Trenchers Have Many Uses

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Are there other ways you can use a trencher? Trenchers use a metal chain with teeth made of high-strength steel to rip into the ground much like a chainsaw would into a tree. A trencher creates trenches by ripping up the soil and any roots that are in the way. It takes several workers and hours to dig a trench by hand. By using trenchers, trenchers can reduce the time and number of people needed to complete the project.

Depending on your needs, you can choose either a walk-behind trencher or a ride-on trencher. You can dig trenches more easily with walk-behind trenchers in narrower spaces with portable trenchers. When compared to walk-behind trenchers, ride-on trenchers perform better and dig deeper. Rental trenchers are available in two varieties: wheel trenchers and chain trenchers.

  • Wheel trenchers: These trenchers have toothed metal wheels, and they can be used for hard as well as soft soils. They are most effective in areas with many rock formations. This trencher, also called a rockwheel, is used to open up under road access for utilities. This design enables the wheel to cut at different depths since there are six to eight cutting elements around the wheel. Spacers and ejectors move excavated materials away from the trench’s edges.
  • Chain trenchers: These trenchers resemble chainsaws. These machines cut the ground with digging belts or chains. Its belt wraps around a metal frame, called a boom, and can be adjusted to control the depth at which it cuts. The bucket-type excavators are used to cut hard ground. A chain trencher’s flexibility allows it to cut narrow and deep trenches for utility companies.

The following tasks can be accomplished with trenchers:

  • Cutting Pavement – You can use wheel trenchers to cut through rock, concrete, or pavement. The wheel trencher can be operated on difficult ground conditions and produce clean, straight trenches. They can also handle patch and joint replacement projects for highways, streets, and interstates.
  • Creating Drainage – Utilize chain trenchers for drainage trenches to reduce the time and money needed to dig several feet of soil. When you dig up the soil with a portable trencher, you can install irrigation piping underground.
  • Shoveling – If you’re a homeowner and want to avoid blistered hands brought on by hours of shoveling, consider using an electric shovel. The use of a smaller walk-behind trencher reduces the time that it takes to complete a project. This shallower version can dig three to four feet deep.
  • Digging for Electrical Wires – Chain trenchers can be used to dig underground for electrical or telecommunication wires from a power pole to the residence. Trenches could also be used to lay wire for electric dog fences or landscape lighting. Excavated materials are removed by a conveyor belt. You can spend more time securing the wires in the ground by using a trencher rather than digging a trench.
  • Snipping Roots – The blade of portable trenchers serves as a rotary lawn mower blade and separates roots in addition to cutting concrete and making rows in the soil. When you encounter roots in the soil while working it, hold the trencher’s chain blade in place as the blade spins. Let the blade slowly advance and cut the roots.

Using a trencher around rock-prone areas is not recommended. It is impossible to cut through solid rock or areas with sediments that resemble rock with the teeth on the equipment. As a result of torn teeth, metal shards can become stuck and cause problems with machinery. Prior to digging, you should contact the local utility companies to determine if the area is safe to dig.

Although trenchers can be used for many construction projects, it is better to rent them rather than purchase them. This will give you the opportunity to select the best one for your needs. Talk to the experts at Rentalex.com if you need help finding the right trencher for your project. You can also reach us directly at (813)971-9990.

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