Trenchers

The most obvious use of trenchers is to create a trench, of course. But, this kind of machinery also has many other uses and here at Utah Excavation, we make the most out of it for different construction projects.

What are Trenchers?

A trencher is a piece of equipment for earthmoving that uses a teethed metal chain made of high strength steel for ripping into the ground just like the way chainsaws do into trees.

Just like excavators, trenchers rip the soil up as well as the roots that are in the way to form a trench. Manually digging trenches could take several workers and hours to complete. Thanks to this equipment, it is possible to cut down the number of people and amount of time required for finishing the project.

Trenchers and Their Different Types

Ride-on trenchers or walk-behind trenchers are the two types you can choose from. Portable trenchers or walk-behind trenchers make it easier to dig trenches even in more narrow spaces. A ride-on trencher can give higher performance and even cover more digging depths unlike their walk-behind counterparts.

Chain trenchers and wheel trenchers are the two types that you can find today:

Chain trenchers are trenchers designed like chainsaws. This trencher makes use of a digging chain or belt for cutting the ground. The belt wraps around the metal frame or boom and can be adjusted for controlling the cut’s depth. The bucket-type excavator helps in cutting hard ground. Their flexibility allows chain trenchers to cut deep and narrow trenches for the utility companies.

On the other hand, wheel trenchers feature toothed metal wheel that can be used for soft or hard soils. A wheel trencher works best in places with numerous rock formations. These trenchers that are also known as rockwheels can cut pavement and form access beneath the roads for the utility companies.

These feature 6 to 8 cutting elements in the wheel and the design lets the wheel cut at different depths. Ejectors and spacers move away excavated materials from the edges of the trench.

Common Uses of Trenchers

Forming drainage

Use chain trenchers to form drainage trenches for sewage or water runoff to save time and money required for digging several feet of soil.

Cutting pavement

Wheel trenchers can be used for cutting through concrete, pavement or rock. These can be operated on difficult ground conditions and create straight and clean trenches.

Digging for the electrical wires

Chain trenchers can come in handy for digging underground for telecommunication or electrical wires from power poles to households.

Shoveling

For homeowners who want to save themselves from long hours of tiresome shoveling that can result to blistered hands, smaller walk-behind trenchers have the ability in reducing the time required to finish the project.

Snipping roots

Aside from cutting concrete and forming rows in the soil, a portable trencher features a blade that can act as a rotary mower blade that can sever roots. When working the soil and roots are discovered, the chain blade of the trencher should be held place as the blade spins. Inch the blade forward little by little and allow the blade to snip the roots.