I'm pleased to say the combination of the tiltrotator and Idig are making me money, I've saved 3 man days on this one job alone and that equates to 15% of what the Idig cost me. Looking forward to more returns like that
In between the foul drain I found time to fill in someones lawn and dig a porch out, all local jobs, loving life at the moment but could do with a day off

summat missing off that machine digging the porch Boyo

 

[Gunners]

summat missing off that machine digging the porch Boyo

Well these tilty's do lower your skill level as is well documented on facebook, so I like to keep my eye in from time to time

 

[JD450A]

Well these tilty's do lower your skill level as is well documented on facebook, so I like to keep my eye in from time to time

I heard it was because you could'nt afford the oil to keep two running

 

[V8Druid]

I heard it was because you could'nt afford the oil to keep two running

 

[Gunners]

Got my hands on the Ditch Witch mini skid steer I tried out at Hampton Court show. Trying it with no dumper on this job, I do the digging and another guy runs the loader. Seeing if the American style of working with a loader and no dumper really is better. Its only day 2 but the Ditch Witch is surprising me. We shall see how it performs over the next couple of weeks.

 

[doobin]

Rather you than me on that thing mate. I’d have though a Multione would piss all over it, but to be fair I’ve not driven either.

 

[Grahams]

Rather you than me on that thing mate. I’d have though a Multione would piss all over it, but to be fair I’ve not driven either.

I have driven both and they each have their advantages. Tracked skid steers can cope with extremely muddy conditions much better than wheeled loaders and tend to have higher flow hydraulics so are better for big mulchers. But they tear up the ground turning which is a complete no for me. They also seem to be much heavier for the same lifting performance compared to a mini loader so are too heavy to tow behind a pickup. I would also guess undercarriage running costs would be higher.
Saying all that I haven’t run a Ditch witch stand behind skid, but cat sit in skid steers.

 

[Smiffy]

I have driven both and they each have their advantages. Tracked skid steers can cope with extremely muddy conditions much better than wheeled loaders and tend to have higher flow hydraulics so are better for big mulchers. But they tear up the ground turning which is a complete no for me. They also seem to be much heavier for the same lifting performance compared to a mini loader so are too heavy to tow behind a pickup. I would also guess undercarriage running costs would be higher.
Saying all that I haven’t run a Ditch witch stand behind skid, but cat sit in skid steers.

What about a compromise ??

 

[Grahams]

What about a compromise ??

They are great. I have the wheeled version, but Andy will put tracks on anything if you pay enough. I can’t justify the cost. Toyed with the idea of him putting tracks on my small Menzi, but went with low ground pressure tyres in the end.