Micro Excavators - Where to buy
Discussion
Perusing Facebook Marketplace as was my wont of a coffee break a few weeks ago I came across a road towable Micro Digger - a Team Industries Tow Hoe.
Access down the side of my house is somewhat limited (Circa 90cm) - something like this looked both A) Ideal for a future refurbishment, including tearing most of the garden apart B) Fun.
Sadly I missed out on the one that piqued my interest; but having had a rummage around the likes of FB Marketplace, Ebay etc i've struggled to find anything else like it for sale. It seems they (and similar plant) were quite populous back in the day.
So my question is - if one was looking to acquire ropy old plant with questionable safety features but attractive pricing, where would I look? Forum suggestions, similar items, etc are all appreciated.
Access down the side of my house is somewhat limited (Circa 90cm) - something like this looked both A) Ideal for a future refurbishment, including tearing most of the garden apart B) Fun.
Sadly I missed out on the one that piqued my interest; but having had a rummage around the likes of FB Marketplace, Ebay etc i've struggled to find anything else like it for sale. It seems they (and similar plant) were quite populous back in the day.
So my question is - if one was looking to acquire ropy old plant with questionable safety features but attractive pricing, where would I look? Forum suggestions, similar items, etc are all appreciated.
I hear the new Chinese micro excavators are fairly good for the low price they can be: perhaps that's worth looking at? I expect the little second-hand machines have been abused heavily on hire jobs, and buying on condition is hard unless you know what you're looking at.
Very handy to have a little micro around the place!
Very handy to have a little micro around the place!
Ropey second hand you say...
Plenty of micro and mini diggers on this site
https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/search-results?...
I may have seen the one you saw, the one that was for sale near me seems to have sold.
I look at these every now and again but the cost of hiring one (very reasonable) makes it seem not worthwhile. I think a 1.5 or 3 tonne has cost me around £160(ish) the last couple of times I've hired.
The faff of keeping an older machine running just doesn't seem worth it for any potential saving. It would be very easy to spend a lot more on maintenance and repair of something cheap and actually cost far more than hiring something good. Which is a shame as I would probably buy one myself as having equipment on hand is worth a lot sometimes.
I look at these every now and again but the cost of hiring one (very reasonable) makes it seem not worthwhile. I think a 1.5 or 3 tonne has cost me around £160(ish) the last couple of times I've hired.
The faff of keeping an older machine running just doesn't seem worth it for any potential saving. It would be very easy to spend a lot more on maintenance and repair of something cheap and actually cost far more than hiring something good. Which is a shame as I would probably buy one myself as having equipment on hand is worth a lot sometimes.
Edited by Richard-D on Wednesday 15th October 12:41
Don't ever go looking on Aliexpress for a Micro Excavator, don't, no, never....
Don't even think on clicking on this link!
https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-micro-excav...
Don't even think on clicking on this link!
https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-micro-excav...
I’m a sucker for buying stuff I don’t really need, but I’d be hiring a mini/micro digger when I needed it, as the cost isn’t crazy for hiring a decent Kubota or similar, rather than a knackered old one or a new cheapo chinesium machine (and the small ones can usually get through garden gates etc).
I once looked at a back hoe for my tractor, but a mini digger is much more flexible.
I once looked at a back hoe for my tractor, but a mini digger is much more flexible.
I work in plant hire and can strongly recommend that you avoid many of the AliExpress micro diggers. The cheap machines will have little or no back up when things go wrong (they usually do with diggers!).
If you want to buy, go for a used known brand and ideally buy used from a plant hire company - the machines are usually much better maintained. If one of my machines is hired out three time in a week then it will get valeted, inspected and greased three times in a week.
Your best option is to hire from a repuatable company that can offer transport, service engineers and make sure that you get the correct machine.........of course, I would say that!
If you want to buy, go for a used known brand and ideally buy used from a plant hire company - the machines are usually much better maintained. If one of my machines is hired out three time in a week then it will get valeted, inspected and greased three times in a week.
Your best option is to hire from a repuatable company that can offer transport, service engineers and make sure that you get the correct machine.........of course, I would say that!
Richard-D said:
I may have seen the one you saw, the one that was for sale near me seems to have sold.
I look at these every now and again but the cost of hiring one (very reasonable) makes it seem not worthwhile. I think a 1.5 or 3 tonne has cost me around £160(ish) the last couple of times I've hired.
The faff of keeping an older machine running just doesn't seem worth it for any potential saving. It would be very easy to spend a lot more on maintenance and repair of something cheap and actually cost far more than hiring something good. Which is a shame as I would probably buy one myself as having equipment on hand is worth a lot sometimes.
It was in Bicester...I was on holiday and was chewing over making a silly offer but was on holiday at the time.I look at these every now and again but the cost of hiring one (very reasonable) makes it seem not worthwhile. I think a 1.5 or 3 tonne has cost me around £160(ish) the last couple of times I've hired.
The faff of keeping an older machine running just doesn't seem worth it for any potential saving. It would be very easy to spend a lot more on maintenance and repair of something cheap and actually cost far more than hiring something good. Which is a shame as I would probably buy one myself as having equipment on hand is worth a lot sometimes.
Edited by Richard-D on Wednesday 15th October 12:41
Part of it is just wanting a toy, I know hiring is the logical choice...
Kobelco SK said:
I work in plant hire and can strongly recommend that you avoid many of the AliExpress micro diggers. The cheap machines will have little or no back up when things go wrong (they usually do with diggers!).
If you want to buy, go for a used known brand and ideally buy used from a plant hire company - the machines are usually much better maintained. If one of my machines is hired out three time in a week then it will get valeted, inspected and greased three times in a week.
Your best option is to hire from a repuatable company that can offer transport, service engineers and make sure that you get the correct machine.........of course, I would say that!
What he said ! If you want to buy, go for a used known brand and ideally buy used from a plant hire company - the machines are usually much better maintained. If one of my machines is hired out three time in a week then it will get valeted, inspected and greased three times in a week.
Your best option is to hire from a repuatable company that can offer transport, service engineers and make sure that you get the correct machine.........of course, I would say that!
I've got a Kubota compact tractor....when I was buying it a few years ago now I spoke to a dealer who had a nearly new one a couple of hundred miles from where we lived. He was very honest "buy from your local dealer"....the service support is invaluable. It's been very reliable but the odd time I have needed something theyve been with us within 24 hours...if only cars were that easy to get fixed.
Cheib said:
Kobelco SK said:
I work in plant hire and can strongly recommend that you avoid many of the AliExpress micro diggers. The cheap machines will have little or no back up when things go wrong (they usually do with diggers!).
If you want to buy, go for a used known brand and ideally buy used from a plant hire company - the machines are usually much better maintained. If one of my machines is hired out three time in a week then it will get valeted, inspected and greased three times in a week.
Your best option is to hire from a repuatable company that can offer transport, service engineers and make sure that you get the correct machine.........of course, I would say that!
What he said ! If you want to buy, go for a used known brand and ideally buy used from a plant hire company - the machines are usually much better maintained. If one of my machines is hired out three time in a week then it will get valeted, inspected and greased three times in a week.
Your best option is to hire from a repuatable company that can offer transport, service engineers and make sure that you get the correct machine.........of course, I would say that!
I've got a Kubota compact tractor....when I was buying it a few years ago now I spoke to a dealer who had a nearly new one a couple of hundred miles from where we lived. He was very honest "buy from your local dealer"....the service support is invaluable. It's been very reliable but the odd time I have needed something theyve been with us within 24 hours...if only cars were that easy to get fixed.
I have looked at buying too but it seems a bit of a minefield for the unwary.
I spoke nicely with the Jewson plant hire guy for our area and he lets me have a 1.5t digger for £200 per week delivered. At that price the economics of buying look questionable, the only real issue being if I want to do a job right now I can’t.
I spoke nicely with the Jewson plant hire guy for our area and he lets me have a 1.5t digger for £200 per week delivered. At that price the economics of buying look questionable, the only real issue being if I want to do a job right now I can’t.
Wilmslowboy said:
Ropey second hand you say...
Plenty of micro and mini diggers on this site
https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/search-results?...
This one must be good, it dug a lake.Plenty of micro and mini diggers on this site
https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/search-results?...
Many of us on ph have a digger and it’s because we are either in the building trade or have large gardens/land etc.
For a small one of job then hiring is the way to go.
I’ve got a 1.5 ton Komatsu which is perfect for my needs and I’ve done a lot of jobs with it like septic tank installation, swimming pools, trench and post holes along with driveways ,ground clearing etc.
Photo for reference.
A small Chinese one will last ok if it’s not abused and used for lightweight stuff.
For a small one of job then hiring is the way to go.
I’ve got a 1.5 ton Komatsu which is perfect for my needs and I’ve done a lot of jobs with it like septic tank installation, swimming pools, trench and post holes along with driveways ,ground clearing etc.
Photo for reference.
A small Chinese one will last ok if it’s not abused and used for lightweight stuff.
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