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Spend More Time Drilling, Less on Repairs

Spend More Time Drilling, Less on Repairs

Oct 14, 2015

How Our Auger Blades and Points Slash Maintenance Costs and Reduce Downtime

Heavy-Duty Auger Points and Blades

High-maintenance machines can be a real headache when you want to maximize uptime. That’s why it’s important to have the right equipment well-suited for whatever task and sediment you’re working with. Matching the ideal point and blade to the specific soil type minimizes premature wear, maintenance costs and labor. Unlike manufacturers that only make one auger blade, Little Beaver produces a variety of augers, points and blades. The components are designed for optimizing your ability to cut through a variety of soil profiles.

Our replaceable blades and points mount on our regular and heavy-duty snap-on augers with ease. They protect the earth augers from wear while drilling in material that ranges from loamy soil to compacted rock. Since drilling a bunch of holes in the ground can be time consuming, here are a few ways we make it easier.

Little Beaver manufactures a variety of augers, points, and blades designed to optimize their ability to cut through specific soil profiles.

Little Beaver manufactures a variety of augers, points, and blades designed to optimize their ability to cut through specific soil profiles.

Ease of Use, Low Maintenance

“We want to keep our customers drilling without interruption,” said Little Beaver President Joe Haynes. “We designed our blades and points for simple replacement on our signature snap-on augers so operators can focus on digging and quickly change out parts when they become dull or worn.”

The standard blades and points come with every Little Beaver snap-on auger. They fasten to the auger with two steel bolts, which operators can easily remove with a crescent wrench. Made with abrasive-resistant steel and hard surfacing on their edges, these components are ideally suited for loamy soils with few rocks.

Equipped with Little Beaver blades and points, an auger can drill more than 100 holes in prime soil conditions before you need to service it. Our parts are easy to use and require low levels of maintenance — benefits that remain unmatched across the industry.

Rugged and Versatile

Smaller-diameter augers — 1-1/2-inch, 2-inch and 3-inch — use standard points that simply screw or pin on. For dense soils, we offer Little Beaver exclusive carbide blades that fasten to the bottom of snap-on augers. They cut hard clay and frozen ground into smaller pieces.

“Many operators keep both the standard and carbide blades on hand if they will be transitioning between multiple jobsites. It’s quick and easy to make the swap,” Haynes said. “Having both sets enables digging in a diversity of soil conditions. It also prolongs the lifespan of blades and augers.”

To take on the most challenging soil formations, Little Beaver’s lineup of heavy-duty snap-on augers use specially engineered, heavy-duty steel and carbide blades and tips for abrasive soils and compacted rock. They lock into larger-diameter augers with rubber locks, forming a tight wedge fit to cut through tough sediment without coming loose.

Let’s Make It Happen

Little Beaver’s commitment to innovation and versatility for customers makes its augers, blades and points a reliable choice for professionals in the field, enhancing drilling efficiency while reducing overall operational costs. We would love to collaborate on maximizing the value of your earth drilling operation. To learn more, give us a call at 936-327-3121 or fill out our online contact form and a member of our team will be in touch with you soon.

Little Beaver Earth Drills Points and Blades Information
Your Key to the Perfect Deck

Your Key to the Perfect Deck

May 8, 2015

Footings support the deck’s weightWhat You Need to Know About Deck Footings

Nothing says summer like a backyard barbeque on your new deck. When built correctly, the deck can be a hot spot for many backyard escapes and a refuge for enjoying perfect summer evenings. But it all can come crashing down if the deck doesn’t have proper footings.

Footings support the deck’s weight at different points in the ground, creating a crucial support network that prevents problems, such as sagging and wood rot. Those problems not only make your deck unattractive, but unsafe as well. And to fix them as they surface taps your savings and generates unwanted stress. Without proper footings, the deck will sink into the ground, taking with it any future summer get-togethers.

Laying the Groundwork

When starting a new deck project, choosing the correct footings boils down to two things, loads and codes. The first step you should take is to determine the deck’s size, location and layout. After getting a general idea of what you want the deck to look like, think how will you use it. Will it be the next venue for the neighborhood block party? Or will it be for intimate gatherings of family and friends? Based on your answer, your deck will have different footing requirements because of the weight requirements.

Local building codes also determine the footing style and measurements. Building codes can vary state to state, so it’s crucial to contact local government experts. They can provide information regarding the minimum number of footings needed, spacing requirements and even how deep to dig. For instance, holes need to be dug below the frost line, which can range anywhere between 12-60 inches, depending on where the project is within the U.S.

The Digging Commences

After securing the necessary building permits from city hall and locating underground utility lines, it’s time to dig. When it comes to bringing heavy duty equipment through your yard, let’s face it. You’re not thrilled about skidsteers leaving ruts in your soft, green grass, and fences and narrow side yards limit what type of equipment can even reach the worksite — commonly forcing homeowners to seek out hand augers and mechanical drills.

Mechanical earth drills, which can be rented from a local rental business, can get to the site, not to mention save time when digging deck footings. These earth augers can cut through different soil types, dig clean, consistent holes and quickly set up the beginnings for the perfect deck. Earth drills are compact and offer multiple types of digging teeth depending on the types of soil you have.

Additionally, mechanical drills are more portable than heavy machinery. For instance, some drills feature pneumatic wheels so a single person can pull the drill and carriage to the footing location without forming lawn ruts or dismantling fences. Some manufacturers build models with torque tubes that transfer digging torque to the engine carriage, which allows one person to safely operate the drill. Once in place, the user can drill to the required depth and quickly move to the next footing location.

After the footings are placed and the concrete has set, you can continue building the frame for the deck that will be the hot spot next summer and for many more to come.

Little Beaver Tools for Accurate Soil Sampling

Little Beaver Tools for Accurate Soil Sampling

Jul 29, 2013

Big Beaver foundation soil sampling drill

Quick, Convenient and Cost-Effective Soil Sampling Equipment

Our mission as the leading manufacturer of torque-free, one-man drills is to provide equipment that’s cost-effective and convenient to use, such as our soil sampling tools that give you control over when and where you sample. We engineered these tools to prevent contamination and ensure the highest levels of accuracy. Read to learn more about what our drills offer your operation.

Balancing Strength and Maneuverability

Combining our Big Beaver Auger Drill Rig with the optional SSK-1 kit is ideal for standard penetration testing as it easily lifts the 140-pound safety hammer to drive the sampler into the soil. The SSK-1 kit includes an additional hydraulic valve, cathead and tower kit with stabilizer legs that extend out in front of the drill to keep it steady. It can be used with our AWJ drilling rod and 24-inch split spoon sampler, which allows you to obtain a core soil sample for geotechnical or environmental testing.

At 26 inches wide and 80 inches high, the Big Beaver is portable and is designed for use in confined spaces. But don’t be fooled by the name. The two-wheeled unit is still compact enough for one person to easily maneuver through gates, doorways and even basements. The Big Beaver has a swing-away drive head that allows easy access to the borehole when inserting the AWJ rod and split spoon sampler.

The Big Beaver’s hydraulic power is fueled with a 20-horsepower gasoline engine, and can be used with other hydraulic tools like concrete saws, breakers, tampers and chainsaws. It features our torque tube that enhances safety by directing dangerous kickback away from the operator when the auger hits tough soil, rocks and other obstructions. The design also enables an operator to maintain a safe distance from the power source.

Easy Extensions and Precise Positioning

We also offer standard sampling tools for environmental soil sampling. These samplers are available in 1.5-inch and 2-inch diameters, for use with our hydraulic earth drills. Our Hydraulic Earth Drills are available with 11- or 20-horsepower gasoline engines, as well as diesel options, which makes them ideal for drilling in rocky or heavy clay soils. They also feature a three-wheeled chassis for enhanced stability and maneuverability.

For drilling to shallow depths of 15-30 feet, we have a tripod kit for use with the 11-horsepower, PS11 Hydraulic Earth Drill. The kit is easy to set up and allows operators to add and remove auger extensions with little effort. It also stabilizes the drill during operation for precise positioning and controlled drilling — two essentials for getting the job done efficiently and without any blunders. Such depths may be relatively shallow, but 30 feet is deep enough that drilling at an improper angle can cause headaches. So, it’s hard to overstate the advantages of a tripod that firmly steadies the process.

Auger Options

For sandy or loose soils, we offer hollow-stem augers so the driller can collect samples without risking contamination from surrounding dirt. Offered in 6- and 8-inch diameters, the augers have a 2¾-inch or 3¾-inch internal diameter and work great for monitoring wells. The center rod and plug can be removed to create a clear path for inserting the soil sampler while keeping adjacent soil from falling into the testing area.

Continuing a Tradition of Excellence

We have proudly manufactured high-quality, safe and effective drilling equipment for three generations. With a complete line of easy-to-operate equipment, along with a full cast of versatile accessories, including augers, extensions, points and blades, we successfully serve your needs whether you’re a professional contractor or rental center. We also offer trailer-, truck-, and track-mounted soil sampling rigs through our Lone Star Drills brand. To learn more about our soil sampling tools, earth drills and other equipment, give us a call today at 936-327-3121 or fill out our online contact form and one of our team members will reach out to you.