Category Archives: construction equipment

Learn to fix heavy equipment on your own

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We often encounter some or the other problems with heavy equipment. They may be quite minor in nature but as long as we do not know how to fix them, it always coerces us to call for a mechanic. Now the real problem is the charge you got to pay to the mechanic. The issue may be quite a petty one but you still have to pay him a good amount. This may often burn a hole in your pocket and you would definitely want to get rid of the problem.

The simple way to get rid of the issue is to learn how to fix heavy equipment on your own. If you learn to repair your machines then you can cut down on costs that you invariably spend on services received from mechanics. Having said this, it does not imply that you will try to give it a shot on every problem that you encounter on the heavy equipment. At times, the machine may throw an issue that you may be unaware of. This is perhaps the time when you should take some help of the mechanic and not get indulged in repairing it on your own.

User manual can be your best guide:-

To know about your heavy equipment you got to first read the literature that you get along with the stuff. It will help you to know your machine in a much better way. It has been seen that people learn something new about their heavy equipment after referring to the user manual after having owned it for a couple of years. The mechanic will never you how to fix the problem if it occurs again he will simply resolve the issue and will walk away with the money. It becomes your responsibility to understand what went wrong so that if it happens again you will be in a position to fix it without involving a mechanic. Therefore whenever you see an issue it is advised that you go through the user manual and check if they have mentioned anything about it. You may get leads from there and that will help you to sort the case. Also ensure that you have proper tools handy. You will not be able to open a part of the equipment without the tools.

Videos on YouTube:-

This is another option that can be tried to fix heavy equipment. You can learn a lot from websites like YouTube. There you will find a lot of videos related to how to fix heavy equipment on your own. You only need to mention the type of equipment and the issue you are experiencing. The search result will give you a lot of option and you can then watch them. The reason why watching videos will be helpful is because when you will try to fix the problem you will be able to co-relate what you have seen in the video with your machine. This will help you to understand your equipment in a better way.

Construction Water towers fulfill multiple of requirements on a job site

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Construction jobs require gallons of water and if it a big project than a continuous supply of water essential for accomplishing different jobs as also for the job site workers who are staying at the spot temporarily. Keeping the requirement in view, temporary or portable water towers are sometimes built in a large and long-term construction sites. The best thing about construction site water towers is that these can work even during power cuts. The hydrostatic pressure formed due to height is sufficient to supply water within the total area; however, for lifting water to a certain height like when construction work is going on at a height of 50-100 ft. from the ground level pumping water is necessary.

Why do construction sites require a water tower?

Following are the primary requirements of water on a construction site:

  • As a welfare facility for the workers or laborer engaged there
  • For continuing different geotechnical operations
  • For any hydro blasting or hydro demolition work
  • For washing, cleaning and dust suppression
  • For percolation testing of floors, concrete slabs, and roofs, etc.

Portable water towers for construction sites

Companies expert in providing portable water towers normally delivers the complete system and erect the tower with thereservoir as per the demand of contractors or engineers. They also provide water tanks on regular basis to fill-up the tower regularly. Typical portable water towers possess 8000-12000 Gallon capacity. Portable water towers generally use an engine driven thehydraulic pump and a cylinder. The cylinder is attached to a discharge pipe of different diameter. A 12-inchdiameter discharge pipe can supply water at 2500 GPM.

Features of a typical construction site water tower

Though different capacities of portable water towers are available. Following are the common specifications of a typical construction site water tank:

  • Rectangular steel tube is used for fabricating the base to give the system more strength and prevent material buildup.
  • Six legs are used having 5-6-inch diameter to support the reservoir in the raised position.
  • Normally 2 water inlets of 3-inch diameter are used to fill water.
  • The reservoir is systemized for auto shutdown with 8-inch diameter float.
  • The reservoir is attached to a ladder at the rear for accessing the top of the reservoir.

Benefits of construction site water tower

Having water tower provides a multiple of benefits to the contractors, some of these benefits are as follows:

  • These towers are portable, that means, they can be moved from one location to another as and when required.
  • Water towers can be erected at variable heights depending on the requirements at the job site.
  • Can be filled with any types of pumps in very short time.
  • They are usable with thewater pump or standpipe.
  • They can be quickly uninstalled

A water tower has multiple purposes. It basically stores water for continuous use in a job site. Contractors choose water towers instead of a tank when the job site requires ahigher flow of water and when maintaining a tank at the ground level is not possible. Water towers are extremely flexible and inexpensive process of storing and using water on a construction site.

Heavy equipment rental companies

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In recent times, it has been observed that owners of heavy equipment prefer to give the machines on rent rather than keeping it idle with them. They see absolutely no sense in keeping the machine without making any use of it. Also for owners who have bought the machine by borrowing money from a lender and have no project in hand finds it extremely hard to pay the monthly payment. The solutions to deal with this problem may be few and many of them not suitable enough to be pursued. Hence, the best available option would be rent the machine to people who need them and in return make some money from the deal. Owners of heavy equipment may find it difficult to get hold of people who need exactly those machines that they possess and therefore the workaround here is to get associated with heavy equipment rental companies and assign them the work to get rent for you.

There are plenty of such heavy equipment companies that deal with renting heavy machines. How to find them is also simple. All you have to do is use internet and check for these companies on the net. The internet will throw the names of all the companies that are located in your city and some in your neighborhood. Once you get the name of the companies, you need to call them up and check if they can help you get rent on heavy equipment. Do not strike a deal with them if you find a good deal. Try to talk with other companies as well and check who gives you the best quotation. This should be your goal. Never go for less when you can get more from a deal. If possible meet the companies in person and try to get a feel of how ethically they work.

Remember to check the reviews of the rental companies on the internet. By no means should you get attached to a company that has poor reviews and complaints from all corners. They may give you brilliant offers but that is just setting of a trap. You should be wise enough to understand these things as no one can give you precise advice on this. So once you have selected a company and you decide to reach out to them, check with them if they want you to drop the machine with them or just leaving the pictures of the machine will suffice. If they ask you to leave the machine with them, be a little reluctant in doing so because then you do not have absolute control on it. Most of the heavy equipment rental companies do not ask people to drop their machines with them. They prefer to visit your place along with the client so that they can show them the machine and if the taker likes it then all the parties can talk over it.

Assigning the work to heavy equipment rental companies is one of the most preferred ways to rent heavy equipment and there is less hassle on the part of the owner to find a user.

 

How to operate a track loader

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Operating any kind of heavy equipment is assumed to be a difficult task and construction companies believe none other than the experienced lot that they have when it comes to working a track loader. This means that the newer lot will get less exposure to it. Well this is not the case though as far as large construction companies are concerned. They prefer both experienced and inexperienced operators to work on track loaders. It is quite obvious that a company has to shell out more for an experienced guy than they have to pay for a newbie. Keeping that in mind, they prefer training the new guys under the older ones so that they get maximum exposure and learn to operate the tracker on their own. Other than that there are so many training videos that one can have access to that will help a trainee learn from it. All you need is an internet connection to make your life simple. The practical part can be achieved only at the jobsite.

Knowing the functions is crucial:-

A track loader comes with various functions that are meant for different purposes. An operator should be aware of all those functions and should also understand to use which function at what time. That is perhaps the most crucial part of his job. Every other switch or lever or a joystick that one can see inside the cabin is there for a specific purpose and it is important to know the different functions of those mechanisms. This is the first step forward to learn to operate a track loader.

Move the bucket well before you begin your day:-

One should primarily start his work by first checking if all the functions of the machine is in order. So start the engine and try to move the machine a bit. Check if it is moving smoothly. Other than that, try to move the bucket using the levers inside the cabin. You will ideally not find the levers in a rough state but the problem lies more on the execution part. You must have pressed the lever to move the bucket but it just does not move or it does move at a very slow pace. You should keep this into consideration before you begin your day’s work. Also check the brakes are in order. Try applying brakes after moving the loader at a medium speed. This will let you know the exact condition of the brakes.

Undercarriage and the tracks are an important component:-

The undercarriage and the tracks are perhaps the most expensive component in the machine and also that it gets deteriorated after having worked for just 800 hours. When you are working in rough conditions the chances of the tracks to get ruin increases tremendously. This is something that you got make note of while you are operating the machine. It is not a tough job to operate a loader. It is just that you got to keep few things into consideration while you are working on it.

Renting a water wagon

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Tired to inhaling dust in the construction site? You need to put them to rest by spraying water so that the dust settles down on the ground and you get some fresh air to breathe. It will also reduce the number of air-borne ailments and will thus keep your employees healthy. So if you have a big construction site and need to spray water in the entire place, you need a vehicle that is capable of carrying gallons of water and also simultaneously spray it along the site. This leads to the needs of a water wagon where you can store water for spraying on the site. All you need is attach a pipe to the hose and spray it along. A water wagon may not be an expensive item unlike other heavy equipment which costs a bomb but it still has a price attached to it and any construction company how big it is will not want to spend money in procuring an item that has limited utility.

So the best alternative is to take it on rent. There are companies who sell as well as rent water wagon to construction and mining companies. You can get the details of such companies on the internet. These companies are either directly involved in renting water wagons or act as third parties. It simply means that they will own the wagons and will let it out to people who are ready to take it on rent or will establish contacts with parties that are willing to let-out wagons and once they find a taker, they help in cracking the deal between the two and earn commission from both the parties. This is how they conduct their business.

Some rental companies deal with multiple orders. However, there are also companies which do not work that way. So before you approach any of them, first try to get some information about them and only once you have a fair idea and understand how convenient they are for you that you should proceed any further.

The second most important checkpoint will be the rental amount. Now there are several companies who may charge different amounts as rent. So you should be ready to negotiate with them. Just do not accept the quote they give you. Also do some research on the rental price of water wagons before you finally jump the gun? If the rental company is acting as an agent and, check in advance the amount they will charge.

You can spread the news in your business circle that you require a water wagon on rent. Someone for sure will get in touch with you and after checking the credentials if you find it worth taking you can go for it.

How to drive a bulldozer

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Driving heavy equipment is simple for operators who have loads of experience operating it but as far as the newbie are concerned who are in the process of gaining some bit of experience in it may find it difficult to maneuver the machine. Other than that, every other model of heavy equipment has different operating functions which one need to know and have their hands-on it. So you can master to drive heavy equipment only when you do it quite often and in this process you also tend to learn new things which in turn make you more comfortable. Many operators during their initial stage find extremely difficult to operator a bulldozer. They simply could not control the machine well and often end up in an accident. Even the experienced ones at times lose their control from the machine and when such things happen it can turn to be quite fatal. It is therefore very crucial for the operator to follow few steps that will help him have better control over the machine and turn him as a more competent operator.

Try to make yourself comfortable:-

Being comfortable while you are about to drive a bulldozer is quite crucial. You just can’t start operating it the moment you step inside the cab. You got to check few things first and once you are sure that all the important functions are good to go, you can give it a start. Also you need to be calm and steady mentally and physically. It is more of a mental situation and less physical. You may be tensed because of a previous day’s blunder that could have cost the company a lot of money or may be worried of something that is simply not related to your work. You got to explain yourself that if you remain worried then it will simply add up to your problem and will reflect on your work. You have to soothe your mind first and automatically your body will calm down. Once you are sure that you are absolutely comfortable you should get going.

Try to move the bulldozer a bit:-

Before you start your day’s work, you need to warm up your machine a bit. Now all that you need to do is start the engine and keep it on for some time. Once the engine has warmed up you should try moving the machine to and fro and check if it is moving without any issue. You can in this way also check if the brakes of the machine are functioning properly.

Make use of joystick:-

Today’s heavy equipment are far advanced than what it used to be a decade ago. However, you need to learn to use the technology given to you in a proper manner. In order to steer the machine the way you want to, you should make use of the joystick. You should be ultra-careful while handling the joystick as it is smooth and being harsh with it can take the machine to any direction thus losing the control on it.

Construction of manufacturing units and factories

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When we talk about construction, it need not necessarily be of huge buildings or condominiums. The word in itself is quite elaborative. When you are in the construction business you deal with building anything and everything. Although you take time to learn the industry and the different ways by which you can acquire projects. You also take time to understand how to complete a project within the stipulated timeframe. Well you learn these things from experience and as and when you get to deal with them. Construction companies make enormous profits when they get into a project that is pertaining to building manufacturing units and factories. When you are into construction of manufacturing units or factories, you are catering a particular genre of client and therefore you got to pay special attention to their demands. Their demands are quite specific and you got to channelize your resources based on their specifications.

Understand what kind of factory you have to construct:-

While constructing a factory, you need to understand that the requirements are quite different for every factory. So for instance, if you have loads of experience in constructing factories or manufacturing units, you can’t be sure that you know what your current client need from you. You may definitely have an edge over others if you are experienced in constructing manufacturing units but it is advisable that you sit along with your client and try to understand their needs. Check out the kind of set up they want and on that basis you can frame the designs.

Show the progress at regular intervals:-

It is imperative that you keep updating your client on the progress of work. Remember, while constructing manufacturing units, you have very less scope to alter things once they are been built. You should ask your client to visit the site on a monthly basis and check the progress of work on their own. You should try to stick to the design so that if there requires any alteration in the actual building you do not have to do it out from your pocket. Your client should ideally pay for it. However, it is not mandatory for the client to pay for any alterations. If it is a mild one where you know it will not affect the costing of the company massively, you can alter the stuff without charging extra. This will eventually make your customer happy.

Use top notch equipment:-

You always have an option when it comes to using equipment to work on a project. It is always preferred to use top notch equipment. It will ease the process of work and will also take comparatively lesser time. With top notch equipment, one should not imply using brand new machines and accessories. It simply implies using mechanisms that are scientifically proven to be an easy tool to work.

Construction of manufacturing units and factories gives enough scope to construction companies to earn good sum of money. However, the construction companies should be ready to take such projects and complete them in time.

Line boring heavy equipment

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Drilling a hole to lay a foundation is quite an intrinsic part in the construction sector and the holes dug for the foundation has to be precise as designed by the civil engineer. You can’t mess up with such an important stuff because if you do then it directly affects the quality of the construction. It is therefore crucial to select the right type of heavy equipment and also the right kind of cutting tool. The cutting tool needs to be attached to the heavy equipment and then begin the process to bore the ground. Now the cutting tool can be a single point or can have multiple heads. Each type of tool is used for different kind of boring. As no 2 boring is the same, you can’t use the same cutting tool for every type of boring. While fitting the boring bar one must ensure that both the ends are firmly supported and it works only in case of a through hole.

The challenge that people encounter while boring is that there are immense chances of the boring bar to get disconnected from the machine. Though both the ends of the heavy equipment has caught the bar firmly there are still lot of chances of it coming out during the process of boring. This is the reason why it is considered to be more challenging than turning. Other than this the clearance angle requirement has been increased which has made things more difficult for the operator. It actually limits the kind of support that should be given to the cutting edge and makes it more vulnerable. You can use a line boring tool in almost all kind of heavy equipment. Be it a dozer or an excavator or a backhoe loader, it goes with all kinds of heavy equipments.

Operators who are working with line boring need to be highly expertise in their respective domain. Since the holding capacity of the heavy equipment is not that great it can pose good deal of problems to inspect the work already done which includes understanding the size of the hole and the surface roughness. Therefore the need of expert operators arises. The operators need to know his matters well. Apart from laying foundation which is one of its core work area, line boring it extensively used for many other purposes and this is why the guy needs to be really sharp with his skills.

With the advent of portable boring, life has become a bit simpler for people who take boring contracts at far-fetched places. They do not have to load the boring bar in a truck or a big vehicle. All they can do is put it in back of their car and port it to the next destination. The reviews of portable line boring tool have been awesome. It is just that the hole need timely repairs. Line boring cutting tool can be bought directly from a dealer or online. Do some research on the pricing before you go to buy one.

How to choose the right Heavy Equipment for Storm Clean-up

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Climate is not in human control and natural calamities can strike in at any point, without any prior indication. However, nowadays, due to technological advancements, weather and climate changes can be predicted well in advance, and this gives us some scope for prevention or at least precaution. But, in front of huge natural calamities like tornado, hurricane and other storms, there is nothing that we could do.

Damages are also huge as caused by these storms. Not just these cyclones and tornadoes, but the snow storm can also cause great disaster. Even earthquakes can strike in anytime and the results are disastrous. What is a common consequence of any of any of these natural disasters is the huge amount of debris that needs to be cleared, after the calamity.

Heavy Equipment in Cleaning Up:

From uprooted trees to broken down buildings, roofs, damaged roads with concrete and mud, dust and dirt everywhere, it becomes absolutely difficult to get back to the daily lifestyle. Even after a snow storm, the amount of snow that is deposited on the roads, block the roads completely. Hence, to clean them up, the heavy equipment plays a huge role.

Types of Heavy Equipment Needed for Storm clean-up:

The damages that take place after a storm vary to a great extent. The houses, concrete buildings, might structures and even the huts collapse. In case of the roads, they are severely damaged by the amount of downpour that follows the storm. The pitch, bitumen and asphalt, come out of the road. The trees are uprooted and they block the roads and this makes it even more difficult to communicate. To clean the debris and to make everything just as usual, there are a few types of heavy equipment that must be needed. These would include –

  • Excavators
  • Track loaders
  • Dozers
  • Cranes
  • Wheel loaders
  • Backhoes
  • Dump trucks.

Each of these would serve a special purpose while performing the cleaning task after storm damage.

Choosing the right equipment:

Now that you have known about the different types of heavy equipment that you need to choose in order to clean-up the storm damages and debris, you must know the factors that you need to consider while buying or hiring them.

  • Type of damage:

This is the most important factor that you must consider. The type of damage that has been caused by the storm is the most important thing. You need to decide, whether you need to clean the snow or remove the tree logs or clean the debris.

  • Own or hire:

The next most important thing is whether you need to own the heavy equipment or hire them. If the storm attacks your area frequently, you can choose to own the equipment. Or else, you can even hire them as you require. Owning might charge you high initially, but it will reduce the hiring cost every time. You can even rent it out, when you are not in need of it. It will be an added income to you.

Since the use of the heavy equipment is diverse and versatile, they are always in demand.

Only the best salesman can sell heavy equipment

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We all are in some way or the other are into the profession of a salesman. Some try to sell their qualification to get a job, some try to sell their capabilities to get more business. In a way we all are into the selling mode and still many of us feel that selling is not our cup of tea. Well, selling a specific product may require some sort of skill and perhaps this is the reason why many get jittery when they know that their work demands them to sell stuffs. Frankly, selling a product can prove to be quite stressful for a person who does not have the knack to sell things. In the end he might get frustrated when he finds that he is failing to sell the stuff and that might lead him to quit the job. Therefore, before you end up in a profession where you need to sell products check how good you are in convincing people. If you are really good at it then perhaps you should pursue it or else simply do not take it up.

When it is about picking salesman to sell heavy equipment, the heavy equipment companies prefer to have the best men with them. They understand the level of stress a salesman will have to go through while selling expensive items. This is reason they want to employ salesman who has experience in selling heavy equipment and also enjoys his work. It is quite natural that a person who enjoys doing what he does will excel in his career. No matter how difficult the work is, as long as he is content with what he is doing there is nothing that can work as a barrier for him.

Selling heavy equipment is an art:-

We all know that selling products is an art and so is selling heavy equipment. As everything has an extent, it is believed that selling heavy equipment falls in the upper category when it is related to the art of selling. The reason is that it is an expensive product and people specific to an industry will want to buy it. This means that the salesman can’t sell his product to everybody. He has a specific market where he can move around and he will also find many other salesmen within that limited market who are also selling similar products like him. This is why if he is really excellent in the art of selling, then he may find his place in selling heavy equipment.

Know your products well:-

In order to become one of the best salesmen in the heavy equipment industry, it is crucial that you should know your products well. Do as much research as you can on the machine that you are selling. Knowing heavy equipment is not an easy thing. It requires tremendous effort on the part of the people who are involved with the machine. Right from an operator to the guy who gives signal to the salesman who sells the machine, they all need to know as much as they can. If you know your product well then perhaps you will not find much obstacle in your journey to become an accomplished heavy equipment salesman.