9" trenching bucket vs 6"

[Ronster]

Does anyone out there use a 9" trenching bucket? I have a 6" trenching bucket that is a beast to keep clean when trenching. Any ground moisture at all and I have to stop to scrape out bucket. Would the extra width of the 9" bucket make much difference? I have a 12" bucket that works ok, but I would prefer a more narrow trench. I'm installing a french drain with 4" corrugated pipe, maybe 12" trench is better?

 

[laurencen]

not sure I would use a 6 inch bucket, better to use a chain trencher, smallest I use is a 12 inch and it plugs up good enough, been using a 20 inch, it clears easily and in the end its quicker than cleaning the bucket out every other scoop

 

[dragoneggs]

Always thought someone should design a narrow trenching bucket that self empties/cleans when needed. Some kind of plunger/flap that could expel the crud if moved to the fully dumped position.

 

[Diggin It]

My 12 plugs real bad with wet clay mud.

I'm still looking for somebody to come up with a rounded scoop to drag with for shallow trenches, rather than really dig. Sort of like that bucket spade thing.

 

[Mat4644]

French drain 12 inch is better.

 

[ray66v]

A 9" isn't going to be much better.

Most excavators will tell you 12" is usually the minimum size to dig with, and not have any sticking issues.

However, this varies widely depending on soil type, and conditions.

To those who will suggest it, yes I tried all the gimmicks to "fix" the problem. All the chain, and spraying with Pam in the world, didn't make it work well.

What I finally realized is, if the ground is dry, it doesn't stick. So, I wait until the driest weeks of the year to use my 6" bucket. Around here, that's usually between the last week of July, and the first week of August.

For those two weeks or so, when the clay is completely dry, the bucket works perfectly.

I can only go down maybe 28" or so, before the clay starts to have some moisture in it, and then it may begin to stick some. But, when I am doing drain tile, 24" or so, is all I usually need.

I put in 270' of drain tile this year, and 220' last year. I had no issues with the digging. Being out there working in the sun all day when the temperatures are in the 90's, is another problem though. :laughing:

 

[Diggin It]

^^ My problem is that when the clay is dry, it's like concrete and difficult to break through. I have to try and time for that moist enough but not too moist point.

 

[ray66v]

^^ My problem is that when the clay is dry, it's like concrete and difficult to break through. I have to try and time for that moist enough but not too moist point.

My ground gets like stone. It's all clay fill. But a 6" bucket has a lot of cutting power, because of the smaller surface area.

I put a single scraper tooth tooth on my bucket when I made it, betting on it being able to cut. And, then I could easily get a smooth bottom.

It takes a lot of force to break the ground initially, but it is able to penetrate.

The other thing you could do, is water the surface some the day before.

 

[ray66v]

My 12 plugs real bad with wet clay mud.

I'm still looking for somebody to come up with a rounded scoop to drag with for shallow trenches, rather than really dig. Sort of like that bucket spade thing.

There is something called a banana bucket.

It's like a ripper tooth with like 3" sides on it.

I have heard they work well under some conditions.

 

[4570Man]

I’d just use the 12” the smallest bucket I have is a 16” and half the time I use the 24” to dig a ditch. If you want a narrow and clean ditch you can’t beat a ditch witch. And when you’re done with that the angle blade is as good as it gets for covering a ditch.