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Choose the Best Earth Drill For Your Project

Choose the Best Earth Drill For Your Project

Dec 1, 2022

Optimize Your Earth Drill with Little Beaver

There are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing an earth drill. While some features may seem like mere details, the effect on productivity can be significant depending on soil types and applications. At Little Beaver, we offer a variety of customizable earth drill features to maximize drilling performance for each application.

Below, we explain some of our most common drill considerations.

Mechanical vs. Hydraulic

mechanical drill engineThe first step in purchasing an earth drill is deciding between mechanical or hydraulic power. Your drill’s power source influences drilling strength, depth, attachment options and more. Knowing which projects you plan to tackle allows you to choose the drill that works with the accessories and kits you’ll need.

The mechanical earth drill offers high-speed auger rotation to dig holes quickly and cleanly. These models have engines ranging from 5.5 horsepower to 8 horsepower, providing ample power for nearly any project. The mechanical earth drills have a standard gear ratio of 10:1 with the option to purchase a 20:1 or 13:1 gear ratio for applications that require more power at a lower speed. The compact size of our mechanical earth drill makes it great for residential fencing, sign installation, landscaping and other limited access construction projects. With optional wet and dry horizontal boring kits, the mechanical drill allows you to take on even more projects such as boring under sidewalks or driveways.

The hydraulic earth drill offers rugged durability for challenging soils and applications. With engines ranging from 10.7 horsepower to 21.5 horsepower, Little Beaver hydraulic models offer ample power for drilling through heavy clay or rocky soils. We recommend the hydraulic earth drill for industrial fencing, foundation pier holes and groundwater monitoring. The hydraulic drill features an optional anchoring kit to install mobile home and utility anchors quickly and efficiently.

Maneuverability

Our mechanical and hydraulic earth drills come with two different engine carriage options so you can choose the best way to move your drill through the jobsite. The standard option is the rolling wheel carriage that features semi-pneumatic or pneumatic tires with the optional addition of a roll cage.

For additional maneuverability, you can upgrade to a specially designed rick-sha carrier that features 20-inch semi-pneumatic wheels for navigating over rough terrain. A convenient pull handle and transmission cradle make it easy to smoothly move the earth drill to your exact drilling location.

Drilling Handle

One-man handle earth drillBoth the mechanical and hydraulic earth drills feature our innovative torque tube. This tube redirects the torque away from the drill by transferring kickback from the auger to the power source. Most drills without torque protection require two operators. However, because our earth drills come with the torque tube, the standard handle on our drills is the one-man handle.

Our hydraulic drills offer additional handle options: a two-man handle for drilling holes that are larger in diameter or extra deep, and the high-torque anchor handle for anchoring mobile homes or light utility work.

Work with a Pro

There are many factors to keep in mind when choosing your earth drill and the features that best fit your application. The good news is that Little Beaver staff is here to help. We have more than 60 years of experience in the earth drill manufacturing business, and we are qualified to help you choose the best drilling equipment for your project. Call us today to get started.

Landscaping with Little Beaver

Landscaping with Little Beaver

Jul 13, 2022

How Earth Drills and Mini-Trenchers Can Streamline Yard Projects

Landscaping keeps your lawn protected, healthy and looking great. Whether you’re doing a full landscaping project or just adding a sprinkler system, Little Beaver haMechanical Earth Drill horizontal borings tools that can help speed up your work. Keep reading to learn how our Mechanical earth drills and Kwik-Trench mini-trenchers can help your next project go quickly and smoothly.

Mechanical Earth Drills

Mechanical earth drills cut down on the time you spend digging holes. If you’ll be planting trees or shrubs, or installing mailboxes or fence posts, you’ll find that using an earth drill significantly speeds up the process while creating consistent holes that meet the size requirements of your project.

Little Beaver Mechanical earth drills combine a compact, lightweight design with additional safety features to allow safe and efficient one-man operation. Our torque tube reroutes kickback from the drill away from the operator, making it one of the safest drills for single person operation. One-man drilling projects can be dangerous, but Little Beaver earth drills help ensure your project is done efficiently and safely.

Kwik-Trench Mini-Trencher

Traditionally, landscapers have used shovels and other gardening tools to break up soil to dig trenches for edging or underground wiring or sprinkler lines. This process is time-consuming and physically grueling. That’s why Little Beaver offers a mini-trencher.

The Kwik-Trench features a simple, push-forward design for easy operation and enhanced operator safety compared to competitive pull-back models. This mini-trencher cuts trenches up to 12 inches deep and 4 inches wide, neatly depositing the soil on one side of the trench to make backfill quick and easy.

Kwik-Trench mini-trencher

Horizontal Boring Kit

When installing underground wiring or sprinklers, you might need to run a portion of the line underneath a driveway or sidewalk. To do so, you’ll need a reliable, safe equipment option to easily bore underneath the concrete or asphalt. Little Beaver’s horizontal boring kits attach to our Mechanical earth drill providing both dry and wet boring opportunities.

The sidewalk boring kit includes a 5-foot auger with a 3-inch diameter bit, a horizontal drill key and a 5-foot extension with a universal wiggle joint. Once connected to a drill, the horizontal boring kit can bore underneath a standard sidewalk. If you need to bore a longer distance, we also offer the driveway boring kit. The driveway boring kit includes a 2-, 3-, or 4-inch water drill bit with a swivel adapter that connects through swivel assembly and a horizontal drill key. This kit can bore up to 50 feet under driveways or parking lots.

No matter what landscaping project you have planned Little Beaver can help. Let us help you choose the best Little Beaver product for your landscaping project. Contact us today!

Horizontal Applications That Are Anything But Boring

Horizontal Applications That Are Anything But Boring

Jun 3, 2019

Earth drill horizontal boring kits

Expand Your Mechanical Earth Drill Capabilities

Versatility – for construction companies and DIYers looking to do more with less, versatility is the key to success. Rather than a specialized machine for every job, a basic Mechanical Earth Drill with a range of simple accessories maximizes project potential from fencing to soil sampling and plenty of jobs in between. The same Mechanical Earth Drill you rely on for quick, clean vertical holes with minimum manpower can also help you tackle horizontal applications with the right attachment kit.

Horizontal boring enables operators to bypass surface obstacles like driveways, sidewalks and roads by simply going underground. For contractors and DIYers looking for an easy way to install landscape lighting, irrigation or other shallow utility lines, it is a popular option because it requires less time and labor than traditional methods of pounding rods under these obstructions. With a simple attachment you can bore up to 50 feet, eliminating barriers and opening up your possibilities.

To maximize versatility, Little Beaver offers two choices for horizontal boring kits. Selecting the right kit depends on your project.

Sidewalk Auger Kit

Horizontal boring sidewalk auger kit

The Sidewalk Auger Kit uses a 3″ diameter auger and wiggle joint extension to quickly bore under sidewalks up to 5′ long.

As the name implies, the Sidewalk Auger Kit enables boring short distances – like under sidewalks, paths or residential drainage ditches. It includes a 3-inch by 5-foot auger.

The 3-inch diameter hole is large enough for most low-voltage electrical, plumbing and water lines, making this idea for landscaping, utility and plumbing projects that only need to bore short distances. With the Sidewalk Auger Kit, contractors and homeowners can easily bore under narrow obstacles to install landscape lighting wire, water softener lines, sprinkler systems and gas lines.

Driveway Auger Kit

Horizontal boring driveway kit

The Driveway Auger Kit is used for horizontal boring under driveways or parking lots up to a distance of 50′.

If you need to cross a road – or a driveway or parking lot – on the other hand, you will need the Driveway Kit. This kit uses a water drill technique to bore up to 50 feet.

It comes with the option of a 2-, 3- or 4-inch water drill bit. As with the Sidewalk Kit, the 3-inch bit creates a large enough hole for the majority of landscaping needs. However, when boring more than 10 or 15 feet, we recommend starting with a 2-inch hole for better control. Follow that up with the 3- or 4-inch bit if you need a larger diameter hole for your project.

For operation, the Driveway Kit requires a garden hose, ¾-inch Schedule 80 water pipe for the length of your bore plus 15 feet and necessary couplings. These are not included with the kit. Unlike the Sidewalk Auger, the Driveway Kit uses water to drill and maintain the bore hole. Low water pressure flushes the dirt and lubricates the hole to avoid collapse. Rental companies often rent the required water pipe with the Mechanical Drill and Driveway Kit, so be sure to inquire at your center before purchasing.

To find out how to maximize your versatility with horizontal boring, contact a Little Beaver expert.

For the Best Curb Appeal Upgrades, Get the Right Tools

For the Best Curb Appeal Upgrades, Get the Right Tools

Sep 24, 2018

Home with beautiful front yardBy Ryan Tollefsen Realtor,
Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group

When homeowners make a plan for a curb appeal upgrade, there is often a lot of discussion about what is necessary and which ideas are practical. Having the proper tools for any home improvement project is crucial for its success. Since curb appeal is so important for home value, homeowners want to be sure they can do it right the first time. Here are a few tips (and tools) that ensure greater accuracy and make the whole project easier.

Why Every Home Needs Curb Appeal

Although some homeowners do not think about curb appeal until they want to sell a home, many choose to maintain or improve their exterior systematically over time.

The view of the home in relation to other homes in the neighborhood is what makes up what is called, “curb appeal.” Why does one home look better than others on the block? Curb appeal is a vital part of the home’s overall value. Even if homeowners have just moved in and do not plan to sell for many years, preserving home value should always be on their minds. They may need it if they want to refinance their mortgages, get a home equity loan for other improvements, or sell the home unexpectedly.

Here are two high-impact improvements to consider when looking to boost a home’s curb appeal:

Highlighting With Landscape & Outdoor Recreational Lighting

There are many things that homeowners can do for their properties to accentuate the wonderful aspects that are already there. Lighting is a good example. Landscape lighting is an excellent way to make the perfect look for the property at night. Lighting can also be used for outdoor recreational lighting to entertain guests or simply enjoy a change of scenery at night.

Kwik-Trench mini-trencher

Little Beaver’s Kwik-Trench mini-trencher saves homeowners time when it comes to digging electrical lines for installing lighting.

Of course, installing lighting outside often involves digging the electrical lines for the lighting. Doing this by hand, homeowners could spend hours putting strain on their backs digging down 6 to 12 inches so that they can install their sidewalk lighting. Alternatively, they could use a Little Beaver Kwik-Trench mini-trencher to save their backs and a great deal of time. The Kwik-Trench allows homeowners to:

  • set the perfect depth for the trench
  • move at a rapid pace
  • reach spots that a larger trencher cannot access

Installing landscape lighting should not have to be a task that takes days or weeks. With this tool, the job will be done much more quickly.

Building the Ideal Perimeter Fence

Curb appeal concerns more than just the home and garden. That is why homeowners often look for ways to create attractive fencing or barriers surrounding the edges of the property. When homeowners need to install trees, vegetation or fences, they usually need to drill or dig using an auger. The best augers make it simple for people to dig a hole through any type of soil, of any width and a variety of depths. Snap-on augers offer exactly what homeowners need, with a design that is practical for almost anyone to use.

Planning Into the Future

Homeowners may be surprised with just how many projects they can accomplish with the right tools. Homeowners who used a trencher to install lighting might decide to call on it again to build a new garden, or change up their landscaping design. An auger with removable blades is a useful implement to keep on hand for landscape maintenance and other digging projects.

Building curb appeal for a home is less a single task than it is a state of mind. Taking advantage of tools that simplify the work allows people to ensure their homes look great every year without wasting time or effort. When homeowners use the right tools it creates the opportunity to do much more, both inside and outside the home.

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The Mini Uses of the Kwik-Trench

The Mini Uses of the Kwik-Trench

Apr 24, 2018

Kwik-Trecn mini trencher irrigation line install

Versatility is Key

These days, everyone talks about versatility. With business owners and homeowners alike striving to bring down expenses and maximize productivity, manufacturers are pressed more than ever to back up their claims of fast ROI. This often steers the conversation toward versatility. The greater the number of applications a product can handle, the more “worth it” its purchase or rental becomes.

In the case of Little Beaver’s Kwik-Trench Mini Trencher, versatility happens to be its best subject. Contractors, do-it-yourselfers, and even golf course superintendents find multiple solutions in their respective industries from a single, easy-to-operate machine.

Different strokes

save time with Kwik-Trench Mini Trencher's bolt-on tooth systemOne reason the Kwik-Trench appeals to so many applications is its common-sense cutter wheel design. Where other trenchers require teeth to be welded directly to the cutter wheel, the Kwik-Trench has a time-saving bolt-on tooth system. This design not only speeds up maintenance, it also allows the operator to quickly change out teeth to match the application.

Width and depth options add to the Kwik-Trench’s versatility. With 1- to 4-inch width settings and adjustable depths up to 12 inches depending on the model, operators can cater trench dimensions to the job at hand. This improves efficiency by reducing the inevitable manual labor that comes with trying to work with wrong-size trenches.

The Kwik-Trench is offered in two models, the KT 200B and KT 2400B, each with strengths in different applications, giving operators the option to choose the machine that is best for the work they plan to do. The 200B is lighter and digs a shallower trench, making it perfect for jobs in inaccessible areas that demand more maneuverability. The 2400B is still lightweight and highly maneuverable, but boasts more power and can dig a deeper trench, making it suitable for jobs that require a little more brawn.

Different folks

trencher installing silt fenceA practical cutter wheel design for quick tooth changes, useful width and depth settings, and model options for unique application requirements make the Kwik-Trench an attractive solution for a wide range of people in varying industries.

Landscaping contractors use the Kwik-Trench for professional edging, installing silt fences, and burying wires for landscape lighting. Professional contractors can also take advantage of the Kwik-Trench’s fast cutting speeds to quickly bury propane, plumbing and drainage lines, as well as low-voltage wiring for satellite dishes, cable, or phone lines.

Homeowners, on the other hand, find the Kwik-Trench a user-friendly solution for the projects that often come with home ownership, such as installing sprinkler systems or burying electric dog fences. And golf course superintendents and grounds professionals can rely on the Kwik-Trench’s carbide tipped, hardened steel teeth to manage problem tree roots and dig clean trenches to perform maintenance on irrigation systems.

Thanks to its common-sense design, convenient model options, and wide application appeal, the Kwik-Trench proves a versatile addition to any landscaper’s toolbox, and a cost-effective trenching solution for the do-it-yourselfer.

For more ways to reach your ROI potential, contact a Little Beaver expert.

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