Mechanical vs. Hydraulic Earth Drills: How to Make the Best Choice

Mechanical vs. Hydraulic Earth Drills: How to Make the Best Choice

Factors to Consider

Choosing between mechanical and hydraulic earth drilling equipment is as simple as evaluating the type of work that needs to be done and the environmental conditions that will affect your drilling. Factors like soil type, hole size and auger speed requirements can help you decide whether a Mechanical Earth Drill or Hydraulic Earth Drill will be more effective for your next project.

Explore our infographic below for a quick guide on choosing the right drill for a job, then keep reading to dive into more detail.

Mechanical or hydraulic earth drill

Little Beaver’s Mechanical Earth Drill is your go-to for speed and efficiency. This one-man auger is lightweight, easy to maneuver and makes quick work of sandy soils. Our mechanical drills give you high-speed rotation to the tune of 360 rpm, which delivers clean holes fast. It’s the ideal post hole digger for fence posts, decks and other light-to-medium duty tasks where efficiency matters.

If the scope of your project calls for more power, our Hydraulic Earth Drill is a top choice. It’s built for rocky, clay or frozen soils and can drill large-diameter holes. Hydraulic earth drills operate at a lower speed than mechanical drills but offer more torque for these heavy-duty projects. Despite its robust power, you can easily lift it out of holes using its reversible drive.

While both our mechanical and hydraulic drills are fitted with excellent features to get drilling jobs done, each offers specific benefits to your next project.

Contact our team to learn more about which of our one-man earth drills offers the most efficiency for your operation.

Little Beaver Celebrates Four Generations With The Addition Of Joseph Haynes

Little Beaver Celebrates Four Generations With The Addition Of Joseph Haynes

Joseph Haynes, Product Engineer

Joseph Haynes, Product Engineer

Haynes Joins Company as Product Engineer

Little Beaver welcomes Joseph Haynes as a product engineer at the company’s manufacturing facility in Livingston, Texas. A fourth-generation Little Beaver team member, Haynes brings a familiarity of the family business, and innovative knowledge of product design processes. “When my grandfather, Newman Haynes, started in the auger industry years ago, he wanted a family-run business that left customers feeling like they were dealing with family,” said Joe Haynes, Little Beaver president. “Joseph grew up around this business and understands our vision for building safe and dependable products, while going the extra mile to serve our customers. He brings a unique experience with 3-D modeling and CAD software, which will enhance our product development process.”

Haynes most recently spent 11 years as a product engineer at a WFI International, a pipe fitting manufacturer. In his previous role, Haynes designed and developed a variety of fittings for different industries including oil and gas, nuclear and fossil fuel power plants as well as the food processing industry. Haynes brings a wealth of manufacturing experience as well as a strong understanding of mechanical engineering and product development to his new role. “I’m looking forward to bringing a fresh perspective and different technological expertise to Little Beaver,” said Joseph Haynes, Little Beaver engineer. “I’m excited to leverage my experience and insight to continue my family’s tradition of providing customer-driven design.” Haynes holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University. Little Beaver began in 1947 and quickly became a top choice for hole digging equipment. Contractors in construction, landscape, fencing and many other industries favor the high-quality, versatile product line.

For the Best Curb Appeal Upgrades, Get the Right Tools

For the Best Curb Appeal Upgrades, Get the Right Tools

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.

Related Articles

One Man Earth Drill Operation

One Man Earth Drill Operation

Little Beaver Earth Drills are designed to be safely operated by just one person. What does that mean for your business? More efficient labor utilization. Faster job completion. Fewer injuries. More profit on every job.

Check out the infographic below to learn how Little Beaver Earth Drills can double your productivity and maximize jobsite safety.

Little Beaver One Earth Drill Infographic