| Guide to Trenching and Trenchers |
Hand trenching tools and shovels and tips
Homeowners often do manual or shovel trenching because the short run of trench they need for their project does not justify a rental
trencher. But even professional trenching crews get out the hand tools when they need to trench in area where their trencher won’t fit,
or to clean out the loose soil from the bottom of the trench.
Any spade or digging shovel will do fine for the first foot of trench depth, but after that you will avoid much frustration and backache by
using special hand trenching tools and shovels to stand straighter and stay at ground level while digging out the trench.
Homeowners often do manual or shovel trenching because the short run of trench they need for their project does not justify a rental
trencher. But even professional trenching crews get out the hand tools when they need to trench in area where their trencher won’t fit,
or to clean out the loose soil from the bottom of the trench.
Any spade or digging shovel will do fine for the first foot of trench depth, but after that you will avoid much frustration and backache by
using special hand trenching tools and shovels to stand straighter and stay at ground level while digging out the trench.
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 | Trencher attachments for skid steer loaders | |
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| Ride-on trencher and trench digger suppliers | |
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| Locating good used trenchers | |
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| Trencher Safety | |
The Easy Digging Trenching Guide includes:
| Hand trenching tools and shovels and tips | |
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| Walk-behind trenchers | |
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| Bed edger trencher used for landscaping work | |
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| Wire trencher used for dog fence applications | |
Locating good used trenchers
Finding good used trenchers takes knowledge, luck, and more luck. Learn what commonly fails and wears out
on a trencher. Insist on a test run before you purchase the trencher. Explore hiring a trencher or rental yard
mechanic to inspect it.
Trencher chains are expensive! They wear out in TWO ways – worn down cutter teeth are usually obvious, but
chain stretch isn't.
Please learn how to spot worn trencher chain before you buy a used trencher!
Sources of used trenchers include MachineryTrader.com and Equipment Locator
Finding good used trenchers takes knowledge, luck, and more luck. Learn what commonly fails and wears out
on a trencher. Insist on a test run before you purchase the trencher. Explore hiring a trencher or rental yard
mechanic to inspect it.
Trencher chains are expensive! They wear out in TWO ways – worn down cutter teeth are usually obvious, but
chain stretch isn't.
Please learn how to spot worn trencher chain before you buy a used trencher!
Sources of used trenchers include MachineryTrader.com and Equipment Locator
First let's talk about "Trenching Shovels". These are really clean-out shovels which are designed to scoop the loose
soil out of the bottom of a narrow trench. They are usually used after a powered trencher has cut the trench, but can
be used to scoop out soil that has been broken loose with a digging bar, pickaxe, or trenching hoe.
> They are not a good option for digging because the narrow width does not allow you to get your foot on the shovel
to push it into the ground. Look at the pictures to the left, imagine trying to stomp on one of those shovel backs
while it is in a 2 foot deep trench - it just doesn't work. But they are great for cleaning out the loose soil from the
bottom of a deep narrow trench! For quality trenching and clean-out shovels I recommend looking at:
- Structron's fiberglass Trenching Shovel and Hisco's trenching shovel line
soil out of the bottom of a narrow trench. They are usually used after a powered trencher has cut the trench, but can
be used to scoop out soil that has been broken loose with a digging bar, pickaxe, or trenching hoe.
> They are not a good option for digging because the narrow width does not allow you to get your foot on the shovel
to push it into the ground. Look at the pictures to the left, imagine trying to stomp on one of those shovel backs
while it is in a 2 foot deep trench - it just doesn't work. But they are great for cleaning out the loose soil from the
bottom of a deep narrow trench! For quality trenching and clean-out shovels I recommend looking at:
- Structron's fiberglass Trenching Shovel and Hisco's trenching shovel line
A more efficient digging tool is a trenching hoe
With a trenching hoe you simply swing the
long-handled tool down into the trench to chop
the dirt loose and then drag the loose soil up the
remaining inclined portion of the trench like a
bulldozer. (Click on the image to the right to see a full
size picture of this technique)
A 4" wide trenching hoe is best for irrigation and
power lines. A 6" wide trenching hoe is best for
deeper trenches and sewer pipes and drainage
trenches.
Hand Trenching Tips
- Plan the location of the soil pile. You will need
to access the trench to install pipe or to add
gravel - make sure the pile is not in the way.
With a trenching hoe you simply swing the
long-handled tool down into the trench to chop
the dirt loose and then drag the loose soil up the
remaining inclined portion of the trench like a
bulldozer. (Click on the image to the right to see a full
size picture of this technique)
A 4" wide trenching hoe is best for irrigation and
power lines. A 6" wide trenching hoe is best for
deeper trenches and sewer pipes and drainage
trenches.
Hand Trenching Tips
- Plan the location of the soil pile. You will need
to access the trench to install pipe or to add
gravel - make sure the pile is not in the way.
- Trenching is necessary for lawn irrigation and for providing water or electric utilities to the far corners of your
property. This link provided further information for trenching in shallow utility lines
- For safe methods of digging a trench near trees please read this article to avoid damage to the trees.
- When trenching pipe across a sidewalk, a water-assisted tunneler or the Sidewalk Sleever will make it easy.
- For more information on trenching for drainage installation or a French Drain system be sure to review our
Lawn and Garden Drainage Guide
property. This link provided further information for trenching in shallow utility lines
- For safe methods of digging a trench near trees please read this article to avoid damage to the trees.
- When trenching pipe across a sidewalk, a water-assisted tunneler or the Sidewalk Sleever will make it easy.
- For more information on trenching for drainage installation or a French Drain system be sure to review our
Lawn and Garden Drainage Guide
Walk-behind trenchers
Walk-behind trenchers are useful for narrow, medium depth trench in areas with reasonable elbow room. They
can be very dangerous – please read this Trenching Safety Guide and get checked for buried utility lines!
This Listing of Walk-Behind Trenchers gives info on most of the small trenchers currently available in America.
Walk-behind trenchers are useful for narrow, medium depth trench in areas with reasonable elbow room. They
can be very dangerous – please read this Trenching Safety Guide and get checked for buried utility lines!
This Listing of Walk-Behind Trenchers gives info on most of the small trenchers currently available in America.
Special purpose trencher applications…
The bed edger trencher does clean shallow trenching for
landscaping borders like brick, plastic and concrete edging. Two nice
bed edgers are the Trench’N Edge and the E-Z Trench Bedscaper
A wire trencher installs electric dog fences and landscape lighting.
The buried wire is placed using with a powered wire trencher like the
DMR Wire Trencher or the E-Z Trench wire trencher
The DIY’er with a small yard may want to try this hand wire trencher
The bed edger trencher does clean shallow trenching for
landscaping borders like brick, plastic and concrete edging. Two nice
bed edgers are the Trench’N Edge and the E-Z Trench Bedscaper
A wire trencher installs electric dog fences and landscape lighting.
The buried wire is placed using with a powered wire trencher like the
DMR Wire Trencher or the E-Z Trench wire trencher
The DIY’er with a small yard may want to try this hand wire trencher
Trencher attachments for skid steer loaders
Full featured trenchers are available for skid steer loaders
like Bobcat and John Deere and New Holland
Ride-on Trencher and trench digger suppliers
The ride-on trencher and trench digger is as large as we go here. This article on
getting more from your trencher provides great tips for increasing the productivity of
your professional ride-on trencher or trench digger.
A variety or ride-on trenchers and trench diggers are produced by Vermeer and
Ditch Witch and Maxon
Full featured trenchers are available for skid steer loaders
like Bobcat and John Deere and New Holland
Ride-on Trencher and trench digger suppliers
The ride-on trencher and trench digger is as large as we go here. This article on
getting more from your trencher provides great tips for increasing the productivity of
your professional ride-on trencher or trench digger.
A variety or ride-on trenchers and trench diggers are produced by Vermeer and
Ditch Witch and Maxon
| Trenching Safety A trencher is dangerous, and a trench can quickly become a very long grave. Trenching safety is critical ! Please read this Trencher Safe Use Guide and OSHA’s Trenching Safety Rules Take the free online Trenching Safety Awareness class if you do big trenching projects. Hope this helps you! Check out our new Garden Drainage Guide Webmasters: You are welcome to link to our Guide to Trenching and Trenchers using this underlined phrase as the anchor text. |
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