Why use a Plate Compactor

There are a number of reasons to use a plate compactor in this type of landscape construction. First of all if you live in a cold climate, it is necessary to place a solid base under your patio, sidewalk or driveway to avoid heaving caused by frost during the winter time. The other major reason to use a plate compactor is that the fill that is used for your patio is usually gravel of some consistency and when placed in the patio area is not compacted or level.

Once you have filled the area with crushed stone or gravel, roughly level the area with a two by four and then run the plate compactor over the area several times in different directions. You should also lightly water the gravel to reduce dust and aid in the compaction. Depending on the depth of gravel that is being placed, you may want to do several layers, compacting at each layer.

Using a compacter, whether it is a plate compactor or a jumping jack compactor ensures that you have a solid base and a base that will not move under the patio stones. Last thing you want is to spend thousands of dollars putting in a new patio, only to have it heave after the first year.

BOMRG Plate Compactors

We rented a BOMRG 14 inch plate compactor from a local company that specializes in renting small construction equipment. You can actually rent different sizes and weights of compactors depending on how big a job it is and the type of gravel you need to compact. The BOMRG plate compactor also comes in an 18 size weighing 200 pounds, a reversing compaction plate weight 500 pounds and also heavier compactor weighing 750 pounds. The 14 inch BOMRG plate compactor weighs 150 pounds.

Either the 14 inch or the 18 inch BOMRG plate compactor would have met our needs, however we opted for the 14 inch BOMRG plate compactor for two reasons. First it was the lightest of the compactors and it would fit in the trunk of my car. I have a small car and therefore a small trunk. If you have a van or an SUV, there would be no problem with the 18 inch 200 pound BOMRG plate compactor.

‘Safety when Using the BOMRG plate compactor

Regardless of which machine you decide to use to compact your landscape project there are a couple of recommended safety concerns that everyone should consider. A BOMRG plate compactor at 150 pounds is not overly heavy and most men can lift the compactor. However lifting it and placing it into the trunk of car is awkward due to the angles and the fact that you need to lean over while lifting the BOMRG plate compactor into your trunk. This puts a great deal of strain on your back. By far the easier method is to get some help from a friend or neighbor to lift the BOMRG plate compactor into your trunk or lifting it out. Much better than a sore back.

Whenever you are working with equipment of this type , safety construction boots are a great idea. Boots with metal toes and steel shanks are a great idea. If you were ever to drop a 150 pound BOMRG plate compactor onto your toes, you will be glad to have those safety boots on.

Jumping Jack Compactors

Jumping Jack Compactors are another tool that can be used to compact walkways and areas were there is not a lot of room. If you have an area with a width less than 14 inches wide, you might need to use a Jumping Jack Compactor to compact the soil or gravel. A Jumping Jack Compactor weighs 130 pounds and is a bit easier to transport. Still having two people to lift it in and out of your car trunk is a safer approach to avoid unnecessary back injuries.

Operating a BOMRG plate compactor

Using a BOMRG plate compactor is pretty straight forward. Once you have it in place, start it up and set the engine speed to the top speed for that machine. It will vibrate and move forward. All you really need to do is steer the BOMRG plate compactor in the direction you want to go. Avoid trying to pull or push the machine. This is just more work than what you need to do when the machine can do all of the work for you.

Spraying the area to compact will keep the dust down and help in compaction. You should keep the gravel moist but not wet. Sometimes clumps of gravel will build up on the surface of the plate. You will notice this by observing groves in the gravel as you pass over an area and also the BOMRG plate compactor is a bit slower in moving around or will not go in a straight line.

All you need to do is shut the machine off and tip it on its side. Use a shovel or scraper to clean off the underside of the compactor and then tip it back to its upright position. You might have repeat this cleaning several times depending on how big an area you are compacting.

If you are compacting a patio that has a deep base to it, you probably want to add the gravel in layers, level it and then run the compactor over it several times for each layer. This approach ensures a well compacted base at all levels of the patio. Finally once you have the patio stones laid run the BOMRG plate compactor over the patio stones one more time to properly seat the stones and also to further level them in place.

Actually the electric jack hammer I rented was a Bosch 11304 Brute which has a great feature called shock mounted handles. In other words the handles move in relation to the jack hammer and so most of the vibration from the jack hammer is absorbed by the handles and not by the operator. This is absolutely a great feature and reduces the wear and tear on your body significantly.

The Bosch 11304 Brute electric jack hammer features 15.0 amp draw, an impact energy of 43 pounds, weighs 64 pounds and a 1-1/8 inch Hex shank size. The guys at the rental store gave a 5 minute instruction on how to use the electric jack hammer and sent me on my way with a heavy duty extension chord as well. The unit fits easily in the trunk of your car. Be careful when placing the electric jack hammer into your trunk and lifting it out. The unit is heavy and you are lifting from an awkward position. If you can, I would advise getting someone to assist in lifting the electric jack hammer into and out of the car.

Man handling an electric jack hammer that weighs 64 pound with out the drill bit which weighs another 18 pounds for over 2 hours provides a workout that you will never get at the gym. I am no slouch, however I was totally exhausted after 2 hours work, but my slab of concrete was all broken up! I now have a great deal of respect for men who do this on construction sites for many hours every day.

My slab of concrete was the apron around our pool. The electric jack hammer dealt with this easily, however some concrete chips went into the pool. You have to be very careful removing these chips to avoid damaging the vinyl liner. In this particular case as well, one needs to be very careful to maintain your balance. The Bosch 1134 Brute electric jack hammer is top heavy and if you are not careful, you and the electric jack hammer can topple over, in my situation, into the pool. Fortunately this did not happen!

This is an electric jack hammer and draws up to 15 amps which most household outlets will handle. However you do need to use a heavy duty extension chord when using these machines. If not the voltage drop on the extension chord will be too much and  the electric jack hammer will not develop the power needed. I also understand that the motor could overheat as well.

Operation of the Electric Jack Hammer

Operation of the electric jack hammer is relatively straight forward, however the simple trick about using these machines is like many machines. Let the electric jack hammer do the work and you just point it in the right direction. I would place the bit in the location I wanted and pressed the button to start it and watched it drill into the concrete slab I was trying to brake up. No problem except that the first time I let the bit get too deep in the concrete to the point it was almost buried. Of course lifting a 64 pound electric jack hammer up when the bit is buried in concrete is not the easiest thing to do. Eventually I was able to get it out and started another location.

Next thing I learned is that you drill a series of holes along a line and eventually a chunk will break off of the main slab. You may have to break up this chunk into a smaller size so you can carry the pieces of concrete. Once I got the hang of it , jack hammering this concrete slab went fairly smoothly. I was breaking up a concrete slab that was approximately 3 inches to 5 inches thick. The Bosch 11304 Brute electric jack hammer handled this with ease. Just get into a routine of drill into the concrete about 2 inches, lift and move along a line about 3 inches and eventually a slab will break off .

Safety

The rental agency did not discuss any safety related issues with me when I rented the Bosch 11304 Brute electric jack hammer. They made sure I knew how to operate it and that I had a heavy duty extension chord, but that was about it.

I would strongly recommend that you wear a pair of safety boots with a steel shank and a steel toe. You might drop a piece of concrete on your foot, step on re-enforcing wire or let the electric jack hammer fall on your foot. Wearing proper safety gear on your feet will protect you from this type of accident.

Operators should also wear gloves. Handling the electric jack hammer handles will also be tough on your hands so a pair of leather construction gloves is strongly recommended. In addition you will be moving some of the broken concrete to either get them out of the way or for disposal. The leather gloves will protect your hands from cuts and scratches.

Lastly I would suggest a pair of safety goggles. Sometimes the concrete chips from the pressure of the electric jack hammer  fly everywhere. Goggles can be warn over glasses and will protect your eyes and the sides of your face as well.

In summary the electric jack hammer did the job with ease, it is an excellent machine for use around households or construction sites with electrical power near by and it is easily transported. Most equipment rental stores will rent these machines with a small specialized cart made for transporting these electric jack hammers.

This particular post is going to focus on using a patio stone tub saw.  For more information about actually designing and building your patio, there are many web sites that will discuss the design and preparation of a backyard patio along with the construction and building of your patio. As long as you are not afraid of a little hard work, any home owner can build their own patio and save thousands of dollars in the process. As a rule of thumb, add to the cost of materials, the materials multiplied by 1.5 or 2 times to get an estimate of the cost of hiring a contractor to do the entire job. Back to using a patio stone tub saw.

Patio stone tub saws are actually quite easy to use as long as you practice safe working conditions and follow the instructions provided by your local rental company. We will discuss whether you should rent or purchase one of these machines a little later in this post.

The first thing you should know about patio stone tub saws is that they will cut through patio stones as much as 2.5 inches thick as if they were made of butter. Just push them through at a steady speed, listen to the sound of the motor and if it begins to slow down, then let up the pressure. You will quickly determine what the best speed of cutting is with these saws.

Set up is straight forward. Pick a location that is close to your work area, with access to power and a water hose. Another important consideration is that these machines will generate a lot of wet particulate which when it drys will coat everything with a fine white dust.  I installed a wood barrier around mine to limit the amount of spray and particulate from the stone cutter. This also makes cleanup much easier. Once you have hooked up the power and the water hose to the machine, complete several test cuts just to get a feel for the process of cutting patio stones. Always make sure the water is running to keep the blade wet and cool.

Safety Considerations

As with all home renovation projects and this includes patio stone tub saws, safety is paramount. These machines are pretty easy to use and safe as well, but there are a few things you should consider. First of all always connect the power chord with a heavy duty extension chord. If you do not have one, most equipment rental companies can provide one of these. Second the electrical outlet you use should have a ground fault breaker. You are wet, you will be standing in water sometimes and you want to make sure that there is little chance of receiving a shock.

Third, as we mentioned never operate the saw without water. The patio stone tub saw comes with a small water pump which pumps water out of the tub ( that’s why it is called a tub saw) through tubes to spray the water onto the saw blade. If it runs dry, you will generate lots of dust and the blade could over heat.

Eye protection is an absolute must. Wear goggles even if you wear glasses. The goggles will protect your glasses and more importantly will prevent particles from the tub saw getting into your eyes. Also wear sound protection for your ears. These tub saws are loud and the sound is quite ear piercing. If you do not wear ear protection at the very least you will not be able to hear properly for several days and the worst is that you could damage your ears permanently.

The last safety concern is always wear leather gloves. Water and the particulate from the stones you are cutting combine to form a paste which will rub your fingers raw. It can get quite painful if you are doing a lot of stone cutting. The gloves will get wet and it will be messy, but at least your hands will not be sore. Some people will also wear a rubber apron around them to protect their clothes and avoid getting soaked from the water spray. This is a great idea, makes the job a lot more comfortable, especially if it is cool. No one wants to be wet in cold weather.

Rent or Purchase a Patio Stone Tub Saw

Now back to renting or purchasing a patio stone tub saw.  I have rented one of these machines several times for a 24 hour period and found this to be the most economical for my purposes. I planned my rental around spending a day of stone cutting, so I had all of my stones placed and marked for cutting prior to picking up the saw, which made the process quite efficient. The cost in Canadian dollars was around $45 for the day, which is quite reasonable.

The rental company also rented a 1.5 horsepower patio stone tub saw to me.  This is quite important since a 1.5 horse power motor will draw just less than 15 amps so you won’t be tripping your circuit breaker very often. Three horse power tub saws can cut faster, however unless you have a 20 amp or 30 amp outlet, you will be tripping your circuit breaker all of the time. This is an important consideration if you plan to purchase a patio stone sub saw.

One last point, get to know the folks at the equipment rental company you use. They have lots of experience and will take the time to show you how to use these tub saws, some of the tricks and safety issues and will often throw in the heavy gauge extension chord you will probably need as well for free.

If you have never purchased a Kubota tractor before, rented a Kubota tractor, or used one you may not understand why they are so popular and in such high demand. I urge you to rent a Kubota sometimes so you can see for yourself.

I have actually used the compact B7001 for a small backyard project and was not surprised to see how easily the job was done and how well is litte tractor performed. There is a lot of power in that little three cylinder diesel engine, and more than you would ever need for the job you are trying to accomplish.

I found this could little review to back up my belief on Kubota equipment. The review is on the B7001 model as well. This operator was doing a small job rotovating, and you can read it here. They included a picture of the used B7001 tractor and the small rotovator he was using.

You can generally pick up a used B7001 for as little as $2-$3000 US and upwards of $12,000 depending on the shape it is in and if they are including any attachments or implements. You want to make sure you are dealing with a reputable seller of course and is preferred you get a reconditioned or refurbished tractor.

You will often see this little tractor referred to as a Kubota garden tractor and that makes perfect sense because of its size and the applications usually in play, but I have seen the B7001 tractor being run hard and long on a little farm in Saskatchewan, Canada. They were using it everyday and the duty list is too long to mention here. It was handling jobs that it probably should have been considering its weight class, and power class. Nevertheless, this little Kubota was paying its way in spades.

More Kubota Equipment Links

Below we have some links on our most recent Kubota equipment mini site.

Kubota 1100s
Kubota 4030s
Kubota 500 Rtvs
Kubota Accessories
Kubota B2320 Tractors
Kubota B2710s
Kubota B4672a Backhoes
Kubota B6000es
Kubota B7000 Tractors
Kubota B7510 Hsds
Kubota B8200s
Kubota Bh90s
Kubota Bx Cabs
Kubota Bx1800s
Kubota Bx2230 Tractors
Kubota Bx2660 Tractors
Kubota D722s
Kubota Diesel Generators
Kubota Engines
Kubota Front Ptos
Kubota G2460s
Kubota Generators
Kubota L225s
Kubota L245dt Tractors
Kubota L2850s
Kubota L3130s
Kubota L3940 Tractors
Kubota L4400s
Kubota Lawn Mowers
Kubota Light Brackets
Kubota M5700s
Kubota Mini Excavators
Kubota Radiators
Kubota Rtv Heaters
Kubota Seat Armrests
Kubota Super Udts
Kubota T1880s
Kubota Tractor Parts
Kubota M Series Tractors
Kubota V2203 Diesel Engines
Kubota Zd331s
Used Kubota Lawn Mowers
Used Kubota Tractors

When we had our back yard landscaped the contractor used a Kuboka mini-excavator to do the work, and I was amazed at how fluid the operation was. It helped that the guy operating the excavator really knew what he was doing.

Kubota sells their fine equipment all over the world, and is VERY popular in developed ccountries, and even in undeveloped countries as they improve their infrastructure. They have become more and more of a presence in their industry because of the reliabilty of the implements and accessories. They’re equipment generally stands up to the rigorous treatment of working in the business of “digging and moving dirt”.

But don’t get me wrong, Kubota doesn’t just make excavators and skid steer machines – they make fabulous utility vehicles as well, and small tractors for doing light work like snow plowing and grass cutting. These light Kubota tractors are ideal for families living on acreages and HAVE to have some machinery to move snow and cut grass.

There are some multi-use Kubota machinery you can buy as well if you are a professional who needs an machine ecompassing a bucket loader on the front and a backhoe on the back. These can run up around $13,000 – $15,000 used. New can range as well depending on the dealer that is selling you the tractor.

Kubota Focuses On Smaller Tractors

As you can tell, Kubota focuses all of their attention on small tractors, excavators, and mowers, including the smaller size implements that accompany these machines. It has always been a very smart and frugal move on the part of Kubota’s third generation management and marketing teams. It would have been easy for them to try and branch their market out into large and heavy machinery such as the kinds Catepillar and others make. Some of Kubota’s excavators may look rather large, and can certainly haul hard and fast, but they don’t try to compete with the largest construction equipment corporations.

Kubota Financing Department

There is also a Kubota financing division where the assist in the financing process. They have a long standing relationship with their customers, and this is part of the reason why – they help honestly and equitably in the goal to foster public relations, make interest profits, and keep their customers coming back.

You can read more about the Kubota Credit Corporation of U.S.A here. They’ve been providing financing since 1982 and there is no sign of them every giving up their financing division (KCC).

Kubota Safety

Kubota has always been renown for their safety rating in their chosen market. Their Japanese engineering teams have been able to incorporate some excellent safety features such as their cab designs and roll bars. They have a very safe steering design as well, which is extremely important to avoid tipping and roll overs. Here is a quote from their web site if you are interested;

Kubota encourages all owners to know their equipment and to follow good safety practices when using Kubota Products. Your Kubota equipment has been designed and built with your safety in mind, but a tractor and its attachments are unable to control their own operation, or to choose the environment in which they work.
The ultimate responsibility for safe operation lies with you, the operator.
We at Kubota wish you safe operating!

One of the things I’ve noticed with Kubota is their educational approach to safety. They understand that the safest thing you can do as an operator is to be educated in the operation of the equipment. It can be VERY dangerous operating most all Kubota equipment if you don’t have any experience and are ignorant to the proper steps to take during usage.