You have decided on the machine for the job. Now you need to jump into the smaller details of the accessories for that machine. One of the most important accessories in any earthmoving job is the type of bucket to attach. The right machine with the wrong bucket is as bad as the wrong machine with the wrong bucket. In selecting the bucket you need to consider two things - what is the best bucket and is that bucket available? In order to make the most informed decision possible, you need to understand the range of buckets available to you.
A digger bucket is a part that is attached to the dipper arm of an excavator either directly or through a quick coupler which is used if buckets need to be changed quickly between applications. The bucket is designed to either break through the earth through its teeth or scrape through a solid surface. The bucket is controlled by the operator through the bucket cylinder that moves the dog bones attached to the dipper arm (or stick) and the H-bar which is connected directly to the bucket. The other point of contact of the bucket with the machine is directly onto the stick. It is due to these two points of contact that the bucket is able to swivel up and down. These changing angles coupled with the movement of the stick make the bucket a powerful point of contact with the earth.
A note on quick couplers: Quick couplers are devices installed at the outer end of the work equipment of various types of construction and earth-moving machines. They facilitate the rapid exchange of working tools or buckets. They allow the rapid change of buckets and attachments on the machine. They remove the need to use hammers to manually drive out and insert the mounting pins for attachments. They also bring with them additional safety risks that must be overcome by careful design and manufacture, and proper use. The last thing an operator wants is to attach the bucket incorrectly to the quick coupler and have it flying off in mid-operation.
How to choose the correct bucket for you?
When it comes to selecting a bucket, you need to consider two things - firstly the application and secondly the material you will be working with. The density of the ground you are working with is of paramount importance. The harder and more compact the ground, the smaller your puncture point will need to be to penetrate the surface. Your bucket will need to be fitted with teeth. If the soil is less dense, you can dispense with the teeth and use a bucket with a wide and flat mouth.
Let's now look at the buckets that are available. The first is a digging bucket that comes standard with most excavators. They are equipped with blunt short teeth that can be used to penetrate the ground when lowered into the ground. These multi-purpose attachments are ideal if you are working with:
Dirt
Clay
Sand
Topsoil
Gravel or lose stone
Trenching buckets are designed specifically for trench digging. They work extremely well for navigating small space areas for things such as piping, ducting, and drain digging. The bucket's design is narrow and fitted with a sharp flat blade to penetrate through dense, compact ground materials. Operators can be very precise in their excavation with this style of the bucket. Trenching buckets are available on all excavators in a range of different sizes to suit.
Grading buckets are a popular choice for the more delicate of works with an excavator. Their design offers smooth and wide cutting edges that work best with all soft materials and soils. Grading buckets are a very popular choice when it comes to loading and unloading materials, grading, leveling, and backfilling holes. These digger buckets are favoured by landscapers, road constructors, and construction sites during the export and import of materials and utility work.
Heavy-duty digger buckets are designed for exactly what you would expect. Constructed from high-strength, abrasive-resistant steel, these buckets are used in the toughest of conditions. Commonly found in quarries, these buckets allow operators to extract the densest of materials without being damaged. Some examples of the type of rock you would expect to use a heavy-duty bucket on would be:
Blasted rock
Compact clay
Basalt
Granite
How is a digger bucket operated on a machine?
The attached buckets are operated from the cabin of the digger/excavator. By using the right-hand side joystick, users can pull left towards them to cradle the bucket and right to extend. When you curl the bucket into the ground, the machine will gather the earth below up until it reaches full capacity. After extraction, you can extend the bucket arm when you have navigated the debris to its required location. This is done by pushing and holding the right joystick right until the bucket completely extends.
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