Excavators are one of the most common types of machines on every jobsite. They’re primarily used for digging and loading dirt, aggregate, and other material, but you can do a lot more with them by using the right attachments. Equipped with the proper tools, your machine can handle key tasks on demolition, material handling, grading, compaction, and a wide variety of other projects. In this article, we cover how to choose the best excavator attachments for your typical jobs.
There is a wide range of options when it comes to excavator attachments. Here are some of the most popular types that will expand your machine’s capabilities:
A bucket is the most commonly used excavator attachment. Buckets give your machine the ability to dig, carry material, and perform grading, leveling, and backfilling work. There is a variety of types of excavator buckets to choose from, including digging, rock, grading, ditch cleaning, trenching, and others.
Multiprocessors are powerful jaws used to cut and break apart the toughest material on demolition projects.
These attachments allow you to grab and place scrap, wood, brush, piping, and more. Grapples convert your excavator into a material handler on jobs of all shapes and sizes.
Also called hammers, hydraulic breakers smash solid material like concrete, rock, and even steel into smaller sized chunks, helping you demolish structures and create more manageable pieces of debris.
With excavator shears, you can cut and shred structural steel, rebar, scrap metals, and other construction materials.
Thumb attachments provide operators with precise control when it comes to loading and moving debris, rock, and other loose material.
In addition to these commonly used excavator attachments, there is a range of other options available, including plate compactors, pulverizers, trenchers, and more.
Whether you’re operating hydraulic breakers, grapples, multiprocessors, or other excavator attachments, they are all powered by your equipment’s hydraulic circuit. Excavators are usually described as “high flow” or “standard flow”, but these labels can vary from one manufacturer to the next. Generally, high flow circuits exceed 26 gallons per minute of hydraulic flow, while standard flow circuits provide 22 gallons per minute. It’s important to make sure that the excavator attachment you use does not exceed your hydraulic capabilities.
After determining the type of excavator attachment you require for your job and making sure it’s within the hydraulic capabilities of your machine, next you have to check if it’s compatible with the mounting system. Most excavator attachments have a universal mount, but there may be variations depending on your particular make and model.
Prior to buying an excavator attachment, we recommend scheduling a demo. By having your operators test it out, you will see firsthand how easy they are to install, how simple they are to maneuver, and how well they handle the jobs and tasks you need them to complete.
There are many excavator attachments out there, so we suggest first talking with our equipment experts before purchasing one. We’ll have to know what your typical projects include and which make and model of excavator you are operating. Then, our team will help you determine which size and type of attachments will work best.
Talk with our team to find the best excavator attachments for your needs!
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