Mastering Mini Diggers: Your Garden's Ultimate Tool

For domestic use, there is no license required to use an excavator on your own property so hiring one is completely possible and common place. Watch as I show you some of the work I've carried out and how I use a mini digger and dumper around my garden.

The Amazon links above are affiliate links. It doesn't cost you anything to click on them but I do earn a small commission if you do. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[karma]

Must be one of the best DIY channels on YouTube. Not just informative but entertaining as well. And so professionally produced. Look forward to the next one.

[petermcfadden]

Love your dry sense of humour. All very educational.

[philcrockford]

I hired a Kubota micro digger (0.8 tonne) for a weekend to help clear and level a 100ft back garden. Apart from acting as a digger, leveller and compactor all in one, and doing the job in a day or so, it was the most fun I had all lockdown! 😁

[keziasarah]

Could have spilt the engine, G/Box off, Top head off to lighten the load to transport and got £50 scrap. More environmentally friendly than burying it. Great video enjoyed it.

[bobuk]

Hi Stuart, thanks for this, really useful to see. I had a patio cleared and relaid by a good local team and told them to hire in a digger and skip loader at my expense. They found it really useful - the old cast concrete slabs were 35 to 45 kgs a throw - we put one on my bathroom scales. One thing I would add though, if digging down make sure you know where any service pipes and electric cables are and stay well clear. Damaging any underground services would prove VERY expensive. Usually services are at least one spade handle's depth down but you can never be certain of that.

[buzeue]

Your very lucky to have a garden big enough to be able to use one

[andyk]

Great, you've come across my interests. I'll need a mini digger in the next 2-3 months. I was wondering if I would make it. Now I know there's no problem. Thanks !!

[TonyAFC]

Been 360 driver for 15yrs now and I enjoyed watching how fast you learned the basics and some great tips for people who’ve never driven a digger 👍

[Cspr]

Glad you included the hire prices, really useful to know what to expect to pay. The tracked barrow looks ideal for an upcoming project I have when combined with the digger and the skip 👍

[anthonyknight]

I used the exact same combination of digger and tracked dumper when excavating the footings for my house. As you say, you can learn to use a digger but an experienced operator will usually do a far quicker, more efficient job for you. If there is any complexity or risk to the work, personally I'd urge you to hire a driver with the digger.

The little dumpers are great, especially if you have limited access, but they do move slowly and that costs you time as you trek back and forth to the skip. In the end I hired a digger driver and replaced the tracked dumper with a one tonne wheeled one and everything sped up significantly. I got more in the dumper each time, got to and from the skip far sooner, and the digger driver didn't have to hang around between times waiting for my return for anything like as long.

All these things I learned, probably never to use again!

[garulusglandarius]

Once you’ve cleared your new land Stuart, maybe consider getting a couple of goats to keep it clear ( you’ve got plenty of room ). Assuming the areas not going to be a flower/vegetable garden, not only are goats good at clearing but their poo is excellent fertiliser and they’re great company . Just a thought 😁👍 Great video as always 👍

[rupertm]

Tip for you I learnt from an old pro, when you’ve got something heavy like that, track up to it with blade facing it and low. Bring the arm and push squeeze it up to the blade. Lift blade and arm together and you’ll lift it up. Then just track it to where want it.

[donf]

I can't believe you did that. I sure wouldn't want an engine buried in my yard.

[regiondeltas]

I've hired a 1.5t digger a few times now. First time I was a bit nervous, and it was a proper project too - digging out foundations for a DIY extension. Lots of people said to get a driver, or pay a pro, but int he end frankly, I wanted to have fun on a digger and whats' the point in doing DIY and then paying somebody for the fun stuff. Took my time, yes, I messed up a bit a times, but all in all it was a great experience. Then over the years I've hired them to move, all in all, probably 100 tons of material one way or another. Great bits of kit, and it's really not hard to operate so long as you take it easy. Also hired a telehandler once, that was awesome

[davidsteele]

I hired a 3T machine for the first time last year. It was a bit like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time... Really difficult but great fun. Proper boys toys!

[Mystique-Dreams]

I've enjoyed watching this video, now I have an idea of what it is involved to level my little garden...so thank you!

[timwrigley]

Perfect timing as I've got a hire arriving on Monday! At least I'll be able to understand what they are talking about when they deliver it. Interesting and informative as always.

[barney]

good way to clean up that mess .now have to get rid of it . the important thing to do with Backhoes and excavators is plan how its done and not end up with a big bog hole . the way the controls are is called ISO pattern .can be changed on most machines so the boom and the second boom ( dipper stick ) is opposite sides .

[paul_my_plumbs_uk]

👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿 Good to see you dug in and got the job done. No matter how many certificates or qualifications you have nothing ever beats hands on experience and confidence 🥊🥊🥊🥊

[paulf]

On a kubota on the dozer blade lever the green button on top of the leaver is the fast tracking giving a faster ground speed for moving the machine.

Other tip is if you have a slope to climb then go up with the front dozer blade to the rear. The track drive motors are at the back of the machine at the oposite end to the dozing blade and doing this puts the weight of the machine directly over the drive motots giving better traction.