Moling and shot blasting?

R

Russell

Well-known member
I think a mini loader (Sherpa) would pay for itself very quickly in your area.
If you're getting plenty of the ground work /tree work jobs in I could see it being worthwhile but do you get many machine and operator hires?
 
doobin

doobin

Well-known member
If you're getting plenty of the ground work /tree work jobs in I could see it being worthwhile but do you get many machine and operator hires?
Not so much but that's not how I work at lot of the time. Even things like moving half a cube of cement from the mixer and tipping it straight in the footings where it's needed, it saves hours and so much effort.

I really wouldn't be without it now. I'd sooner loose the Multione. You got to come have a play soon!
 
L

LKSF

Pennine Hillbilly
Blasting is a horrible job and you really need to know your s**t grit and whatever you're blasting onto or removing very well otherwise you can get into deep trouble pretty easily.
I got a quote of £3k and another of £6k to blast my house, both + VAT. A third bloke didn't sound like he knew what he was doing so he was out of the running.
The cheaper one did it off a ladder, the second one wanted scaff putting up (as an extra) so you can see there is a vast difference in prices.
The more expensive one looked and spoke like Taggart 😅 he was a proper miserable old git and very much 'You will do it my way, I know best, end of conversation'.
As you can imagine I chose the first team, they did it in 3 days with 2 tons of specialist grit between two of them. They worked non-stop for 8 - 9hrs per day and really earned their money, I gave them a generous tip when they'd done. They were happy to tidy up the main of the grit and leave it here as it's not worth their while to take it and dump it at the recyclers.
Mine was hassle free as there is no-one around me to upset with the dust and noise so bear that in mind.
I used to know one guy who had his own van mounted cherry picker which gave him an advantage in many situations.
I know a fair bit more on the topic, but i've typed enough irrelevant info for now!
 
R

Russell

Well-known member
Not so much but that's not how I work at lot of the time. Even things like moving half a cube of cement from the mixer and tipping it straight in the footings where it's needed, it saves hours and so much effort.

I really wouldn't be without it now. I'd sooner loose the Multione. You got to come have a play soon!
Did you get my last pm regarding the loader?
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
Both use a compressor.
A compressor plus mole and airspade are on my shopping list.
Anything to do with building around a protected tree seems to be charge what you like territory.
Did you get yourself a compressor? I’m trying to persuade myself to sell mine 😞
 
doobin

doobin

Well-known member
Did you get yourself a compressor? I’m trying to persuade myself to sell mine 😞
What spec? I was considering an upgrade yesterday. Used our chinky special to slot in some SWA alongside some brick edging in a lawn.
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
What spec? I was considering an upgrade yesterday. Used our chinky special to slot in some SWA alongside some brick edging in a lawn.
All this talk of air spades is interesting me

…. Mine is a Rotoair VRK 160 with 759 hours (I’d need to check that). Bought to run the Venturi sludge vac but we never take that off site and my 230v / 200l workshop compresser will store enough air to vac out a couple IBCs and an old oil tank.
We have a recon Sullair breaker and hose for it, but the micro digger with pecker is a lot easier.
Bought it from local water mains company (R&D) who had one fitted in each van but put them overweight so they went for smaller (and apparently less reliable) units. This is a heavy lump, says 220kg but I’d swear it’s more. I put in the side door of a transit up a ramp once but regretted it. It used to make a 500kg taillift grunt. It’s okay with 2 blokes and a plant trailer.
 

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V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
All this talk of air spades is interesting me

…. Mine is a Rotoair VRK 160 with 759 hours (I’d need to check that). Bought to run the Venturi sludge vac but we never take that off site and my 230v / 200l workshop compresser will store enough air to vac out a couple IBCs and an old oil tank.
We have a recon Sullair breaker and hose for it, but the micro digger with pecker is a lot easier.
Bought it from local water mains company (R&D) who had one fitted in each van but put them overweight so they went for smaller (and apparently less reliable) units. This is a heavy lump, says 220kg but I’d swear it’s more. I put in the side door of a transit up a ramp once but regretted it. It used to make a 500kg taillift grunt. It’s okay with 2 blokes and a plant trailer.
bet that's a pleasure to handle with a single handle ..... does that really put out 60 cfm?:oops:
 
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