# Operating a Hirepool Mini Digger - **Type:** Tradie Guide ## Operating A Hirepool Mini Digger A mini digger, otherwise known as a mini excavator, can be a super useful tool for small landscaping jobs with tricky access points. Learning how to operate a [mini excavator](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/earthmoving/mini-excavators-diggers.md) is incredibly important for your safety and the safety of others. In saying that, once you learn have taken all the necessary safety precautions, crafted a solid plan of attack and learnt the basics - operating a mini digger is rather straightforward. At Hirepool, we have a wide selection of diggers for hire near you. Simply head to your [local Hirepool branch](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/branches.md) to suss out your mini excavator hire. ### In This Blog, We are going to Break Down the Following: [What a mini digger is used for](#what-a-mini-digger-is-used-for) [Why you need to know how to use a mini digger properly](#why-you-need-to-know-how-to-use-a-mini-digger-properly) [How to choose the right excavator for your job](#how-to-choose-the-right-excavator-for-your-job) [Safety disclaimer](#safety-disclaimer) [Safety gear for using a mini digger](#safety-gear-for-using-a-mini-digger) [Dial Before You Dig service explained](#dial-before-you-dig-service-explained) [How to operate a kamatsu 1.8 tonne mini excavator](#how-to-operate-a-komatsu-18-tonne-mini-excavator) [The range of mini diggers available at Hirepool](#the-range-of-mini-diggers-available-at-hirepool) ### What a mini digger is used for As the name suggests, a mini digger is primarily used for digging. However, these diggers can also be used with various attachments for different tasks, such as post-hole boring or concrete breaking. Due to its small size, this mini digger can be used for a variety of jobs where access is difficult. Some popular uses include: - Placing and removing trees - Tearing down small structures (e.g. sheds or decks) - Removing debris - Assisting with the installation of spas/pools - Repairing sewer lines - Creating small trenches - Raking, mowing grass and removing brush - Mulching - Compacting These are only a few of the [jobs that you can do smarter with a hire digger.](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/articles/blog/10-jobs-you-can-do-smarter-with-a-hire-digger.md) If you are unsure which mini digger or excavator is right for your project, make sure to talk to your [local Hirepool branch](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/branches.md). ### Why you need to know how to use a mini digger properly As with all heavy machinery, using a mini digger comes with its fair share of risks. By knowing how to use a mini digger properly, you can make your work more precise, reduce over-correction and, most importantly, improve your safety. Make sure to educate yourself on how to [operate construction machinery safely](https://www.nzta.govt.nz/commercial-driving/forklifts-construction-machines-and-cranes/construction-machines/) before jumping in the driver's seat and putting yourself and others at risk. Some of the potential risks of using a mini excavator incorrectly include rollovers, cave-ins, electrocution from contacting power lines, collisions with other machinery and striking people on the ground. Thankfully, these problems can be avoided. It pays to thoroughly read the operator manual and talk to the staff at Hirepool. Upon request, the Hirepool team can give you a tutorial on how to use a mini excavator correctly. ### How to choose the right excavator for your job When choosing an excavator, you’ll need to take your project requirements into account. Here are some of the key factors to look out for when choosing the best excavator to hire: - Reach: The reach refers to how far the excavator arm can reach from the excavator cab. If you are on a job site where accessibility is limited, a longer reach may be a must-have. - **Dump height:** Consider where you will need to dump the excavated material. If you are needing to dump it onto a truck, you might require a greater dump height. - **Dig depth:** How far are you planning to dig? Make sure the excavator you are looking at is capable of reaching these depths, and find out whether any attachments are required. All the above information is available under the specifications tab when you are browsing mini excavators online. If you are unsure which excavator is right for your project, it pays to speak to the team at your local Hirepool branch or read our blog called “[What Excavator Do You Need For Your Job](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/trade/what-excavator-do-you-need-for-your-job.md)” for extra guidance. ### Safety disclaimer We at Hirepool are not the experts in excavator usage and regulations. However, we always make sure to follow the safety regulations provided to us by the manufacturer's specific manuals. Before you begin using an excavator, we recommend you have a read of the ‘instructions for use’ sheet. This can be located with your contract or found digitally via scanning the QR code on your machine. For more information about staying safe while using this piece of machinery, read our [advanced gear guide on excavators](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/trade/the-advanced-gear-guide-excavators.md). ### Safety gear for using a mini digger One of our [top tips for excavator safety on the job site](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/trade/top-tips-for-excavator-safety-on-the-job-site.md) is to make sure you have all the correct [safety gear](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/safety/safety-gear.md). At Hirepool, we have all of the necessary gear available to hire so you can [stay safe on the building or construction site](https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/building-and-construction/). This safety gear includes: - Covered clothing - Steel capped boots - Gloves - Hearing protection e.g. earmuffs - [Head protection](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/safety/safety-gear/692f-head-protection.md?addToCart) e.g. hard hat - Eye protection e.g. safety glasses - Hi-Vis ### Dial Before You Dig Service Explained A few days before you begin your digging project, make sure to dial [beforeUdig](https://www.beforeudig.co.nz/nz/home/) on 0800 248 344. This number is free to call and will provide you with information on the location of cables, pipes and other utility assets in and around any proposed dig site. Whether you are a homeowner or a contractor, [beforeUdig](https://www.beforeudig.co.nz/nz/home/) can offer you a safe starting point for your project. Not only will this help to protect yourself, but it also protects any valuable assets around you. There are many benefits to using this service, including: - Preventing injuries to yourself or others - Requesting plans for a dig site is made easy - Protects valuable utility assets from any damage that could be prevented - Protects the community from infrastructure failures Whether you are a homeowner building a new fence, installing a swimming pool or installing a carport - [beforeUdig](https://www.beforeudig.co.nz/nz/home/) can help. It is also extremely useful for contractors who are building a new fibre optic network, restoring roads or responding to emergency works. ### How to operate a Komatsu 1.8 tonne mini excavator The Komatsu 1.8 tonne mini excavator is perfect for small to medium projects like landscaping or digging trenches for cables and pipes. #### 1. Take the necessary safety precautions When hopping into your mini excavator, make sure you have three points of contact. Place one hand on the safety rail to your left upon entering, and one hand on the safety rail to your right upon entering. The final point of contact is your foot as you step up onto the excavator platform. The same applies when exiting the excavator. Once seated, adjust the seat to your comfort and then buckle the seatbelt. If your excavator is fitted with a door, close it now. #### 2. Start up the excavator Switch on the machine and let it warm up for a few minutes. After it’s warmed up, increase the revs to full using the throttle control and push down the lock lever. #### 3. Become familiar with the excavator's controls Before you dive straight into your project, it is a good idea to test out the controls first to make sure you have a handle on them. Test in a large flat area and try out all the controls and learn how the excavator responds. - The righthand joystick: The righthand joystick controls the main boom up and down by moving it forward and backward. The bucket curls in and out by moving the joystick left and right sideways. - **The left-hand joystick:** The left-hand joystick controls your stick arm by moving it forwards and backwards. You can also rotate the cab 360 degrees by moving the joystick sideways. Rotating the cab is also known as slewing. - **The left-hand travel stick:** Pushing the left travel stick forward starts the left track moving, turning the machine to the right. - **The right travel stick:** Pushing the right travel stick forward turns the machine to the left - **Both travel sticks:** Pushing both travel sticks together simultaneously moves the excavator forward - **Foot pedals:** These pedals can be accessed by flipping up the tabs (depending on the model). One pedal controls the rotation of the boom, and the other controls the rotation of the attachment. Remember, while operating your excavator, if your cab is facing the opposite side of the excavator blade, your travel controls will work in the opposite direction. So take care to pay attention to your excavator's direction and environment before moving forward or backward. Once you are confident with these basic movements, you can start to use your excavator for the project at hand. #### 4. Become familiar with driving an excavator Once you are familiar with the controls, you should become familiar with the two-speed functions called turtle speed and rabbit speed. Use the lever to your right to navigate between the speeds. You’ll find small turtle and rabbit icons that make it simple to understand. - Turtle speed: Best for loading and unloading or when the task requires slow movements while having full hydraulic power * Rabbit speed: Best for moving from place to place. #### 5. Understand track mode and blade mode The lever located to your right beside the joystick operates the excavator blade, which can be used for levelling a surface. It can also be lowered to give you more stability when digging. On the Komatsu, you have a switch on your left to change between track mode and blade mode. Firstly, in blade mode, swing the excavator arm 180 degrees, then lower the arm and the blade to raise the machine and its tracks off the ground. Switch to track mode and use the blade control on the right-hand side to widen or narrow the tracks. Lastly, switch back to blade mode to lower the excavator. For other models of excavators, make sure to refer to the manual. Once you are confident with these basic movements, you can start to use your excavator for the project at hand. ### The range of mini diggers available at Hirepool At Hirepool, we have a wide range of mini diggers available for hire. These include: - [Excavator Towable Standard Tailswing 0.9 to 1.4 Tonne](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/earthmoving/mini-excavators-diggers/330z-excavator-towable-standard-tailswing-0-9-to-1-4-tonne.md?addToCart) - [Excavator Towable Limited Tail Swing 1.5 to 1.7 Tonne](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/earthmoving/mini-excavators-diggers/331a-excavator-towable-limited-tail-swing-1-5-to-1-7-tonne.md?addToCart) - [Excavator Towable Standard Tail Swing 1.5 to 1.7 Tonne](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/earthmoving/mini-excavators-diggers/331h-excavator-towable-standard-tail-swing-1-5-to-1-7-tonne.md?addToCart) - [Excavator Towable Standard Tail Swing 1.8 Tonne](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/earthmoving/mini-excavators-diggers/331b-excavator-towable-standard-tail-swing-1-8-tonne.md?addToCart) - [Excavator Towable Standard Tail Swing Battery Powered](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/earthmoving/mini-excavators-diggers/331l-excavator-towable-standard-tail-swing-battery-powered.md?addToCart) If you are unsure which excavator is best for you, make sure to get in touch with us. Our Hirepool team are more than happy to help. ### Use a mini-excavator the smart way with Hirepool A [mini-excavator](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/earthmoving/mini-excavators-diggers.md) is an extremely useful tool for small jobs with difficult access points. Despite their small size, mini excavators are still very powerful. As a result, you must know how to use this digger safely. With the correct safety gear and a solid understanding of how to handle an excavator, operating an excavator is rather simple. Before you begin, you should always make sure that you are aware of your surroundings before digging. Get information and pipes, cables and other utility assets in your area by contacting [beforeUdig](https://www.beforeudig.co.nz/nz/home/). Now that you have a solid grasp of how to safely operate a mini digger, it is time to hire one. [Hire all the equipment you need](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products.md) from Hirepool to get the job done well. If you have any questions, feel free to [reach out to the team](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/contact.md) at Hirepool for advice. Source: https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/trade/operating-a-hirepool-mini-digger